Chakras are spinning wheels of energy found throughout the body; in fact the word “chakra” is Sanskrit for “wheel” or “vortex.” While humans have over one hundred chakras throughout the body, there are seven primary chakras and each one correlates with key physical and non-physical aspects of ourselves. Each primary chakra is also associated with one of the glands of the endocrine system; these glands are responsible for regulating the production and distribution of hormones into the bloodstream, playing a major role in major role in growth, development, and physical and mental health.
The state of your chakras is impacted by your life experiences, and perhaps more importantly, by how you respond to those life experiences — your thoughts, your emotions and your actions. When your chakras are healthy, open and balanced you will feel healthy, open and balanced. When you are feeling unwell, blocked or just plain “off,” chances are that one or more of your seven primary chakras is out of balance.
However, you may be able to guess which of your chakras are over-active or under-active based on the descriptions provided below. In addition to the symptoms of imbalance listed for each chakra, illness or injury in any of the physical areas associated with that chakra also indicate an imbalance. There are a variety of ways in which chakras can be brought back into balance, including energy healing techniques such as Reiki; other ways to rebalance specific chakras are listed below.
1st Chakra = Root Chakra
- Location: base of spine (coccyx/tailbone)
- Physical: adrenals, spine, skeleton, legs, feet
- Life lessons/influences: survival, security, community
- Symptoms of imbalance: lack of abundance, sense of scarcity (under-active); greed, aggression (over-active)
- Rebalancing: daily routines, physical exercise, facing basic fears, organized home
2nd Chakra = Sacral Chakra
- Location: lower abdomen, between navel and pubic bone
- Physical: hips, low back, bladder, liver, large intestine, reproductive organs
- Life lessons/influences: sensuality, creativity, sexuality, emotions
- Symptoms of imbalance: avoid experiencing emotions, stuck in your head, and even addictive behavior
- Rebalancing: play, sing, dance, laugh, cry, self-care, baths, physical exercise, creative expression
- Location: above navel, upper stomach area
- Physical: pancreas, stomach, upper intestines, gallbladder and liver, midback
- Life lessons/influences: willpower, self-esteem, humor
- Symptoms of imbalance: easily overpowered, lacking focus and direction (under-active); harsh and defensive (over-active)
- Rebalancing: learn something new, reflect on your positive qualities, laugh, stand up for yourself, sunbathe
- Location: center of chest
- Physical: heart, lungs, diaphragm, chest, arms,hands, thymus gland
- Life lessons/influences: love, forgiveness, compassion, self-acceptance
- Symptoms of imbalance: intimacy issues (under-active); poor boundaries, overly empathic (over-active)
- Rebalancing: practice self-love, maintain healthy boundaries, get a massage, hug someone, do breathwork, spend time in nature
- Location: throat
- Physical: mouth & throat, jaw, neck, shoulders, ears, esophagus, trachea, and thyroid gland
- Life lessons/influences: communication, relationships, trust
- Symptoms of imbalance: not speaking your truth, failing to truly listen or understand, unequal dynamic in relationships
- Rebalancing: listen to music, sing, practice speaking your truth, listen, engage in meaningful conversations
- Location: center of forehead
- Physical: head, brain, nervous system, sensory organs, pituitary gland
- Life lessons/influences: intuition, clarity, insight
- Symptoms of imbalance: difficulty focusing, being ungrounded, sleep disorders
- Rebalancing: positive visualization, star gazing, staying balanced between groundedness and intuition
- Location: top of head
- Physical: brain, spinal cord, nervous system, pineal gland
- Life lessons/influences: higher consciousness, spirituality
- Symptoms of imbalance: anxiety, lack of faith, headaches, mental illness
- Rebalancing: meditation, write down visions or intentions, pay attention to dreams, become open to all possibility