The Chakras for Yoga Therapy
During my yoga teacher training, I learned about the chakras and blocked energy. Initially, this all felt a little woo-woo, but as a yoga therapist, I often see the body used as a tool to connect deeply with our Self. I realize that what we notice in our bodies, what emotions we feel, or memories that can pop up while we are deep in a yoga pose can be a new insight. An insight into what is holding us back, making us sad, feel stuck or dissatisfied. If we use our body rather than relying on our mind (our story), we have another lens to use to figure out what is going on.
As we hang out in yoga poses, sometimes we notice feelings and emotions, and sometimes we feel a stretch. So we can use the chakras as our lens. To discover which poses are pertinent.
While researching the chakras, I found it beneficial to move through each chakra one at a time, spending a week or two on each. I worked through the postures and mindfulness exercises and noticed what came up for me. Rather than the more prescriptive way of deciding, what is my problem? Matching it to a chakra and then trying to fix it. Moving through the chakras as a series allows us to move from primary issues of security and identity governed by the root chakra. Through the sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, and third eye, ending in the crown chakra. The crown chakra governs the more esoteric issue of personal enlightenment.
As a Phoenix Rising yoga therapist, my work is based on the themes of embodiment, awareness, acceptance, choice, discernment, truth, truth in action, and flow. For most clients, early sessions are about befriending the body. As you can see below the themes tie in pretty well to the chakras.
Root Chakra (Muladhara) - relates to embodiment, Root chakra healing is the first step in the journey of personal development.
Sacral Chakra (Svadisthana) - is the dwelling place of self so related to self-awareness.
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) acts as the center of personal power. This chakra governs personality, ego, and identity, as well as personal freedom, choice, and authenticity. Self-love, self-acceptance, and acknowledgment of your worth are part of Manipura.
Heart Chakra (Anahata) is associated with unconditional love, compassion, and joy. It is the source of profound truths that cannot be expressed in words.
Throat Chakra (Vishudha) is concerned with the ability to speak your truth and is therefore truth in action.
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) Discernment comes from a balance of intellectual reasoning combined with your intuition and gut instincts. Discernment is your ability to perceive what is true. The third eye is the chakra of intuition so works to discern.
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) is the chakra of connection. On an emotional level, the crown chakra generates devotion, inspirational and prophetic thought, mystical connections, and transcendental ideas. Opening of the crown chakra allows for bliss and therefore flow.
I will delve more deeply into the chakras in my weekly blog. What they govern, and how they may come to be blocked. How this may show up as symptoms and what to do about it.