The Chakras
Updated: May 12, 2020
In this blog I'm covering the wonderful world of the chakras.
Every living being is a bundle of energy, connected to yet more energy around us. If that all sounds a bit Jedi then think about food - when we eat we convert calories into energy to power our bodies.

Chakras connect our physical body with the energy within and around us. 'Chakra' translates as 'wheel' so we could imagine them as wheels or balls of spinning light. When they are spinning evenly and steadily we can consider them as balanced and healthy but if they're spinning too slowly or way out of control then we may have problems.
For another example, you could think of chakras as windows - they can either be grubby and firmly shut (blocking energy) or they can be permanently wide open (letting anything in!).
There are many chakras around the body but I will focus on the most well known - the seven main chakras. We'll cover the basics of each chakra, how you may know if it is weak or blocked or if it's too switched on, along with tips on how to bring it into balance.
Root Chakra
This chakra is the most physical and is associated with our basic survival needs. When these are met we feel safe, secure and grounded. Acting like the roots of a tree this gives us a platform to build upon for a happy, healthy life.

Fact File: Root Chakra
Sanskrit name: Muladhara
Location: The base of the spine/perineum
Connects to: The Earth, one’s foundation, personal survival and safety
Colour: Red
Element: Earth
Crystals: Black, brown or red e.g. haematite, black tourmaline, garnet, ruby, aragonite
Physically connects to: Feet, legs, base of spine and trunk (especially pelvic floor muscles), skeletal system
Emotions: Comfortable, safe, confident, assured, rested, peaceful, calm, patient, content
Signs this chakra is weak:
Fearful insecurity/nervousness
Conforming to others
Delicate/fragile
Paralyzed (grounded in fear)
Unsettled/restless
Unstable/unreliable
Signs this chakra is too dominant:
Protective fortressing (putting up barriers against the world, leaving one isolated and alone)
Selfishness
Possessiveness/territorial
Hoarding
Rigid in thought/unmoving
Ideas on how to balance this chakra:
Anything that focusses on the legs and feet (such as walking or yoga that focuses on standing postures)
Weightlifting or strength work
Reflexology or foot massage
Connecting with nature, e.g. a walk in the park, eat your lunch outside, gardening
Get organised - clear out clutter, get on top of those household jobs, take control of your finances
Sacral Chakra
This chakra shifts the focus from basic needs to finding the joy in life. It is all about pleasure and sensual enjoyment, movement and flow and is the bed of creativity.

Fact File: Sacral Chakra
Sanskrit name: Svadhishthana
Location: Lower belly/lower back
Connects to: Well-being, renewal, recuperation, regeneration, recreation, personal pleasure and growth
Colour: Orange
Element: Water
Crystals: Carnelian, orange calcite, orange citrine, amber
Physically connects to: Reproductive organs, lower abdomen, sacrum and lower part of lumbar spine, hips and pelvic girdle, lymphatic and blood circulatory systems
Emotions: Desire, enjoyment, pleasure, happy, relaxed, playful, nurturing, affectionate
Signs this chakra is weak:
Mis-satisfaction (wanting the wrong thing e.g. mistaking thirst for hunger and resulting in a feeling of constant emptiness or yearning)
Brittle/fragile (liable to snap at others)
Numb/unfeeling
Unresponsive/unchanging
Signs this chakra is too dominant:
Self-abandonment (acting or living with abandon)
Stagnation (overly focussed on staying with what is pleasurable here and now, not interested in personal growth)
Hyper-sensitivity (quick to upset)
Greediness/self-indulgence
Narcissism
Ideas on how to balance this chakra:
Pamper yourself - book a massage or facial, enjoy a hot tub or steam room
Move your body - flowing yoga, swimming or dance (belly dancing is perfect!)
Eat well - look after your gut with foods that feed the happy bacteria and drink plenty of water
Enjoy water - take a relaxing bath, go to the beach or find your inner child and splash in some puddles
Get creative - anything that gets the creative juices flowing be it painting, writing, arranging flowers or craft work
Have (safe) sex!
Solar Plexus Chakra
This chakra is all about energy, it's your own personal power house, your rocket booster, helping you move forward and achieve all the things you want to do.

Fact File: Solar Plexus Chakra
Sanskrit name: Manipura
Location: Upper stomach (between the belly button and breastbone)
Connects to: Energy, power, activity
Colour: Yellow
Element: Fire
Crystals: Yellow citrine
Physically connects to: Diaphragm, upper abdomen (abdominal muscles and organs such a liver, adrenals, pancreas) and metabolism
Emotions: Assertive, passionate, enthusiastic
Signs this chakra is weak:
Burnt out/exhaustion
Aggression with fear/bravado
Powerless
Hibernating/inactive
Passive/submissive
Signs this chakra is too dominant:
Forcefulness
Frustration
Pride/egotism
Fearlessness
Emotional/quick-tempered
Hyper-activity
Desire for power
Ideas on how to balance this chakra:
Competitive sports such as martial arts or cardio activities such as running
Work on your posture with yoga or pilates or just stand tall
Get out in the sunshine and top up those vitamin d levels (also great for the immune system but don't forget the sunscreen)
Heart Chakra
The heart chakra represents unconditional love and healing. It is the mid point between the lower earthly, physical chakras and the upper, ethereal chakras. It's not just about being able to give love to others but also to accept it in return.

Fact File: Heart Chakra
Sanskrit name: Anahata
Location: Middle of the chest
Connects to: Relationships, community, evolution, expression of values, emotional feelings and responses
Colour: Green
Element: Air
Crystals: Green or pink crystals such as green aventurine, moss agate and rose quartz
Physically connects to: Chest, heart, upper back, arms, hands and respiratory system
Emotions: Compassionate, generous, loving and nurturing
Signs this chakra is weak:
Self-forgetting
Apathy, not caring, withdrawn
Indecisive, procrastinating
Detached, insensitive, ‘heartless’
Aimlessness, lacking in direction
Laziness
Poor self-esteem
Signs this chakra is too dominant:
Dissatisfaction
Tribalism
Self-centred (focussing only on how things impact one’s self)
Self-important, self-righteous
Emotionally hyper-responsive or emotional distress
Attachment, obsessions
Excessive selflessness
Ideas on how to balance this chakra:
Aerobic exercise
Breathing practices
Volunteer or care for others
Spend time with those you love
Smile, give compliments and say thank you
Be grateful
Be kind to yourself (silence your inner critic)
Throat Chakra
Communication is key with the throat chakra which encourages you to speak your truth and express yourself as well as listen to others.

Fact File: Throat Chakra
Sanskrit name: Vishuddha
Location: Throat and back of neck
Connects to: Explaining, expressing, exploring, communication, information, testing things out, flow and rhythm of things, the world/space around and within
Colour: Blue
Element: Ether
Crystals: Aquamarine, turquoise, sodalite, blue aventurine
Physically connects to: Throat, neck, voice, face and hearing, cellular level of body
Emotions: Expressive, connected, attentive, inquisitive
Signs this chakra is weak:
Lack of restraint
Erratic, unreliable
Disordered, chaotic
Inarticulate, incoherent
Tactlessness
Naïve, gullible
Unobservant, ignorance
Clumsy, prone to accidents
Signs this chakra is too dominant:
Distrust, cautious
Compulsive disorders and behaviours
Dismissive, unadventurous
Restrained, reserved
Self-divided
Ideas on how to balance this chakra:
Singing or chanting
Listening to music
Talking therapies
Breathing techniques such as ujjayi breath
Creative writing
Amateur dramatics
Third Eye Chakra
This chakra governs the eyes and brain but is also connected to your sixth sense. It is about balancing rational logic with inner wisdom.

Fact File: Third Eye Chakra
Sanskrit name: Ajna
Location: The point between the eyebrows
Connects to: Problem solving, analytical thinking, planning, perception and understanding
Colour: Purple
Element: Time/consciousness
Crystals: Amethyst, lapis lazui
Physically connects to: The eyes and brain
Emotions: Dispassionate, perceptive, rational, objective, impartial
Signs this chakra is weak:
Confusion
Inefficiency, ineptitude
Delusional
Boredom, distraction
Lack of foresight
Signs this chakra is too dominant:
Self-criticism
Anticipation, anxiety
Absent-minded
Detached
‘Head in the clouds’
Over-planning
Fantasy and daydreaming
Ideas on how to balance this chakra:
Meditation and visualisation
Solving puzzles or mysteries
Indian head massage or shirodhara (an Ayurvedic treatment where a thin stream of warm oil is trickled onto your forehead)
Keep a dream diary
Keep that optician's appointment (or book one if it's been a while)
Crown Chakra
If this chakra had a sound it would be the clear chime of a tuning fork. It's job is to connect us to the energy above and to our inner divinity, to find a higher state of consciousness. If all our other chakras are balanced and we work with our crown chakra we might just be able to find enlightenment!

Fact File: Crown Chakra
Sanskrit name: Sahasrara
Location: The crown of the head
Connects to: Mystical experiences, inspiration and wonder, divinity, bliss, the infinite
Colour: Violet/white
Element: Spirit/soul/awarness
Crystals: Amethyst, clear quartz
Physically connects to: The crown of the head and the space above
Emotions: Wonder, joy, bliss, ecstasy, serenity
Signs this chakra is weak:
Dormancy
Soulless, joyless
Contained, limited
Sinful, guilt
Shortsightedness
Signs this chakra is too dominant:
Selflessness
Blissed out
Bedazzled
Lack of presence
Emptiness, blankness
Madness, wise fool
Ideas on how to balance this chakra:
Indian head massage
Get outside, connect your feet to the earth and then look up to the expansive sky
Stargazing
Meditation