The more you awaken your awareness and develop your spirituality through the practice of yoga, meditation, mantras, or any activity in which you are fully present, the more the Kundalini energy awakens, activating the chakras one by one. And the more this Kundalini energy increases, the more active and balanced your chakras become.
Let’s start at the beginning… What is a chakra?
In Sanskrit, chakra means “wheel.” The wheel is a symbol of cycles, infinite renewal, and interconnectedness.
Chakras are invisible energy centers in the body that spin like wheels, linking physical energies (related to organs, cells) and subtle energies (such as sensations and inner and outer perceptions).
There are seven main chakras along the spine, although there are many more, less important ones, found throughout the body (such as in the hands, feet, organs…).
How does a chakra work?
You can think of a chakra as a window that opens, closes, or becomes stuck—either allowing energy to flow freely or obstructing it.
Chakras communicate with each other. When one is blocked or not functioning properly, it affects energy circulation throughout the body. Over time, this can impact health.
Russian dolls…
There are 7 main chakras connected to 7 energetic bodies that nest within each other:
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Imagine the smallest doll at the very center. This is our physical body, our tangible shell made up of organs, limbs, senses… It corresponds to the first chakra, the root chakra.
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The next doll is the etheric (or vital) body, which matches the physical body’s shape. It corresponds to the network of energy channels and ensures proper energy circulation throughout the body and between chakras.
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The third doll is the emotional (or astral) body, the seat of emotions, desires, and fears. It represents the soul and is connected to the third chakra, the solar plexus chakra (Manipura).
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The fourth doll is the mental body, the seat of thoughts and personality. It is associated with the heart chakra (Anahata).
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Then comes the spiritual (or causal) body, composed of past experiences, memories, and karmic imprints. It relates to the throat chakra (Vishuddha).
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The buddhic body only exists in individuals who have reached spiritual awakening and a higher divine consciousness. It corresponds to the third eye chakra (Ajna).
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Lastly, the atmic (divine) body is the seat of cosmic consciousness, accessible to those who have completed their cycle of reincarnation and reached full enlightenment.
The 3 main energy channels
These channels ensure the circulation of energy in the body and are known in Sanskrit as nadis. There are said to be 88,000 nadis—some visible as they follow veins or arteries, others imperceptible.
Three main nadis start at the base of the spine:
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IDA starts to the left of the spine, spiraling upward and ending in the right hemisphere of the brain. It corresponds to the parasympathetic nervous system and is linked to the left nostril, which activates the right brain: the “yin,” lunar, feminine, introspective side.
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PINGALA starts on the right side of the spine, spiraling upward to the left hemisphere of the brain. It is linked to the right nostril, which activates the “yang,” solar, masculine, rational side.
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SUSHUMNA runs along the center of the spine. It is the most important nadi, connected to the central nervous system. This is where vital energy—Kundalini—rises like a snake (kundal = serpent in Sanskrit), coiled at the base of the spine, awakening and activating each chakra as it ascends to the crown. It fuels the nervous system and animates the body.
1. Root Chakra – “MULADHARA”
This chakra represents our grounding and stability.
- Color: Red
- Location: Perineum
- Associated organs and body parts: Legs, feet, bones, teeth, digestive system, bladder, anus, and rectum
- Glands: Reproductive glands (ovaries and testes)
- Influence on physical and emotional bodies: Stability, sexuality, safety
- Element: Earth
- Sense: Smell
- Mantra: LAM
- Balanced energy: You feel comfortable in your body, have strong physical energy and a good sense of smell
- Excess energy: Addictions, excessive behaviors, anger, aggression, rigidity in the body and mind
- Low energy: Anxiety, insecurity, mistrust, lack of vitality, depression, nightmares, financial or work-related issues, leg/knee/foot pain, sciatica, genital infections, constipation
- Postures to practice: Grounding poses on the feet (Mountain, Warrior, Triangle…)
- Breathwork: Abdominal breathing
- Foods: Red-colored foods (beetroot, pomegranate, strawberry, tomato, watermelon) and root vegetables (for grounding)
- Stones: Red agate, garnet, tourmaline
- Essential oils: Black spruce, vetiver
- Herbs/plants: Rosemary, ginger
2. Sacral Chakra – “SWADISTHANA”
This chakra governs self-expression and personal affirmation.
- Color: Orange
- Location: Lower abdomen (just below the navel)
- Associated organs and body parts: Pubic area, reproductive organs, lower back, bladder, immune system
- Glands: Adrenal glands (kidneys)
- Influence on physical and emotional bodies: Sexuality, creativity, receptivity
- Element: Water
- Sense: Taste
- Mantra: VAM
- Balanced energy: Creativity, sensuality, fulfilling sex life
- Excess energy: Egoism, anger, hyper-seduction, jealousy, impulses, pride
- Low energy: Physical discomfort, emotional distance, lethargy
- Postures to practice: Hip-opening postures
- Breathwork: Half bridge with pelvic waves or cat/cow
- Foods: Orange-colored foods (pumpkin, butternut squash, orange, carrot, apricot, sweet potato…)
- Stones: Carnelian
- Essential oils: Patchouli, ginger, ylang-ylang
- Herbs/plants: Cinnamon, vanilla, carob
3. Solar Plexus Chakra – “MANIPURA”
This chakra is the seat of our confidence and willpower.
- Color: Yellow
- Location: Solar plexus, three finger-widths above the navel
- Associated organs and body parts: Stomach, liver, diaphragm, nervous system
- Glands: Pancreas (a digestive gland)
- Influence on physical and emotional bodies: Decision-making, manifestation, facing fears, self-assertion
- Element: Fire
- Sense: Sight
- Mantra: RAM
- Balanced energy: You are guided by intuition
- Excess energy: Addictions, overdoing things
- Low energy: Eating disorders, difficulty taking action or making decisions
- Postures to practice: Sun salutations, planks, boat pose, twists
- Breathwork: Kapalabhati
- Foods: Yellow-colored foods (lemon, yellow melon, apple, banana, pineapple, corn, ginger, grains)
- Stones: Amber, topaz
- Essential oils: Lavender, yuzu, bergamot, juniper, Ceylon cinnamon
- Herbs/plants: Mint, rosemary, chamomile, lemon balm
4. Heart Chakra – “ANAHATA”
This chakra is our center of Presence and unconditional love.
- Color: Emerald green
- Location: Center of the chest
- Associated organs and body parts: Heart, circulatory system, lungs
- Glands: Thymus (linked to the lymphatic and endocrine systems)
- Influence on physical and emotional bodies: Love, compassion
- Element: Air
- Sense: Touch
- Mantra: YAM
- Balanced energy: Openness to others, tolerance, compassion, kindness
- Excess energy: Hypersensitivity, emotional over-identification
- Low energy: Repressed feelings
- Postures to practice: Chest-opening poses (Camel, Melting Heart, Cobra…)
- Breathwork: Chest expansion on inhale and soft release on exhale
- Foods: Green-colored foods (lettuce, green beans, cabbage, broccoli, green apple, peas, kiwi, grapes)
- Stones: Emerald, aventurine, rose quartz
- Essential oils: Rose, mandarin
- Herbs/plants: Coriander, thyme, lavender
5. Throat Chakra – “VISUDDHA”
This chakra represents our communication and our truth.
- Color: Blue
- Location: Throat
- Associated organs and body parts: Throat, neck, mouth, sinuses, ears, respiratory system
- Glands: Thyroid (which regulates metabolism and energy usage)
- Influence on physical and emotional bodies: Communication, listening
- Element: Ether
- Sense: Hearing
- Mantra: HAM
- Balanced energy: Clear verbal expression, sensitive listening, kindness in speech
- Excess energy: Talks loudly, excessively, tends to criticize, displays arrogance
- Low energy: Weak voice, fear of speaking, lump-in-throat sensation, low self-esteem
- Postures to practice: Inversions like Shoulder Stand, Plow, Fish Pose (to stretch the throat)
- Breathwork: Ujjayi breathing (throat breath)
- Foods: Blue-colored foods (blueberries, blackberries, spirulina)
- Stones: Turquoise, aquamarine
- Essential oils: Eucalyptus radiata and globulus, ravintsara, linalool thyme, peppermint
- Herbs/plants: Sage, eucalyptus
6. Third Eye Chakra – “AJNA”
This chakra governs our intuition.
- Color: Violet / Indigo blue
- Location: Between the eyebrows (the “third eye”)
- Associated organs and body parts: Eyes, brain
- Glands: Pineal gland (secretes melatonin which regulates our biological rhythm), pituitary gland (controls hormone production, saliva, digestive juices, sweat, tears…)
- Influence on physical and emotional bodies: Intuition, non-verbal communication
- Element: Light
- Sense: Sixth sense
- Mantra: OM
- Balanced energy: Developed intuition
- Excess energy: Fixed ideas, closed-mindedness
- Low energy: Lack of concentration, disconnection
- Postures to practice: Eye yoga, Trataka (candle gazing), Child’s pose with forehead on the floor, meditation with closed eyes
- Breathwork: Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing)
- Foods: Purple-colored foods (purple cabbage, cranberries, plums, açaí…)
- Stones: Amethyst, lapis lazuli
- Essential oils: Black spruce, vetiver
- Herbs/plants: Valerian, mint
7. Crown Chakra – “SAHASRARA”
This chakra represents our awakening and spiritual connection.
- Color: Bright white, violet
- Location: Top of the head
- Associated organs and body parts: Upper brain
- Glands: Pituitary (hypophysis), pineal (epiphysis)
- Influence on physical and emotional bodies: Spiritual awakening
- Element: Cosmic energy
- Sense: Spiritual consciousness
- Mantra: OM, SOHAM, or AUM
- Balanced energy: Openness to the divine, unity with the universe
- Excess energy: Confusion, fanaticism
- Low energy: Depression, loss of meaning
- Postures to practice: Silent seated meditation
- Breathwork: Natural breathing
- Foods: Violet-colored foods (same as for the 6th chakra)
- Stones: Clear quartz
- Essential oils: True or fine lavender, frankincense, rosewood
- Herbs/plants: Lavender, jasmine
