Whether you’re a beginner or well-practiced yogi, you’ve probably heard your yoga teachers talk about chakras at one point or another, especially in tantra yoga classes. The whole idea behind tantra yoga is to weave together a variety of yoga practices and various other spiritual styles and teachings in order to connect with others as well as the universe. When you practice tantra yoga consistently, you can get more in tune with who you are and you can deepen your relationship with others. At Sol Bodies in New York, we’re proud to offer private tantric yoga lessons to our students and we love educating them on the importance of chakras. In this a
Tantra Yoga Chakras
The word ‘chakra’ is derived from the sanskrit word for ‘wheel.’ The literal translation from Hindi means ‘wheel of spinning energy.’ Within the human body, there are seven major energy centers, or chakras. When you think of chakras, it can help to visualize them as invisible, rechargeable batteries. Chakras can be charged and recharged through a connection with the stream of cosmic energy in the atmosphere. Sometimes, our chakras become blocked due to things like stress, both emotionally and physically. When the body’s energy system cannot flow freely, problems are more likely to occur. This can result in an irregular energy flow which can result in physical illness and discomfort, as well a being mentally and emotionally out of balance.
Muladhara (Root Chakra)
The root chakra, also known as the Muladhara, governs your family ties and feelings of survival and belonging. Your earliest memories are often stored here, including whether or not your basic needs have been met. When this chakra is out of balance, people feel symptoms of low self-esteem and can have self-destructive behavior. When Muladhara is in balance, you feel strong and confident.
Svadhisthana (Sacral or Pelvic Chakra)
The sacral or pelvic chakra, also known as Svadhisthana, is connected to your reproductive and sexual organs. This chakra represents fertility, creativity, and fluidity, but when out of balance, people feel emotionally unstable or guilty. When the sacral chakra is in balance, however, you feel creative, positive, and receptive to change.
Manipura (Navel Chakra)
The third chakra, which is located at the navel, is called Manipura. When this chakra is perfectly balanced, people often experience feelings of confidence and high self-esteem. When it is blocked, you may feel stagnant, inert, and unmotivated. When you work on this chakra, you can awaken your inner power and work through your fear of taking risks.
In part two of this series, we’ll discuss the remaining four tantra yoga chakras which include Anahata, Vishuddha, Anja, and Sahasrara. If you live in New York and are interested in trying a tantra yoga class, contact Sol Bodies today. We offer private yoga classes that can be customized to meet your fitness needs and we would love to help you reach a state of eternal bliss.