Using chakras in yoga poses

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chuckle. The colours are upside down......

There is a lot of interest in using chakra awareness and stimulation, in yoga classes. It's quite easy to do.

How?

There are a couple of ways. Firstly, I would recommend just using the 7 main ones, but only occasionally using the crown chakra (sahasrara). Because it is just a better flow of energy this way. The first six main chakras deal with:

The first three are about our life and expression of our energy

• mooladhara (base, in the perenium) how we walk through life, and yes, trauma does affect this
• swadhisithana (second/sacral) emotions from deep depression through to unmitigated joy. And passion for life
• manipura (third/navel) this is our energy centre, and also where we receive messages in the form of emotions, about what's going on around us. It's also where we can absorb a lot of negative energy, so it pays to keep this chakra strong. 

The heart chakra/anahata is about love, compassion, and about our inner essence. Our soul.

The next two are to do with Higher Things.

However, they are also to do with expression of ego. Ego being how we express ourselves and doesn't mean just what we say, but also about what we do, intent, etc. So, actually, I would also include the heart chakra here.

• vishuddhi/5th chakra/throat. Yes, of course this is about how we verbally express ourselves, however on a very deep level it actually is so much more
• ajna/6th/mind. 

Yoga means union. we can also think of it as union with our mind, voice, heart, energy, emotions, body. Using the chakras in our practice, meditation, or a class, will help with this, by freeing up the energy there. And also increasing the energy.

I would say not to try and add too many chakra things in a class, as it can be overkill. Rather, here are a few suggestions:

• in vinyasa flows, chose a pose in a flow for chakra awareness and you can do this with several flows too eg warrior 1: anahata, warrior 2 side extension or twist: manipura. Downward dog: vishuddhi. Do about five breaths in and out of that chakra where it meets the body. In particular, at the front of the body. For a strong but feeling great effect, do not try to do too many poses in one flow, with chakra awareness. Too much will play havoc with your students mental and emotional well being. So please, please, keep it simple. 
• the other fantastic option, whether you teach hatha or vinyasa, is to do floor poses at the end of a class, about five to ten breaths each (teacher does the timing), in/out of the relevant chakra entry point (khestram). Here is a simple and very doable series: butterfly forward bend/base chakra/nose tip gazing (stimulates the base chakra); wide legged forward bend/sacral (in/out of sacrum but this time at the back for ease); paschimottanasana (forward bend)/ behind the navel; simple fish/anahata/centre of chest; bridge or half shoulderstand/vishuddhi/ in and out between the collarbones; seated or reclining spinal twist/ajna/ in and out of between the eyebrows. 

There is so much more, but all of this is a lovely start. Next post I'll clarify a few things and bump it up a bit more.

Please ask any questions or make any comments.

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Links to similar blog posts:

here about the emotional heart and chakras

here more chakra stuff