Yoga Asanas to Open Chakras

This month, commit to opening your chakras with Yoga asanas. Put that on project status – this process may change your life. Maybe you aren’t quite clear on what chakras are, and have no clue what an asana is. Follow along, they’re simple, basics concepts that can do you a world of good.

An asana is simply a posture. The word is from the Sanskrit, but that really doesn’t matter – the postures usually relate to Yoga, and they’re healthy, natural, and easy to do. Chakras, you may know, are thought to be energy receptors located along the path of your spine. Psychic experts say these doorways lead to higher consciousness and may be the key to perfecting your psychic talents.

Here are the chakras, moving from the base of the spine upward:

1. Root chakra or Muladhara, at the base of the spine.
2. Sacral chakra or Swadhisthana, near the bottom of your abdomen, about a hand-width below the navel.
3. Solar plexus or Manipura, right around your navel.
4. Heart or Anahata is right where you’d expect it to be, in your chest.
5. Throat or Vishuddha, in your neck.
6. Third eye or brow chakra, Ajna, is a region of the forehead, right between your eyes.
7. Crown or Sahasrara, at the very top of your head.

Think of chakras as portals where you can take in and release vibrations that create psychic or life energies. If you study chakras you’ll learn they may affect body functions by reacting to vibrations around us in colors, lights, sound, and experiences. It’s easy to see how our chakras relate to all of our senses – sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste – since those senses allow us to experience sensations.

Since chakras are aligned along the spine and yoga focuses much of its impact along the spine, it’s only natural to use yoga asanas to open, fuel and energize chakras. Asanas (postures) are very effective, and so is pranayama (yoga breathing). Each causes the spine to clear, energy to flow, and the chakras to be stimulated to higher receptiveness. Kundalini, or the yoga of awareness, may be the most useful asanas, because those postures are designed to stimulate non-functioning chakras by working the spine from one end to the other.

It’s thought that kundalini sends energy or vibrations on their way up and down that very important pathway. You can open dormant chakras by practicing yoga asanas that relate to each chakra’s location. Those postures that stretch the tailbone area work on the root chakra just as those that expand the chest affect the heart chakra, and so forth. If you’re a beginner, it’s advisable to check with your medical practitioner before you begin a new mode of exercise. Then browse the library or the web and find a book that truly seems to speak to you.

Read through the book, study the images. Make sure the language is clear and understandable for you. See if the photos are plentiful so you can model your asanas on them. If books aren’t right for you, view some DVD programs. Watch a number of them until you find one that sounds, looks, and feels right. Then set aside sacred time every day to practice your asanas.

You might want to keep a diary from the beginning of your exploration onward, and see how this work impacts your whole self. Many people find their overall health, posture, and outlook improve. Taking care of your body, spirit and soul by attending to your energies is the best beauty treatment you’ll ever find.