What Are Chakras, And Can Understanding Them Actually Improve Your Life?

“My chakras are aligning,” I’d often joke when good things would happen to me. Maybe you’ve heard somebody say their chakras are blocked, or dismissed the whole thing as another internet wellness buzzword associated with yoga, meditation and crystals. The word always felt like it belonged in another dimension, but what does it actually mean? What are chakras? Why are we opening them? How are they aligned?

After some research, I realised that chakras are not just a modern internet trend; they have deep spiritual roots and have been referenced for a very long time. With the right understanding, the chakra system can actually become a useful way to check in with yourself.

I’ve never been to my local GP and had them suggest that I should “open my chakras.” It’s not something that is referenced at all in Western medicine. When we can’t measure something scientifically, we can easily dismiss it. But what if chakras could offer a way to understand why we feel blocked, drained, insecure, disconnected or out of balance?

The word chakra comes from South Asia and is often translated as “wheel” or “cycle.” The word is most commonly used in traditional Hindu and Buddhist practices, where it refers to the body’s main energy centres. People usually focus on seven primary chakras, which are believed to run vertically along the spine. Each chakra represents specific physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of well-being. Whether you see chakras as a spiritual lens for understanding your well-being or as a wellness metaphor, they offer an interesting way to check in with yourself in a non-conventional way.

The seven chakras

The first of the seven chakras is the Root Chakra. This chakra is connected to survival and is believed to be located at the base of your spine. The focus of this chakra is on money, career, safety and a sense of groundedness. This one is called the Root Chakra because it acts as the foundation for the rest. Like a building’s foundation, if it feels shaky, everything else can feel unstable too. When it feels balanced, you may feel more secure in your life and career choices.

The Sacral Chakra is next. It’s all about flow and is believed to be located just below your belly button. This chakra focuses on creativity, healthy sexuality, relationships and pleasure. Picture this chakra as your inner artist and romantic. When it’s blocked, you may find yourself in a creative rut or feeling emotionally cold. When this chakra is open, you’ll feel a flow of passion and joy.

@kimihajianLearning about the chakra system was the moment yoga truly clicked for me. It helped me understand why yoga works and how deeply it can transform the way we move through life. That discovery completely changed my relationship with yoga and sparked my desire to keep learning and sharing it. So I created the Root to Rise Chakra Series to guide you through the same journey. We begin symbolically on the first day of spring, 20th March, and over 9 days we’ll explore the chakras one by one through powerful, embodied practices, usually 60 – 75 min long. Day 1 – Introduction to the Chakra System Day 2 – 🤎 Root Chakra Day 3 – 🧡 Sacral Chakra Day 4 – 💛 Solar Plexus Chakra Day 5 – 💚 Heart Chakra Day 6 – 🩵 Throat Chakra Day 7 – 💙 Third Eye Chakra Day 8 – 💜 Crown Chakra Day 9 – ✨ Integration Practice Included within the Alkimi app membership. You can start with a 7-day free trial. 🧚🏽 Can’t wait to start rising with you 🌈♬ Inspirational piano and strings, post-classical 10(1373065) – arachang

The next chakra is the Solar Plexus Chakra. This chakra is all about your most confident self, and it’s located in your upper stomach. This chakra focuses on identity, self-esteem, and ambition. A balanced Solar Plexus means you may feel confident enough to chase your goals without constantly feeling like you have imposter syndrome.

Next up is your Heart Chakra. This one is all about empathy and, quite fittingly, is located in the centre of your chest. The Heart Chakra focuses on love, compassion, forgiveness and community. This chakra sits between the lower “physical” chakras and upper “spiritual” ones, bridging them together. It represents your ability to give and receive love, as well as set healthy boundaries without closing yourself off.

The fifth chakra is your Throat Chakra. This is all about your authentic voice and, of course, it is found in the throat. This chakra focuses on communication, honesty, and

self-expression. The Throat Chakra is like your very own personal microphone. A balanced Throat Chakra is believed to help you speak your truth clearly and confidently, while also remembering to listen to others.

The second last chakra is the famous Third Eye Chakra. This chakra is your inner compass, and is located between your eyebrows. This chakra relates to your intuition and gut feelings. This chakra is like an internal map, helping you find clarity within mental fog and trust your instincts when making big life decisions. Is your third eye open?

The last chakra on the list is your Crown Chakra. This chakra relates to your higher consciousness and can be found on the very top of your head. This chakra is all about spiritual connection, life purpose, and mindfulness. The Crown Chakra is like an antenna that connects you to the universe, reminding you of your higher purpose.

Encouraging self awareness

Now that we know what chakras are and what they are believed to represent, can being aware of them actually improve your life?

Understanding chakras might not magically fix all your life’s issues overnight, but it encourages self-awareness. With enough self-awareness, you can feel more in control of how you deal with the problems you may face in life. Understanding the chakras can help you notice how stress shows up in your body, whether that’s a tight throat, racing heart or bubbling stomach. This can help you notice what is bothering you before it spirals.

Physical awareness is key when it comes to using the chakras to decode your physical tension. In chakra work, a tight lower back might prompt you to think about financial stress, survival worries or where you are craving more stability. Although awareness does not solve the issue instantly, it is often far better than ignoring where you are holding tension. Listening to your chakras can build a better connection between your mind and body. It teaches you to listen to your gut feelings before your brain over-complicates things.

 

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While this information is all well and good, how do you actually use it in your everyday life? The locations of the seven chakras are often said to correspond with major points in the nervous and endocrine systems. Using your knowledge of chakras alongside wellness practices like yoga and meditation can create a more reflective approach to self-care.

Practising yoga can be a helpful way to explore chakra alignment in a physical way. The chakra system suggests that emotional stress can show up in specific areas of the body. For example, some traditions associate tight hips with an imbalanced Sacral Chakra. Certain yoga stretches may help release physical tension, while also supporting stress management and mental well-being.

Alongside yoga, meditation is often used to unblock chakras. Meditation can help regulate attention, emotion and self-awareness, which is why it is often used alongside chakra work. Chakra meditation uses colour and location visualisations to focus your mind, and this practice may help calm repetitive and stressful thought loops.

These practices can be helpful, but they should never replace medical or mental health support when you need it.

In a world where so many of us are dealing with overstimulation, anxiety and disconnection from our bodies, exploring chakras can give us a slower, more reflective way to check in with how we’re feeling. Balancing your chakras is all about noticing what feels out of alignment physically, emotionally or spiritually, and asking yourself what needs more attention.

Words by Katie Walsh