7 Chakras: What You Need to Know About Chakra Alignment

7 Chakras: What You Need to Know About Chakra Alignment

Chakra comes from the Sanskrit word for wheel and is more commonly translated to mean a point of physical or spiritual energy in the human body.

If you picture yourself sitting cross-legged in Lotus pose, the 7 chakras are located on one’s body from the top of one’s head to the base of one’s spine. Each chakra has a specific location and several unique attributes. While they are aligned with the physical body, they are not something you can touch, but are something you can feel and sense.

One thing that most people don’t realize is that your chakras can both be too closed or too opened. Leaving your chakras too open or vulnerable is just as unhealthy as having closed chakras. As you read the descriptions of the 7 main chakras below, be thinking about how they relate to you.

Introduction to Chakras

A few years ago, I had digestive issues that modern medicine couldn’t tackle. As it turns out, my Manipura chakra was blocked. A blocked chakra can often be the cause of health or emotional issues; therefore, it is important to be conscious of the healthy of each chakra before it becomes a more serious or chronic condition.

Root Chakra

A.K.A. THE MULADHARA

Located at the base of the spine, this chakra is all about being grounded and connected to the universe.

Signs of a balanced root chakra include feeling grounded, having healthy kidneys, and lacking adrenal issues.

Once you have established that you have a weak or overactive chakra, try a combination of these techniques to realign that specific chakra:

  • Apply myrrh or cedarwood essential oils to your wrists or lower back before going to sleep
  • Cook with cloves and marjoram and enjoy these root chakra foods.
  • Meditate with the mantra Lam
  • Concentrate on these positions in your yoga practice: Grounding into feet poses like Mountain Pose, Side-Angle Pose, Warrior Pose, Standing Forward Bend, and Bridge Pose

SACRAL CHAKRA

A.K.A. THE SVADHISHTHANA

Located just below the belly button, this chakra is related to sexuality, pleasure, and emotions.

Signs of a balanced sacral chakra include healthy reproductive organs and sex hormones Other signs of sacral chakra health include feeling friendly, sexual and satisfied. It is thought that this chakra is closely related to basic emotions, so the more you are in touch with this chakra, the more you are in touch with your emotions.

Aligning techniques:

  • Apply jasmine or ylang slang essential oils first thing in the morning or at night
  • Meditate with the mantra Vam
  • Concentrate on these positions in your yoga practice to Clear the Sacral Chakra: Hip opening poses like Standing Wide Forward Bend, Sitting Wide Forward Bend, Bound Angle Pose, and Supine Bound Angle Pose

NAVAL CHAKRA

A.K.A. THE MANIPURA OR SOLAR PLEXUS

Located above the navel, this chakra related to personal power, fears, and anxiety.

Signs of a balanced chakra include a healthy digestive system and adrenal glands.

Aligning techniques:

  • Apply rosemary, ginger, or lemon essential oils to your wrist
  • Drink herbal, preferably decaffeinated, tea with lemon and ginger (this one is my personal favorite!)
  • Meditate with the mantra Ram
  • Concentrate on these positions in your yoga practice: Heat building poses like Sun Salutation and Warrior, backbends like Bow, twists like Half Twist, and of course abdominal strengtheners like Boat Pose

HEART CHAKRA

A.K.A. THE ANAHATA

Located in the chest, this chakra relates to love and compassion.

A dear friend of mine has had a string of messy break-ups and not surprisingly she has all the signs of a blocked anahata or heart chakra. I have shared some of my clearing techniques, listed below, with her and am hopeful that given some time and work, she will open her heart and be rewarded with a healthy, loving relationship.

Signs of a balanced chakra include a strong, healthy heart, immune system, endocrine system, and good circulation. This chakra is incredibly sensitive to stress. During periods of high stress, try some of these chakra practices to balance the chakra.

Aligning techniques:

  • Apply rose, bergamot, or thyme essential oils before starting your day to activate this chakra
  • Mediate to the mantra Yam
  • Include these positions in your yoga practice: Chest openers like Camel, Cobra, and Fish. Also breathing exercises like deep breathing and alternate nostril breathing
  • Try this 30-minute yoga routine which focuses on Clearing the Heart Chakra

THROAT CHAKRA

A.K.A. THE VISHUDDHA

Located in the throat, this chakra is about communication.

When you think about this chakra, think about people in your life that may not be able to say what they are thinking or feeling. Even if they know in their mind what they would like to say, they have trouble, for whatever reason, saying their thoughts out-loud. This would be an example of having a closed vishuddha chakra. Someone who over-shares might have an unprotected or overly-open chakra.

Signs of a balanced chakra include healthy lungs and respiratory systems, and a stable thyroid hormone.

Aligning techniques:

  • Apply eucalyptus essential oil at bedtime
  • Meditate with the mantra Ham
  • Concentrate on these positions into your yoga practice: Fish, Lion, and neck stretches and shoulder openers like Supported Shoulderstand, Camel, Bridge Pose, and Plow Pose

THIRD EYE CHAKRA

A.K.A. THE AJNA

Located between the eyebrows, this chakra is related to your intuition.

Signs of a balanced Ajna chakra include healthy eyes, head, and an in-tune intuition. In addition, this chakra is closely related to the pineal gland, which secretes melatonin. It is thought that this means healthy, uninterrupted sleep can often be found by aligning your Ajna chakra.

This is one chakra that I have been working on, because women have very strong intuitions and it is a gift we should foster. How I work on it is by lighting spearmint or jasmine candles and cooking with lots of bay and sage. Also, it is a good excuse to hold my Child’s Pose a few deep breaths longer!

Aligning techniques:

  • Apply clary sage, bay, helichrysum, or jasmine essential oils to activate the chakra
  • Cook with bay leaves and mint
  • Meditate with the mantra Om
  • Include these positions in your yoga practice: Child’s Pose and Seated Yoga Mudra

CROWN CHAKRA

A.K.A. THE SAHASRARA

Located in the crown of the head, this chakra is about a connection to the spiritual.

Signs of a balanced crown chakra include a general blissful feeling and a healthy central nervous system.

Aligning techniques:

  • Realigning this chakra is best done through mediation.
  • There is no mantra for this chakra, silence is suggested
  • Start adding daily outdoor walks into your routine
  • Apply sandalwood or lotus essential oils to activate this chakra
  • Include these positions in your yoga practice: Balancing poses that bring awareness to the body and the consciousness like Tree and Eagle, also try extended sitting in Yoga Audra

There are dozens of quizzes and questionnaires online that can determine if you have a misaligned or closed chakra, but you probably already have a sense of your body and what might need some adjustments. If you’re like me, you are probably already doing some of the chakra practices and alignment techniques listed above, because they make you feel better, and now you have a better understanding of why they make you feel that way and how these actions better align your chakras.



Spiritual Cleansing Baths for Healing Your Aura

Spiritual Cleansing Baths for Healing Your Aura

Regularly cleansing your aura and personal energy is an essential act. Whether or not you know it, you come into contact with various people and environments, all of which have their own energy vibrations. Not all of these frequencies are high and positive.

Thus, your energy field is constantly taking in and putting out vibrations. Some energy vibrations within your thoughts and external influences are low and will bring you down if left unchecked. While our energy body is constantly readjusting itself to bring our energy back into harmony, the negative energies can linger and build up over time. A monthly salt water bath is an easy and very relaxing way to cleanse your aura of negative energy.

We’ve mentioned other methods before, so why a bath? It’s because it’s a great ritual that combines to tie in body and spirit. When you immerse yourself in a ritual bath, you are participating in an initiation to open yourself up spiritually. 

Ritual bathing cleanses you from physical and spiritual grime, thus purifying both your body and your aura. It signifies that you are willing to listen to your Higher Self and begin to trust something outside of your rational mind. It indicates that you are open to asking the universe to transform what you believe needs to be changed within yourself.

What is a Spiritual Bath?

We’ve mentioned other methods before, so why a bath? It’s because it’s a great ritual that combines body and spirit. When you immerse yourself in a ritual bath, you are participating in an initiation to open yourself up spiritually. 

Ritual bathing cleanses you from physical grime and negative spiritual grime, thus purifying both your body and your aura. It is a signal that you are willing to listen to your Higher Self and begin to trust something outside of your rational mind. It indicates that you are open to asking the universe to transform what you believe needs to be changed within yourself.

How to Take a Spiritual Bath

Taking a spiritual bath is a sacred and rejuvenating practice that can help cleanse your aura and release negative energy while promoting inner peace and well-being. To begin, start by selecting a time when you can have uninterrupted solitude. This first bath is to be used only once a month, as it is very strong. It’s recommended to try it on a Friday close to a full moon for the best results. Energy therapist Lidia Frederico also advises, “DO NOT prepare or have the bath around 6 am, 12 noon, 6 pm, or 12 midnight, including half an hour before and afterward (so NOT between 5:30-6:30 or 11:30-12:30 for both am & pm)!”

Draw a warm bath. Then, add bath ingredients like unrefined salts, optional essential oils (such as lavender or sage), and optional herbs like rosemary or chamomile, which are known for their purifying properties. As you fill the tub, set your intention for the bath, focusing on what you wish to release or manifest. Before getting in, light some candles and play soothing music to create a serene atmosphere. 

Step into the water mindfully, immersing yourself completely while envisioning the negative energy dissolving and being replaced by positive vibrations. Take deep breaths, meditate, or recite affirmations to enhance the bath experience. After your bath, allow yourself to air-dry (preferably) or use a robe and towel (just for your head), and dispose of any bathwater down the drain. Feel the newfound sense of clarity and renewal that a spiritual bath can provide, embracing the positive energy that surrounds you.

Benefits of Spiritual Bathing

Though they are different, spiritual bathing or ritual bathing can have great effects on your physical well-being, as well. Here are just a few benefits:

  • The skin is an organ of elimination, and a saltwater soak will draw toxins and heavy metals from the tissues.
  • The essential trace minerals your body needs are absorbed through the skin to improve health. 
  • Skin conditions can be aided as bacteria and other debris are also drawn from the skin, leaving the skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated. 
  • Circulation is increased, which your body can always use
Read Article

More In Alternative Health

Our unique blend of yoga, meditation, personal transformation, and alternative healing content is designed for those seeking to not just enhance their physical, spiritual, and intellectual capabilities, but to fuse them in the knowledge that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.


Use the same account and membership for TV, desktop, and all mobile devices. Plus you can download videos to your device to watch offline later.

Desktop, laptop, tablet, phone devices with Gaia content on screens

Discover what Gaia has to offer.

The video streaming platform exploring Alternative Health, and Chakras and Auras

Testing message will be here

Discover what Gaia has to offer.

Testing message will be here