Balancing Chakras, the universal forms of energy that flow through the human body

Chakras are defined as universal forms of energy that flow through the human body. There are seven main chakras that run along the spine, roughly from a person’s head to the base of the spine. Starting from the top is the crown, third eye, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral and finally, the root. It is believed that these chakras interact with the energy of the universe, and as a result, the ability of energy to flow through the chakras affects a person’s health. A blockage of this flow can cause malfunction within an organism, and this can be expressed in disease, discomfort, emotional imbalance or other health problems (1).

The chakra system comes from India, where it began more than 4,000 years ago. The practice of yoga brought the concept of chakra balancing to the West. The term literally means wheel or disk, as chakras are thought to be spinning forms of bioenergy. Each of the seven chakras is connected with one of the seven colors of the rainbow, with the base color being red, the slowest vibration of visible light, and the fastest form of visible light, violet, at the crown. Chakras affect the body and mind, and so it is believed they can influence a person’s health, body shape, thoughts and behaviors. Yoga, meditation, bioenergetics and other forms of therapy can help balance chakras (2).

(SOURCES: 1. Chakras for Beginners: A Guide to Balancing Your Chakra Energies. Pond, David. 1999 pp. 3-6 | 2. Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self. Anodea, Judith. 2004 pp. 4-8)