Chakra of the Month: Crown Chakra

The crown chakra, or in Sanskrit called the Sahaswara chakra is located at the crown of the head and is the center for pure awareness and absence of ego.

Beginning from the root chakra, keeping us grounded and connected to earth, the chakra ladder climbs up the spine with the crown chakra at the top. In order for the crown chakra to be open the lower chakras need to be in balance so that energy can travel up from our roots.

Balanced Crown Chakra: 

Ability to live in the present moment and trusting our intuition and inner knowledge, Spiritually aware and selfless, Strong nervous system, physical and emotional tolerant and integrated with spirituality, experiencing oneness.

Imbalanced Crown Chakra:

May occur as sensitivity to sounds and light, learning difficulties, skin problems, headaches and muscular disease. Feeling a lack of purpose. exessive worrying about the meaning of life and easily feeling like a victim. Depression, being stuck in sorrow, chronic exhaustion and fear of death. 

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How to balance Sahaswara Chakra: 

- Include "quit time" to your daily routine to turn inwards

- Eat garlic, onions and ginger the so called "trinity roots" to strengthen the meditative mind

- Meditate, meditate and meditate. A little meditation is better than no mediation at all!

-  Get inspired! Read inspiring books, watch inspiring movies or create a vision board

- Start a dream journal

- Difference between ego and self

- Help others for the sake of helping others, ask yourself how you can give more instead of get more 

- Head massages

- Wear purple clothes 

- Levendel essential oil

- Amethyst crystals

Yoga sequences, meditations, affirmations and more practical tips to strengthen the crown chakra coming up this month so stay tuned! :) Namaste!

Chakra of the Month: Thrid eye chakra

The third eye, or in Sanskrit called the Ajna chakra, is located in the brain, at the level between the eyebrows. The element of this chakra is light, a combination of all the elements in its purest form and the color is indigo or purple. The third eye is strongly connected to our intuition, awareness and the ability to see and understand what can not be seen with our eyes.

Balanced Third Eye:

Connected to intuition and open to receive universal knowledge. Wild imagination, powerful dreams, open minded and able to see meaning in situations and circumstances. Connected to both inner and universal wisdom and having a good sense of judgment, good concentration, easy to learn new things and strong memory. Empathy and high emotional intelligence. 

Imbalanced Third Eye:

May occur as stress, fatigue, depression, panic and mood disorders. Headaches, migraines, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, strokes and tumors. Ear aches, eye problems, blindness, lack of clarity, in spiritual denial and judgmental of other people and situations. Over intellectual and lacking of empathy. Disconnected to intuition, easily worried, suspicious, un willing to see the truth and  easily lost in day dreaming. Memory and learning disabilities, poor concentration. 

How to balance Ajna Chakra: 

- Meditate!

- Be present in conversations, practice listening and not just hearing, seeing and not just looking

- Journaling, especially dream journals

- Try to feel energy and vibrations from other people, situations and places

- Wear indigo or purple clothing

- Walk in moonlight 

- Star gazing

- Vitamin E, alfa alfa and chamomille

Stay hydrated: water water water!

- Rosemary and patchouli essential oils

Yoga sequences, meditations, affirmations and more practical tips to strengthen the third eye chakra coming up this month :) Namaste!

Chakra of the Month: Throat Chakra

The fifth charka is located at the base of the throat and is therefore called the throat chakra or in sanskrit, Visuddha Chakra. The element of this chakra is ether or space and vibrates the color of a clear blue turquoise sky. The throat chakra is associated with honesty, communication and expression of ones true self and authentic voice. The sense connected to this chakra is hearing as communication not only stands for talking but also listening. 

Balanced Throat Chakra: 

Truthful, honest and authentic with yourself and others. Communicating and speaking clearly and in a balanced way. Being able to listen to others in an open way and to give helpful support when needed. Having a balanced sleep routine and taking care of your need to rest and restore. Being able to express feelings, thoughts as well as insecurities and weaknesses. Standing up for what you believe in, saying no when you need to and in contact with what you want from life. 

Imbalanced Throat Chakra:

May occur as sore throat, colds, thyroid problems, teeth problems, sinus infections, neck and shoulder issues and voice issues. Shyness, sleep disorders and mental tiredness. Difficulties to listen to yourself, your needs and desires. Negative self talk, self doubt, feelings of guilt, nightmares, sleep issues, learning disabilities. Finding yourself stammering and losing words, feelings of being isolated and easily irritated. Over critical to yourself and others, unable to express yourself and therefore often misunderstood. Difficulties sticking to the truth, habitual lying and often giving mixed messages.

How to Balance Vishuddha: 

- Sing!

 -Call an old friend

- Blue clothes and blue foods

- Massage

- Speak the truth

- Rest & restore

 - Express thoughts and feelings in words

- Journaling

 - Lavender essential oil

- Chant mantras

Yoga sequences, meditations, affirmations and more practical tips to strengthen the Throat chakra coming up this month :) Namaste!

Chakra of the Month: Heart Chakra

The fourth chakra is the heart chakra, located Close to the physical heart at the center of the chest. The sanskrit name is Anahata, which can be translated to unhurt or unstuck, implying that beneath any pain or stagnation there is an endless flow of joy, love and compassion. 

The three lower chakras are considered to be more physical and the fifth, sixth and seventh chakra more spiritual. The heart chakra, which is the center of the seven chakras therefore becomes a bridge between the physical world and the spiritual dimension, connecting the lower chakras to the higher ones. This makes the heart chakra important in spiritual development or healing.   

Balanced & Open Heart Chakra: 

Kind, caring and outgoing. Able to forgive others and yourself, open to love and compassion. Feeling complete and accepting yourself. Accepting others, circumstances, thoughts and feelings as they are. Strong immune system, connected to the present moment.

Buddhists call an open heart chakra Mahakaruna, meaning it is an open channel for universal love and compassion. For this flow of universal love to flow freely through us and our heart we must first love ourselves before we can truly love others. 

Imbalanced & Closed Heart Chakra may occur as:

Fear of betrayal and feeling hatred towards others and yourself. Feeling lonely, searching for others approval and having a tendency to rush into relationships. Easily lost in emotions such as sadness, grief, anger or jealousy and inability to express feelings in a healthy way. Having a negative outlook on life and victimizing oneself. Trust issues, scared of intimacy and of getting hurt. Fast and irregular heart beat, chest pain, poor circulation, high/low blood pressure, shallow breathing and/or  asthma.

How to balance Anahata: 

- Spend time with and give love to friends and family
- Practice gratitude, daily! Also express gratitude towards people in your Life
- Eat green (the color of the heart chakra) Foods and wear green clothing

- Forgive others and yourself

- Follow your dreams and desires

- Spend time in nature, especially when windy (air is the element of the heart chakra)
- Listen and speak to others from an open heart

- Smile towards others and practice random acts of kindness

- Practice acceptance of emotions, circumstances, others and things you can't Control

Yoga sequences, meditations, affirmations and more practical tips to strengthen the Heart Chakra coming up this month :) Namaste

Chakra of the Month: Solar Plexus

The third chakra is the solar plexus chakra, also known as manipura, located in the middle of the abdomen, behind the navel. The element is fire and it is where we store our life force energy. Power is a key word for the third chakra as it is connected to willpower, personal power and power of transformation. 

Balanced Solar Plexus Chakra: Feeling of inner harmony, self-acceptance, emotional balance and self confidence. Ability to meet challenges, respect for yourself and others. High metabolism, high energy level, being optimistic and responsible.

Imbalanced Solar Plexus Chakra may occur as: Digestive issues, diabetes, gallstone, allergies, problems with stomach and liver. Low self esteem, lack of self-control,  poor ability to make decisions and taking actions, anger and control issues. Tiredness, difficulty concentrating, daydreaming, living in past or future. Behaviors governed by fear not love, unable to set boundaries, to say no and to stand up for yourself. Fear of rejection and criticism as well as depression or anxiety.

How to Balance Solar Plexus: 

- Find balance between activity and rest

- Be aware of who you spend time with, do they take energy, or give you energy?

- Spend time with people who appreciate you

- Declutter: get rid of things you no longer need

- Catch yourself if you talk badly about yourself

- When somebody gives you a compliment, practice saying thank you

- Eat yellow food

- Wear yellow clothes

Yoga sequences, meditations, affirmations and more practical tips to strengthen the Solar Plexus Chakra coming up this month :) Namaste

Chakra of the month: Sacral Chakra

The second chakra is the Sacral Chakra, located between the pelvis and navel (about three fingers below the belly button) and is considered the seat for our emotions. The sanskrit name is Svadhistana but is often called the creative or sexual chakra because of its connection to passion and pleasure. The element of the sacral chakra is water, and its energy is movement and flow. 

Balanced Sacral Chakra: Feelings and creativity flow freely, ability to express ourselves both emotionally and creatively. Self confidence and self approval. Having a healthy relationship with ourselves in order to have healthy boundaries and relationships, both casual and sexual.

Imbalanced Sacral Chakra may occur as: Problems related to sexuality and addictive behaviors. Blocked creativity. Destructive and disconnection to emotions, feeling insecure, over sensitive, powerless and difficulties making decisions. A strong desire to "fit in", for others approval and excessive neediness in relationships. Imbalances may express themselves physically as bladder, uninary or kidney infections. 

How to Balance Svadhistana: 

- Get to know your feelings and listen to them

- Let go of unhealthy emotions, people, memories...

- Nourish your relationships

- Express yourself creatively

- Create flow in the body by doing yoga or dancing

- Swim, walk in the rain or spend time by the sea (water is the element of this chakra)

- Wear orange clothes and eat orange foods (the color of this chakra)

Yoga sequences, meditations, affirmations and more practical tips to strengthen the Sacral Chakra coming up this month :) Namaste

Chakra of the month: Root Chakra

The first chakra is the Root Chakra, located at the base of the spine. The sanskrit name Muladhara translates into root support. Having a balanced Root Chakra is essential as it is the foundation, connecting us to the physical body, our surroundings and the earth. 

Balanced Root Chakra:

Contact with the physical body, knowing what we need and fulfillning our needs. Feeling safe and confident in ourselves, in relationship with others and with our sourroundings. Feeling centered, grounded, patient, geneous and trusting ourselves and our path. 

Imbalanced Root Chakra may occur as:

Lower back issues, arthritis, constipation, hemorrhoids, poor blood circulation, depression, anxiety dissorders, mental illness, eating dissorders, addictions, weight issues. Feeling of being abandoned, scared, isolated, restlessness, ungrounded and low self esteem. Difficulties of letting go and dending on the security of others, of a job, materialistic things or specific habits. Anger, greediness and feeling disconnected from your body and/or the world around you. 

How to balance Muladhara:
- Yoga
- Meditation
. Go for a walk and/or walking meditation
- Spend time in nature
- Treat yourself with a massage
- Dance
- Affirmations
- Get enough sleep
- Eat red foods...

Yoga sequences, meditations, affirmations and more practical tips to strengthen the Root Chakra coming up this month :) Namaste

Chakras 101:

How can knowledge about the chakra system help you find balance, what are the chakras really and why do they matter?! 

According to yogic tradition we exist of more than the physical body. The subtle body or energy body can neither be seen nor touched and exists of prana (life force energy), nadis (channels in which prana flows) and chakras. 

Chakra is a sanskrit word that translates into spinning wheel. The chakras are located where the nadis meet and cross each other, creating swirling wheels of energy. The 7 major chakras are aligned from the base of the spine (root chakra) up to the crown of the head (crown chakra). 

The chakras are responsible for maintaining a healthy flow of energy in the body to balance the mind, body and spirit. Each chakra is connected to different organs and glands and  represents unique characteristics. If a chakra is blocked or out of balance the energy becomes stagnant. Depending on which chakra is out of balance you may experience different symptoms depending on the chakras responsibilities on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.

It is not as mystical as it may sounds, the whole universe is made up from energy and so are you!

During these upcoming months, beginning in October, I will guide you month by month though the 7 main chakras. I will explain what they stand for, represent and how to self diagnose wether they are in balance or not. I will also give you yogic tools how to  take care of your energy system so that you can live your life to the fullest.

This 7 month journey through the chakras can be whatever you want it to be, your belief system is your limit. By developing an understanding for the chakra system and the energy body you can deepen your understanding for yourself and take your practice to a new level! You will have amazing effects of the upcoming yoga sequences whether you believe chakras exist or not but I advise you to have an open mind and to enjoy the journey!