What Are the 7 Chakras and How Can You Unblock Them?

If you’ve ever practiced yoga, tried meditation, received energy healing like Reiki, or even watched videos on these topics, you’ve probably come across the concept of chakras. These energy centers are often mentioned as essential to maintaining a healthy energy flow throughout the body.

You might have heard that keeping your chakras open or unblocked is essential, but what does that mean?

This guide will explore the seven primary chakras and discuss how these energy hubs may influence your physical, mental, and emotional health. You’ll also learn simple ways to keep them balanced and flowing freely.

Understanding Chakras

The term “chakra” comes from Sanskrit and translates to “wheel” or “disk,” referring to spinning centers of energy within the body. These spinning wheels are linked to specific nerves, glands, and organs.

It’s important for these chakras to stay balanced for your body to operate smoothly. When a chakra is blocked, it may lead to certain emotional or physical symptoms, depending on which one is affected.

There are said to be over 100 chakras in the body, but the seven located along the spine, from the base to the crown of the head, are the most commonly discussed. These are the ones we’ll focus on in the sections that follow.

What Are the 7 Main Chakras?

The chakra system refers to the primary energy centers within your body. These seven chakras are aligned along your spine, each associated with different physical and emotional health aspects. Let’s explore them one by one.

Root Chakra (Muladhara)

Located at the base of your spine, the root chakra provides your sense of grounding and stability. It’s linked to your survival instincts and how secure you feel – physically, emotionally, and financially.

Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

The sacral chakra, located just below the navel, is linked to creativity, sensuality, and emotional connection. It influences how you experience pleasure, express emotions, and form relationships with others.

Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

Found in your upper abdomen, the solar plexus chakra governs your power, confidence, and self-esteem. It helps you take control of your actions and feel capable of shaping your own life.

Heart Chakra (Anahata)

Sitting at the center of your chest, the heart chakra bridges the gap between the lower and upper chakras. It’s all about love for yourself and others and is deeply connected to compassion, kindness, and healing.

Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

As the name suggests, the throat chakra is located in the throat area and is tied to communication. It empowers you to speak your truth, express yourself clearly, and listen openly to others.

Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

The third eye chakra is associated with inner wisdom and intuition and is found between your eyebrows. It enhances your ability to see the bigger picture and trust your instincts.

Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

Located at the very top of your head, the crown chakra represents your spiritual connection to the universe. It’s linked to enlightenment, purpose, and feeling part of something greater.

What Happens When a Chakra Is Out of Balance?

Rather than thinking of chakras as strictly "blocked," it’s more accurate to view them as either underactive or overactive, according to Diane Malaspina, PhD, a specialist in yoga therapy.

A lack of energy in a chakra can make it hard to access the qualities tied to that area. For instance, a low-functioning root chakra might make you insecure or anxious.

Conversely, an overactive chakra may dominate your life in unhelpful ways. For example, too much energy in the root chakra could lead to excessive materialism or reckless risk-taking.

Can Imbalanced Chakras Affect Your Health?

When a chakra is unbalanced, it may appear in both your body and your emotions. Malaspina notes that physical issues often occur near the chakra’s location, impacting nearby organs, joints, or muscles.

Emotionally, you might feel off-center, experiencing mood swings, indecision, or heightened anxiety.

Guadalupe Terrones, a certified yoga instructor and master Reiki healer, explains that chronic stress, whether physical or emotional, can throw one or more chakras out of sync. Habits like poor posture, unhealthy eating, or negative self-talk may worsen the imbalance.

Left unchecked, these imbalances can contribute to long-term health issues such as chronic pain, digestive disorders, or mental health conditions like depression.

How Can You Unblock a Chakra?

To help restore balance to a chakra, aligning your physical body is a powerful place to begin. According to Dr. Diane Malaspina, breathwork and meditation can be particularly effective:

• Breathing techniques can support the smooth flow of energy.
• Meditation can quiet the mind and create mental clarity.

Additionally, specific yoga poses are often linked to each chakra, helping to direct energy and promote balance. Here’s how you can target each of the seven main chakras through movement:

Root Chakra (Muladhara)

Located at the base of the spine, the root chakra relates to stability, safety, and your physical foundation.
Recommended poses:

• Tree Pose
• Mountain Pose
• Warrior Pose

These grounding poses help you build a more profound sense of security and connection to the earth.

Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

This chakra is found just below the navel, which governs creativity, pleasure, and emotional connection.
Recommended poses:

• Bridge Pose
• Pigeon Pose
• Lizard Pose

These movements open the hips and strengthen the pelvic region, encouraging creative flow and emotional release.

Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

This chakra is located in the upper abdomen and influences personal power, confidence, and motivation.
Recommended poses:

• Boat Pose
• Triangle Pose

Both help activate your core muscles and ignite your internal drive and self-assurance.

Heart Chakra (Anahata)

At the center of the chest, the heart chakra represents love, compassion, and connection.
Recommended poses:

• Camel Pose
• Wheel Pose
• Cow Face Pose
• Humble Warrior Pose

These chest-opening poses help expand your capacity for giving and receiving love.

Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

Situated in the throat, this chakra is about clear expression and communication.
Recommended poses:

• Plow Pose
• Fish Pose
  These poses open both the front and back of the neck, helping you speak your truth more freely.

Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

Positioned between the eyebrows, the third eye chakra enhances intuition, insight, and inner vision.
Recommended poses:

• Forward Fold
• Folded Eagle Pose

These forward bends support the connection between your inner wisdom and grounded awareness, allowing dreams to meet reality.

Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

At the top of the head, the crown chakra relates to spiritual connection and higher consciousness.
Recommended pose:

• Savasana (Corpse Pose)

This final resting pose encourages deep stillness, inviting connection with your higher self and spiritual awareness.

Final Thoughts

Chakras are powerful energy centers within your body, linked to various emotional and physical functions. You might notice mental, emotional, or physical symptoms when one or more chakras become unbalanced.

Yoga poses, conscious breathing, and meditation can all support the realignment process. If you want more personalized guidance, consider working with a certified yoga instructor or a trained energy healer, like a Reiki practitioner.