"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet." - Thich Nhat Hanh
I want to start with a disclosure, Chakras are not religious nor do they need to be taken as such. I just want to offer some insight when I mention them during practice.
Chakras literally translates to "spinning wheel," and were first mentioned in ancient Indian texts. They are believed to be energy wheels that spin in our subtle bodies that open and close for optimal emotional and physical well-being.
You know those times in life when you feel off-balanced or not like your true authentic self, it could be said to be related to your Chakras being out of whack. Whether you believe in Chakras or not, the ideas behind them are a good place to start when you are feeling imbalanced and ways you can bring your awareness mentally and physically to recenter and rebalance. Below is a list of the common 7 we speak about in yoga along with where they are located, what system within the body they connect to, how they might affect you when balanced or imbalanced, and then the elements, colors, and poses they relate to.
Root Chakra (Muladhara)
System: Skeletal
Located: Base of the Spine
Associated with: Security, survival, safety, money, physical vitality
Color: Red
Element: Earth
Pose: Mtn, Seated Forward Bend, Chair, Malasana
Sacral or Pelvic Chakra (Svadhisthana)
Located: Pelvic Basin
System: Reproductive
Associated: Sexuality, appetite, creative powers, desires, sensations
Color: Orange
Element: Water
Pose: Warrior 2, Goddess, Reclined Bound Angle, Reverse Warrior
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
Location: Solar plexus and navel
System: Muscular and Digestive
Associated: Power, determination, self-control, intellect, introversion/extroversion
Color: Yellow
Element: Fire
Pose: High Lunge Twist, Triangle Pose, Plank
Heart Chakra (Anahata)
Location: Heart
System: Circulatory, Respiratory, Immune
Associated: Compassion, love, acceptance, emotional openness, relating, giving
Color: Green
Element: Air
Pose: Cat/Cow, Cobra, Bridge, Flipped Dog, Wheel
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
Located: Throat
System: Metabolism
Associated: Expression, abundance, manifestation, intuition,
communication
Color: Blue
Element: Ether
Pose: Neck Rolls, Lion's Breath, Supported ShoulderStand, Cobra or Up Dog
Third-Eye Chakra (Anja)
Located: Between Eyebrows
System: Endocrine
Associated: Insight, wisdom, self-awareness, self-realization
Color: Violet
Element: Light
Pose: Child's Pose, Lotus Pose, Downward Dog, Tree
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
Located: Crown of the head
System: Nervous
Associated: Universal consciousness, intuition, connection with the divine, peace of mind
Color: White
Element: Beyond the elements
Pose: Savasana