Using Yoga For Your Mental Health

Matty Sweet
13 minutes ago
4 min read

What Are Chakras In Yoga? 🪷

Within the body chakras exist as wheels, or vortexes of pranic energy which can be unlocked during a yoga practice. ‘Each chakra is a switch which turns on or opens up patterns of behaviour, thought or emotional reactions which may have been unconscious in our everyday in life.’ (Saraswati, p.526) By using a concentrated focus, pranic energy flows through the nerve plexuses, and endocrine system through the route known as the sushumna through the spine from the perineum to the crown of our heads. It is said that there are over 112 different chakras within us with the main focus being put upon seven as described here. These seven align through a connection known as the nadis which resembles the parasympathetic nervous system. It is said that the journey from the root chakra, or Mooladhara up to the crown chakra, or Sahasara takes a person’s consciousness through three stages: ignorance, aspiration and illumination from its lowest form to the highest form of awareness. Visually each chakra is symbolised by a lotus flower, and within the petals resides mantras, yantras, deities and vahana, or an animal form connected to each one. The power of this practice comes from unlocking our kundalini shakti, or astral body so we may bond once more with the universal energy, or Brahman. This is shown as a sleeping serpent who needs self purification and concentration so we may join with pure consciousness, or Shiva.

The Chakra of Mooladhara, or Muladhara, or Root Chakra

The foundation of life can be found at the pelvic floor where the chakra of Mooladhara, or Muladhara is situated. It is termed to the root chakra as it governs the sense of smell, and our organ of elimination, the anus. The red lotus flower has four petals and includes a yellow square within it. This is known as the prithvi tattwa which connects it the earth element. The manta for this chakra is LAM. Inwards you can see an inverted red triangle, or shakti that shows a relation to our creative energy. While the emotions of passion and frustration are also a part of this chakra. Its totem animal is that of an elephant with its seven trunks.

The Chakra of Svadisthana, or the Sacral Chakra

Next up we have ‘one’s own abode,’ (Saraswati, p.529) which rests in the abdomen as is known as Svadisthana, or the sacral chakra. The potency of energy caught up in this chakra relates to the location of the our samskaras, or past mental impressions best understood as the unconscious imprinting we have acquired. Our emotions are best seen as pleasure and security where we use our tongues, and genitals to so. It is here that a practitioner may address their actions, and reactions to karmic forces looking at the crocodile which carries the moon, and bija mantra upon its back. The lotus is crimson and has six petals to it with a circular symbol inside that houses a white crescent moon. Its yantra is known as apas tattwa and connected with the water element. While the mantra can be heard as vam.

The Chakra of Manipura, or the Solar Plexus chakra

As we travel upwards along the sushumna, and nadis we arrive at the Manipura, or the solar plexus chakra that is located behind the navel. The yellow, ten leaf lotus, is associated with the sensory self of sight, and the element of fire as its apas tattwa. This complex energy centre deals with self assertion, dynamism and dominance with the negativity of the ego control one has with self, and others. This inner drive is centred with digestion, and metabolism with the respective organs that are a part of this delicate balance. Equally important to the other side of the equation is the connection to the adrenal glands and how the body secretes adrenaline to prepare ourselves for fight, flight, or freeze to external threats. A ram is symbolised as its totem animal.

The Chakra of Anahata, or Heart Chakra

Anahata, or heart chakra is found at the mid chest level. This chakra translates to becoming unstuck using unconditional love to find freedom. At the heart centre anahad nada originates as an unstuck sound that communicates with the universe as ‘an internal, unborn and undying vibration.’ (Saraswati, p.531) It is a powerful green chakra because it has feeling, giving, taking and emotions of connectivity and alienation towards others. The yantra of vayu tattwa is air, while the mantra can be heard as yam. The antelope is the totem while it is governed using the circulatory, and central nervous system.

The Chakra of Vishuddhi, or Throat Chakra

Vishuddhi, or the throat chakra is monitored by the thyroid. It is a communicative whirlpool associated with purification one uses with ether as its akasha tattwa, seen as a violet, or blue sixteen petalled lotus. The mantra is that of ham and white elephant as it totem animal. The right understanding, and discrimination develop here as inspiration, or regression which is regulated by cellular integrity to do so.

The Chakra of Ajna, or Brow Chakra

At the brow, the Ajna, or third eye is known as jnana chakshu, the eye of wisdom; triveni, the confluence of three rivers, and guru chakra and the eye of of Shiva. (Saraswati, p.532) I like how it is thought of as the command chakra which needs guidance from a guru to obtain a deeper understanding of the divine, or higher self. It is here that the pituitary gland regulates the material world, or Prakriti, using our sixth sense to do so. As a depicted two petaled silver lotus flower one can see the pranic flow of the positive, the sun, or pingala and the moon, or negative force of ida while using AUM as its mantra.

The Chakra of Sahasara, or Crown Chakra

Finally, we have Sahasara, or crown chakra which transcends consciousness with inner light to enlightenment. It is symbolised by a thousand petalled lotus flower. The kundalini energy travels through the sushumna to connect with the universe and the source of matter and energy. It is said a yogi who achieves this passes beyond birth and death. The explanation hope to prove that yoga is much more powerful than just turning up to a mat.