Christa Corsaro Tyson ~ Yoga Instructor & Birth Doula
Serving Rochester, NY and surrounding areas

Yoga Resources ~ Chakras

Information from the book "Wheels of Life", by Anodea Judith, Ph.D.

Chakras are described as spinning wheels of energy along our midline. These energy centers in our body help bring emotional, physical and spiritual health. The seven main chakras have been discussed for over 2600 years and are described as the root, spleen, solar plexus, heart, throat, brow, and crown chakras. Each chakra corresponds to five main nerve ganglia of the spinal column and two areas of the brain (upper and lower).

Chakra One: Muladhara (root)
Earth, Physical identity, oriented to self-preservation
Focus: Noticing gravity, and moving SLOWLY and deeply to really feel all aspects of the body.
Located at the base of the spine, this chakra forms our foundation. It represents the element earth, and is therefore related to our survival instincts, and to our sense of grounding and connection to our bodies and the physical plane. Ideally this chakra brings us health, prosperity, security, and dynamic presence.
Pranayama: complete breaths, especially on exhale.
Color: red
Seed sound: lam. Vowel sound: Oh.
Mudra: Press the pads of the little fingers together.
Physical location: base of the spine.
Physical dysfunctions: lower back pain, sciatica, varicose veins, rectal tumors, depression, immune related disorders.
Mental and emotional issues: survival, self-esteem, social order, security, family.
Information stored inside root chakra: familial beliefs, superstitions, loyality, instincts, physical pleasure or pain, touch.
Area of body governed: spinal column, kidneys, legs, feet, rectum, immune system.

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Chakra Two: Svadhisthana (sacral)
Water, Emotional identity, oriented to self-gratification
Focus: Moving fluidly, like water, feeling sensuous with movements, noticing sensation.
The second chakra, located in the abdomen, lower back, and sexual organs, is related to the element water, and to emotions and sexuality. It connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation, and movement. Ideally this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling, sexual fulfillment, and the ability to accept change.
Pranayama: pelvic breath.
Color: orange
Seed sound: vam Vowel sound: Ooo (as in you).
Mudra: press the pads of the little fingers together.
Physical location: lower abdomen to the navel.
Spiritual lesson: creativity manifestation, honoring relationships, learning to Òlet goÓ.
Physical dysfunctions: low back pain, sciatica, ob/gyn problems, pelvic pain, libido, urinary problems.
Mental and Emotional issues: blame, guilt, money, sex, power, control, creativity, morality.
Information stored inside sacral chakra: duality, magnetism, controlling patterns, emotional feelings (joy, anger, fear).
Area of body governed: sexual organs, stomach, upper intestines, liver, gall bladder, kidney, pancreas, adrenal glands, spleen, middle spine.

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Chakra Three: Manipura (Solar plexus)
Fire, Ego identity, oriented to self-definition
Focus: Moving with will and purpose, energizing limbs and torso, building chi.
This chakra is known as the power chakra, located in the solar plexus. It rules our personal power, will, and autonomy, as well as our metabolism. When healthy, this chakra brings us energy, effectiveness, spontaneity, and non-dominating power.
Pranayama: Breath of Fire (Kapalabhati), Bastrika.
Color: yellow-gold
Seed sound: ram Vowel sound: Ah (as in father).
Mudra: press the pads of the ring fingers together.
Physical location: solar plexus.
Spiritual lesson: acceptance of your place in the life stream (self-love).
Physical dysfunctions: stomach ulcers, intestinal tumors, diabetes, pancreatitis, indigestion, anorexia/bulimia, hepatitis, cirrhosis, adrenal imbalances, arthritis, and colon diseases.
Mental and Emotional issues: self-esteem, fear of rejection, oversensitivity to criticism, self-image fears, fears of our secrets being found out, indecisiveness.
Information stored in solar plexus chakra: personal power, personality, consciousness of self within the universe (sense of belonging), knowing.
Area of body being governed: upper abdomen, umbilicus to rib cage, liver, gallbladder, middle spine, spleen, kidney, adrenals, small intestines, stomach.

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Chakra Four: Anahata (Heart)
Air, Social identity, oriented to self-acceptance
Focus: Working from breath, allowing breath to be deep, breath to move the body
This chakra is called the heart chakra and is the middle chakra in a system of seven. It is related to love and is the integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity. A healthy fourth chakra allows us to love deeply, feel compassion, have a deep sense of peace.
Pranayama: Anuloma Krama (inhale-hold, inhale-hold, etc.); Viloma Krama (exhale-hold, exhale-hold, etc.); Nadi Sodhana Alternate Nostril.
Color: green
Seed sound: yam. Vowel sound: Ay (as in play).
Mudra: press the pads of middle fingers together.
Physical location: center of chest.
Purposes: emotional empowerment.
Spiritual Lesson: forgiveness, unconditional love, letting go, trust, compassion.
Physical dysfunctions: heart conditions, asthma, lung and breast cancers, thoracic spine, pheumonia, upper back, shoulder problems.
Mental and emotional issues: love, compassion, confidence, inspiration, hope, despair, hate, envy, fear, jealousy, anger, generoslity.
Area of Body being governed: heart, circulatory system, blood, lungs, rib cage, diaphragm, thymus, breasts, esophagus, shoulders, arms, hands.

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Chakra Five: Vissuddha (Throat)
Sound, Creative identity, oriented to self-expression
Focus: Moving with sound, letting sound move the body, releasing through sound.
This is the chakra located in the throat and is thus related to communication and creativity. Here we experience the world symbolically through vibration, such as the vibration of sound representing language.
Pranayama: Ujjayi.
Chanting: General toning; Seed sounds and vowel sounds of the chakras. Color: bright blue
Seed sound: ham. Vowel sound: ee (as in see).
Mudra: press the pads of index fingers together.
Physical location: throat, neck region.
Purposes: learning to take responsibility for one's own needs.
Spiritual lesson: confession, surrender personal will over to divine will, faith, truthfulness over deceit.
Physical dysfunctions: sore throat, mouth ulcers, scoliosis, swollen glands, thyroid dysfunctions, laryngitis, voice problems, gum or tooth problems, tmj.
Mental and emotional issues: personal expression, creativity, addiction, criticism, faith, decision making (choices), will, lack of authority.
Information stored inside throat chakra: self-knowledge, truth, attitudes, hearing, taste, smell.
Area of body governed: throat, thyroid, trachea, neck vertebrae, mouth, teeth, gums, esophagus, parathyroid.

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Chakra Six: Ajna (brow, thirdeye)
Light, Archetypal identity, oriented to self-reflection
Focus: Internal seeing, imagining energy moving, visualizing the chakras during posture.
This chakra is known as the brow chakra or third eye center. It is related to the act of seeing, both physically and intuitively. As such it opens our psychic faculties and our understanding of archetypal levels. When healthy it allows us to see clearly, in effect, letting us "see the big picture."
Pranayama: Alternate nostril(Nadi Shodona).
Color: indigo or white
Seed sound: om. Vowel sound: mmm.
Mudra: press the pads of thumbs together.
Physical location: center of forehead.
Spiritual lesson: understanding, reality check point, detachment, open mind.
Physical dysfunctions: brain tumors, strokes, blindness, deafness, seizures, learning disabilities, spinal dysfunctions, panic, depression.
Mental and emotional issues: fear of truth, discipline, judgement, evaluation, emotional intelligence, concept of reality, confusion.
Information stored in third-eye chakra: seeing clear picture (symbolic or literal), wisdom, intuition, mental facilities, intellect.
Area of body being governed: brain, neurological system, eyes, ears, nose, pituitary, pinel.

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Chakra Seven: Sahasrara (crown)
Thought, Universal identity, oriented to self-knowledge
Focus: Awareness of body, awareness of awareness, witness consciousness, releasing attachment.
This is the crown chakra that relates to consciousness as pure awareness. It is our connection to the greater world beyond, to a timeless, spaceless place of all-knowing. When developed, this chakra brings us knowledge, wisdom, understanding, spiritual connection, and bliss.
Pranayama: alternate nostril (Nadi Shodona).
Meditation: thousand petaled lotus, transcendent or cosmic consciousness, unity, wisdom.
Color: violet or white
Seed sound: none. Vowel sound: nnggg (as in sing).
Mudra: press the pads of thumbs together.
Physical location: top of head.
Purposes: intuitive knowing, connection to oneÕs spirituality, integration of the whole.
Spiritual lesson: spirituality living in the NOW
Physical dysfunctions: mystical depression, diseases of the musculature system, skeletal system and skin, chronic exhaustion not associated with physical ailments, sensitivity to light, sound, and environment.
Mental and emotional issues: discovery of the divine, lack of purpose, loss of meaning or identity, trust, selflessness, humanitarianism, ability to see the bigger picture in the life stream, devotion, inspiration, values, ethics.
Information being stored in the crown chakra: duality, magnetism, controlling patterns, emotional feelings (joy, anger, fear).

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