Ah, chakras.

You’ve heard your favorite yoga teachers talk about them

and you’ve seen promises of balancing your chakras in everything
from essential oils to beautiful stones.
But what are they, anyway? And what does it mean if you have an
imbalance or blockage?
I can definitely help you with understanding that. I’m semi-obsessed
with chakras and energy and I’ve created an entire program designed
with chakra healing techniques for people with imbalances and
blockages.
But before you jump into a chakra balancing program or sign up for
any energy healing, it’s important that you understand the 7 chakras,
how they relate to your spiritual wellness, and what the physical
symptoms are of a blockage.
Understanding the chakras will make any energy healing or program a
much more powerful experience than going into it blind.
So, are you ready? Let’s dive in.
What Are Chakras Anyway?
Chakras are the energy centers of our body. The sanskrit word
“chakra” translates to “wheel” or “disc.” Think of the chakras as
spinning wheels of energy located at different spots along your spine.
There are seven chakras that begin at the base of your spine and
move upward, ending with the seventh on the crown of your head.
Each chakra has its own name, color, associated stones and crystals,
and energetic realm that it rules.
I like to think of each chakra as a mini-computer, programmed to do
certain tasks that help our emotions, thoughts, and personal growth.
Sometimes those programs need to be pointed in a new direction to
get us where we want to go and that’s where chakra balancing comes
in.
Chakra balancing is just getting the flow of energy back into a
functioning and harmonious state. I love to work with chakra meditation
as part of my yoga practice, where I focus on the color of the
chakra, chant mantras and meditate on yantras, practice chakra
affirmations and sometimes use chakra crystals and stones to get back
in balance.
Use this primer to learn more about what chakra balance and
imbalances look like, and how the colors of the chakras are so integral
to how our subtle energies are organized!
Read more: Chakra Symbols and Meanings: What You Need To Know
About Cosmic Geometry
Watch now: My YouTube Chakra Challenge With Yoga Flows And
Meditation For Each Chakra
What Are The Seven Chakras And Their
Colors?
The seven chakras are associated with specific energy centers located
throughout the body. Here is a quick explanation of the seven chakra
 colors, their meanings, and what they represent. Jump to each chakra
explanation by clicking on a chakra below:
• Muladhara, the Root Chakra: Red Color
• Svadisthana, the Sacral Chakra: Orange Color
• ManiPura, the Solar Plexus Chakra: Yellow Color
• Anahata, the Heart Chakra: Green Color
• Vishuddi, the Throat Chakra: Blue Color
• Ajna, the Third Eye Chakra: Indigo Color
• Sahasrara, the Crown Chakra: Violet Color
1. Muladhara, the Root Chakra: Red Color
The Sanskrit word for the first chakra is Muladhara, meaning “support”
or “pillar. It’s also known as your root or sacral chakra because it’s
located right at the base of your spine, on your coccyx. Think of
Muladhara as the base or root of your whole chakra system — it
supplies prana to the rest of the body, mind and spirit. It’s said that half
of the root chakra is outside of the body, grounding you into the earth.
This is where Kundalini energy begins and enters the body.
Sanskrit meaning: “Root Support”
Color: Red. Red has the densest vibration of all the colors, and is the
most stimulating. It immediately pulls your attention; think of how you
feel when you see a stop light, or blood. The root chakra signals
warnings and dangers immediately, and we act accordingly. It is life
force, courage, and vitality.
Key themes: Survival. Fight or flight, instinct, stability, material safety,
trust, and security. The root chakra also impacts our passion, physical
strength, and sexuality.
Balanced Muladhara chakra: You feel a vital prana, strong will
power, persistence, and endurance. There is a connection with earth
and nature, and a sense of self-preservation. Things are in order, and
you feel economic, mental, physical, and spiritual stability.
Imbalance of Muladhara chakra: There is laziness, narcissism, and
existential dread. Negative energy, over-worrying, rage and
resentment build. You may find yourself clinging to those who project a
sense of safety. Physical issues might include colon pain, constipation,
sciatica, lower back pain, hemorrhoids, prostate issues, or menstrual
cramps.
Aspects of Nature: Dawn, dusk, red earth, fire.
Associated Crystals: Agate, Black Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Tigers
Eye, Hematite, Smoky Quartz.
2. Svadisthana, the Sacral Chakra: Orange Color
Located just above the sexual organs and beneath the navel, right
above the root chakra, the sacral chakra is the center of your creative
and joyful experiences. The root chakra gives you the stability to
explore, and the sacral chakra is the joy and enthusiasm that drives
you to do it. The swadisthana chakra transforms the root chakra’s
earth energy and uses it for creativity and pleasure. It is a feminine,
flexible, vital energy connected to your feelings of bliss — but not just
hedonism! Too much of a good thing can be irritating; even destructive.
The sacral chakra also connects you to inner wisdom, stillness and
personal development, as well.
Sanskrit meaning: “Your own seat,” or “One’s own place.”
Color: Orange. Orange is enthusiastic, joyful, and the color of vitality
and strength. It is equally red and yellow (rooted and powerful). It is
sensual and associated with Tantra, the practice of moving kundalini
energy up the spinal column to attain enlightened states.
Key Themes: Water, procreation, sensuality, creative expression,
compassion, pleasure, gut feelings, and wisdom. The sacral chakra is
healing and compassionate.
Balanced Svadisthana chakra: Creativity is at full force. You have a
healthy attitude about sexuality and your body, and feel accepting of
others and compassionate to their flaws. There is curiosity and desire,
and an independence in looking for these things. You are vibrant,
optimistic, and playful.
Imbalance of Svadisthana chakra: Poor boundaries, especially
sexual ones, are a big red flag of an imbalanced sacral chakra. You
might feel a lack of control around your sexual urges, or, extremely
repressed about sex and your body. Jealousy, fear, sexual
dysfunction, obsessive or strong emotions and attachments, or feeling
detached from one’s soul or self are all symptoms of a blocked sacral
chakra.
Aspects of nature: Fish, sea creatures, running water, moonlight, the
warmth of the sun, procreation.
Associated crystals: Carnelian, Citrine, Coral, Moonstone.
3. ManiPura, the Solar Plexus Chakra: Yellow
Color
The ManiPura chakra is the seat of the power that you walk with
through the world and the primary source of your personal and
professional success. It is your willpower and self-control, and the
respect for yourself and others. This chakra is also associated with
your ability to know yourself — your personality — and feel confident in
how you walk through the world. The solar plexus chakra is located in
the belly, just below the heart.
Sanskrit meaning: “Jewel city”
Color: Yellow. The strength of yellow shines bright like the uncovered
sun, and illuminates the “I” — your sense of self.
Key Themes: Self-esteem. Willpower, and a driving force. Like an
engine that is humming. Leaving your mark on the world. Optimism,
youth, intellect, and compassionate warmth.
Balanced ManiPura chakra: You are developing your talents and
asserting yourself with balance and mercy. You know yourself well and
trust yourself. You are confident and hold inner worth. You keep a
good diet and exercise often, and feel strong, autonomous, and free.
Imbalance of ManiPura chakra: You feel afraid, and it’s transformed
into a pent up aggression, needing the last word, and competing with
others in an unbalanced way. Sleeping doesn’t come easy to you, and
you often feel stressed and have nightmares. You blame others for
your failures or bad luck, and you’re stubborn, dominant, and
manipulative. Criticism causes you to spiral into obsessive worry and
anger.
Aspects of nature: The planet Mars, blazing fire, sunlight.
Associated crystals: Orange Calcite, Citrine, Malachite, Topaz.
4. Anahata, the Heart Chakra: Green Color
The heart chakra is the center of your being. It is the chakra that
connects the three lower physical-emotional main chakras to the three
higher mental and spiritual main chakras, where they can be
transformed and integrated into a higher vibration. It is where we
vibrate with love, not only for our personal relationships, but for all
beings.
Sanskrit meaning: “Unhurt,” unstruck, immaculate, unspoiled.
Color: Green. The color of life; naturally calming, healing, and
supportive.
Key Themes: Love. Openness, self-acceptance, and the acceptance
of others. Empathy resides in this chakra, and selfless love for all
beings.
Balanced Anahata chakra: Others are welcomed in, and accepted for
who they are. There is balance in self-love and love for others.
Empathy, wisdom, feelings of interconnectedness, friendliness, and
emotional balance rule.
Imabalance of Anahata chakra: There is loneliness and isolation,
dysfunctional relationships (jealousy, criticizing, fear of rejection),
and/or co-dependence and clinginess. Intellectualizing problems and
criticizing or cruelty may be symptoms, as well. Lung problems, heart
problems, and upper back problems point to this chakra being blocked.
Aspects of nature: Forest, clean air, unspoiled nature, meadows,
Antelope, birds.
Associated crystals: Jade, Rose Quartz, Green Calcite, Tourmaline.
5. Vishuddi, the Throat Chakra: Blue Color
The pure blue of the throat chakra is the link between the green of
emotions in the heart chakra, and the indigo reasoning of the third eye
chakra. This chakra asks us to vibrate higher; to synthesize, create,
and express thoughts and feelings. It is conscious creation, as
opposed to the orange creation that happens without consciousness.
The throat chakra is how we express who we are to the world. The
Sanskrit word “Vishuddi” means “especially pure,” pointing to how this
chakra vibrates highest when it’s unbound, honest, and without
reservation.
Sanskrit meaning: “Especially pure”
Color: Blue. The blue, unclouded sky of pure existence. Blissful, clear,
calm, and true, blue is where things slow down and you can listen to
the still waters within for the truth.
Key Themes: Communication, listening, expression of the self, how
we understand and are understood. Independence, truth.
Balanced Vishuddi chakra: There is ease is communicating your
needs, but also who you are. Your voice is strong, decisions and
consequences are understood, and there is balance in when you listen
and when you express yourself. You are creatively expressed in the
arts, but also in your life.
Imbalance of Vishuddi chakra: Fear of speaking out, shyness,
feeling embarrassed or confused are one aspect of this chakra.
Alternatively, lying, verbally abusing, and gossiping are signs of an
overstimulated chakra. This can cause thyroid problems, TMJ,
laryngitis, teeth and gum problems, and neck stiffness.
Aspects of nature: Ether, white elephant, seawater, clear sky, twilight.
Associated crystals: Blue lace agate, Lapis Lazuli, Aquamarine,
Turquoise.
6. Ajna, the Third Eye Chakra: Indigo Color
The third eye chakra is our connection to the spiritual world. It vibrates
with the esoteric, spiritual phenomena that can become available to
you once all of the lower chakras are clear and activated. Ajna brings
deeper understanding of things; insights and connections that are
always there but not always sensed.
Sanskrit meaning: “knowledge”
Color: Indigo, also called royal blue, is the color of night — there is a
depth of awakening and change in this color that connects us to space
and time.
Key Themes: Intuition, insight, “sixth sense,” imagination.
Balanced Ajna chakra: There are feelings of wisdom, inner peace,
spiritual awakening and awareness. You might feel closer to Spirit, and
closer to your Self. It’s easy to sort the significant from the insignificant,
creating intuitive knowledge and understanding.
Imbalance of Ajna chakra: Lack of perspective, problematic priorities,
lack of imagination. Difficulty concentrating or retaining information,
dualistic thinking or being stuck in one “truth.” At its worst, a blocked
Ajna chakra can lead to sociopathy and delusions.
Aspects of nature: Night sky, stars, deep ocean.
Associated crystals: Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst, Black Obsidian, Purple
Flourite.
7. Sahasrara, the Crown Chakra: Violet Color
The crown chakra, also known as the crown lotus, or the thousand-
petaled lotus, is the most subtle of the chakras. It exists at the very top
of the head, where a crown would sit, near to the cerebral cortex. It is
the culmination of awakening Kundalini energy in all the chakras,
which rises up the spine to the crown chakra and causes spiritual
awakening.
Sanskrit meaning: “Thousand-Petaled”
Color: Violet, the highest vibrating color, is one of magic, purification,
and mystery that brings together the polarities of the world. This chakra
is also associated with white and gold.
Key Themes: Cosmic awareness, higher consciousness, faith,
spiritual power, connectedness to all beings.
Balanced Sahasrara chakra: Transcending all dualism, you are
spiritually free. You are in connection with all beings and the universe;
there is no separation. Your chakras are spinning freely and prana is
flowing through your body, and you feel deep wisdom and a
connection with the Divine.
Imbalance of Sahasrara chakra: Detachment from reality, mental
disorders, greed, and overwhelm are common. When the other
chakras have not been developed, bringing energy to this chakra can
cause extreme problems: spiritual crisis, disinterest in living,
fragmentation, addiction and/or cognitive delusions.
Aspects of nature: Blooming lotus flower, snake, top of the mountain,
cerebral cortex.
Associated crystals: Blue Lace Agate, Amethyst, Clear Quartz,
Selenite.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the chakras and the entire chakra system can be
incredibly powerful. You can learn how to harness life-force energy to
support you, your emotional well-being, and your goals. The major
chakras listed above are the most commonly studied chakras in the
entire chakra system, but the subtle body is a complex and intricate
energetic system.
Just like there are different levels of consciousness, there are different
levels to the spiritual realm…
…and that is where the chakra system comes into play.