The Ancient System Meets Neuroscience
As our ancient medical system became modern, the chakra system continued to play an important role in health. In neuroscience, a chakra became known as "nerve ganglion" or nerve bundles that transfer information along the central nervous system out to the peripheral nervous system.
Through working with neurochemists, researchers have found a connection between the seven core chakras and specific endocrine glands with nearly identical functions and descriptions, such as the thyroid and the throat chakra.
Chakras are referenced in yoga classes on a regular basis, but they’re nothing new. There are many interpretations of both the meaning and history of the chakra system.
It’s believed yoga was created around the balancing the chakras by releasing tension from the inner body, thus balancing both the mind and body. Much like its circular namesake, countless people are circling back to this ancient philosophy to manage demanding lives. Today, many of us lead fast-paced lifestyles and unmitigated stress causes health issues.
Complementary Alternative Medicine - CAM
With a changing outlook from the medical profession towards holistic health, people continue to turn to CAM (Complementary Alternative Medicine) for a less invasive way to reduce stress, gain nervous system balance, and manage emotional and physical imbalances.
Beyond a corresponding color and sound (one-syllable vibrations, called Bija mantras, said to resonate with the energy of each location), the chakras have key associations to certain emotions, instincts, and principles.
It’s believed chakras are also influenced by our thoughts, family of origin, the environment and the other chakras health. Each chakra then affects different parts of the body.
Just like our internal organs have specific functions—such as the heart pumping blood through the body—the chakras are thought to have physical functions. The lower six chakras help enable cognition, respiration, circulation, digestion, reproduction, and excretion. Channels, called meridians or nadis, connect the chakras to one another and help the prana (or energy or chi or ki) travel through the chakras.
Balancing Our Life Begins With Balancing Energy
Energy imbalances in a person’s chakras can relate to specific emotions, disease symptoms, or other ailments. There are plenty of holistic practitioners who specialize in chakra balancing, but there are other beginner-friendly ways to work on them at home. Many natural health stores and online retailers offer chakra-specific products for aroma, sound, sensory, and color therapies. Practicing certain yoga poses can also release blocks and help remedy deficient or overloaded chakras. With each chakra, I’ve included corresponding pose, colors, affirmations, stones, essential oils, and healing foods. Remember to begin working on the root chakra then move your way up to the crown chakra.
Note check with your medical provider first to make sure practicing anything in this booklet is safe for you.
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