Chakras

Understanding the Chakra System: A Bridge Between Human Development, Spirituality, and Personal Transformation

The chakra system is a subtle energy framework that emerged from tantric and yogic traditions, particularly in texts such as the Shat Chakra Nirupana (16th century CE) and the Yoga Kundalini Upanishad (circa 9th–10th century CE). These texts describe seven primary energy centers within the human body, each associated with physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. Hatha Yoga utilizes the seven-chakra system as a core component of its philosophy and methodology for energy manipulation and spiritual development. Today, many yoga practitioners, therapists, and integrative healers draw on the chakra system to support personal growth and deep healing. One of the most influential figures in bridging the chakras with Western psychology is Anodea Judith, Ph.D., whose work explores how the chakras correspond to stages of human development and core psychological themes.

What Are Chakras? 

Derived from the Sanskrit word cakra, meaning "wheel" or "disk," chakras are spinning centers of subtle energy located along the spine, from its base to the crown of the head. In traditional Indian systems such as tantra, yoga and Ayurveda, each chakra is associated with particular physical organs, emotional patterns, and spiritual attributes. When energy flows freely through these centers, it is said to promote balance, harmony, and vitality. Conversely, blockages in these energy centers are thought to contribute to emotional distress, physical ailments, or a sense of spiritual disconnection.

These blockages often occur when prana—our vital life force—cannot move freely due to unresolved emotional experiences, chronic stress, environmental influences, or imbalances in our lifestyle. When we suppress emotions, engage in harmful habits, or become disconnected from our inner awareness, the flow of energy (prāṇa-vāha) within specific chakras can become disrupted, even blocked, leading to imbalance (duṣṭa-avasthā). 

Over time, this energetic disruption may manifest as tension in the body, persistent mental patterns, or a diminished sense of clarity, connection, vitality, or overall well-being. Yogic philosophy teaches that by engaging in intentional practices—such as ethical living (yama and niyama), seated meditation (dhyāna), conscious breath regulation (prāṇāyāma), conscious movement through postures (āsana), and embodied presence—the prāṇic flow can be gradually restored. Embodiment, in this context, is the practice of fully inhabiting the present moment through the body, integrating physical awareness with inner consciousness to harmonize mind, body, and spirit. Together, these practices support the release of energetic blockages and promote healing across physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.

How the Chakras Reflect Emotional and Psychological Challenges

Chakra imbalances reflect unresolved psychological patterns stored in the body. Each chakra can be deficient (underactive) or excessive (overactive), leading to specific emotional and behavioral issues:

1. Root Chakra:
   
   Deficient—fearful, anxious;
   Excessive—rigid, controlling
   
   
2. Sacral Chakra:
   
   Deficient—numb, emotionally closed;
   Excessive—addictive, overly seductive
   
   
3. Solar Plexus Chakra:
   
   Deficient—passive, low self-worth;
   Excessive—aggressive, power-hungry
   
   
4. Heart Chakra:
   
   Deficient—emotionally distant;
   Excessive—clingy, overly sacrificing
   
   
5. Throat Chakra:
   
   Deficient—fear of speaking;
   Excessive—dominating, interrupting
   
   
6. Third Eye Chakra:
   
   Deficient—lack of insight;
   Excessive—obsessive, disconnected from reality
   
   
7. Crown Chakra:
   
   Deficient—closed to spirituality;
   Excessive—spiritual addiction, escapism

Practical Tools for Chakra Healing and Balance

INDA Yoga’s approach is deeply practical and embodied. It emphasizes tools that integrate mind, body, and spirit, including:

• Emotional Processing Through Guided Journaling: Reflecting on experiences, feeling, and emotions to support healing.
• Affirmations: Positive statements aligned with each chakra to foster psychological shifts.
• Yoga Postures: Specific asanas to target each chakra and release blockages.
• Breathwork: Conscious breathing techniques that help move energy through the chakras.
• Energetic Work: Intentional light touch, breath, and awareness, energetic healing practices work directly with the body’s subtle energy systems to release stored tension, dissolve emotional blockages, and restore balance. Techniques may include channeling life-force energy (Marma Therapy), balancing polarities (Polarity Therapy), sensing and aligning energetic flow (Bioenergetic or intuitive methods), and integrating the mind-body field. These approaches help rewire unconscious patterns, calm the nervous system, and reconnect individuals to their innate healing intelligence—supporting transformation on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.

Yogic Energetic Healing Chart

Energetic Healing Practice	Purpose / Effect	Corresponding Yogic Practice(s)
Light touch on energy points	Activates subtle energy flow, calms nervous system	Marma Therapy, Restorative Yoga touch, Chakra balancing via intention & touch
Intention and awareness during healing	Directs prana, awakens inner intelligence	Meditation, Mindful Asana, Sankalpa (intention), Bhavana (visualization)
Breath as a channel for energy movement	Moves prana, dissolves blocks, balances nervous system	Pranayama (e.g. Nadi Shodhana, Ujjayi), Kumbhaka (breath retention)
Balancing energetic polarities (masculine/feminine, active/receptive)	Harmonizes the energy body and brain hemispheres	Ida & Pingala Nadi work, Alternate Nostril Breathing, Sun/Moon Salutations
Channeling universal life-force energy	Recharges system, activates natural healing	Pranic visualizations, Mantra chanting (e.g. Om), Bhakti yoga practices
Sensing and aligning subtle energy flow in the body	Cultivates intuitive awareness, corrects imbalances	Body scans, Yoga Nidra, Somatic yoga, Subtle Bandhas
Clearing stored emotional patterns	Releases trauma, opens chakras, resets the system	Trauma-informed yoga, Yin yoga with breath, Journaling & Svadhyaya (self-study)
Rewiring unconscious patterns and beliefs	Facilitates personal transformation and emotional healing	Chakra psychology (Anodea Judith’s model), Mantra, Meditation, Therapeutic Yoga
Integrating the mind-body energy field	Creates wholeness, supports healing and spiritual alignment	Sushumna Nadi activation, Meditative Asana, Kundalini kriyas, Mudras
Living in harmony with energy cycles and self-care rhythms	Maintains energetic alignment and long-term balance	Dinacharya (daily Ayurvedic routine), Sattvic living, Seasonal practices, Ahimsa

This holistic approach not only fosters physical wellness but also promotes trauma healing and spiritual awakening.

Why The Chakra Framework Benefits Yogis, Therapists, and Healers

• Deepens Understanding of Energy Anatomy: Moves chakra work beyond abstract theory into felt, experiential practice.
• Integrates Psychological Depth into Yoga: Links ethical guidelines, asana, pranayama, meditation, and other aspects of yoga with emotional and spiritual healing.
• Supports Trauma-Informed Teaching: Helps create safe spaces that honor students’ emotional needs.
• Encourages Self-Inquiry and Growth: Empowers practitioners to explore their own blocks and breakthroughs.

The chakra framework offers a comprehensive, integrative lens through which to view the subtle body — as a living map of our psychological development and spiritual journey. By understanding and working with the chakras, practitioners can unlock new levels of healing, empowerment, and authenticity.

Whether you are a yoga teacher, therapist, or yoga practitioner, embracing this powerful system can enrich your practice and life, fostering balance on every level: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Chakra Chart Overview

The chart below provides a comprehensive overview of the seven main chakras, integrating both traditional yogic wisdom and modern holistic understanding. Each chakra is explored through multiple dimensions to support self-awareness, personal growth, and energetic balance. The categories include:

Location in the body

Physical associations with organs and systems

Element traditionally linked to each chakra

Type of energy or core energetic quality

Psychological themes that the chakra governs

Balanced expression of the chakra’s energy

Deficient (underactive) and excessive (overactive) signs or imbalances

Practices to balance each chakra, including yoga postures, breathwork, affirmations, and meditative techniques

This guide can be used as a reference for yoga practice, teaching, energy healing, or personal development. Whether you're identifying areas of imbalance, planning chakra-themed classes, or deepening your spiritual journey, this chart offers practical insight and tools for harmonizing the body–mind–spirit energy system.

Chakra Chart

▶️ Scroll to see the full chart →

Chakra	Location	Physical Associations	Element	Type of Energy	Psychological Themes	Balanced Expression	Deficient (Underactive)	Excessive (Overactive)	Practices to Balance
Root (Muladhara)	Base of the spine, pelvic floor	Legs, feet, bones, large intestine	Earth	Grounding, stability, survival	Safety, survival, grounding, trust	Stability, grounding, trust in life	Fearful, anxious, disconnected, restless	Rigid, controlling, materialistic, stuck	Standing poses, walking barefoot, Mula Bandha, “I am safe” affirmations
Sacral (Svadhisthana)	Lower abdomen, below the navel	Reproductive organs, kidneys, bladder	Water	Creativity, sensuality, emotional flow	Emotions, creativity, sensuality, pleasure, sexuality, reproduction, boundaries	Emotional fluidity, healthy boundaries, creativity	Numb, closed off, frigid, codependent	Addictive behavior, emotional overwhelm, overly seductive	Hip openers, pelvic tilts, dance, water element, “I honor my emotions” affirmations
Solar Plexus (Manipura)	Upper abdomen, around the navel	Digestive organs, pancreas, liver	Fire	Willpower, confidence, personal power	Willpower, self-esteem, personal power	Confidence, autonomy, clarity of purpose	Passive, low self-worth, indecisive	Controlling, aggressive, power-hungry	Core work, sun salutations, fire breath, “I am powerful” affirmations
Heart (Anahata)	Center of chest	Heart, lungs, thymus, arms, hands	Air	Love, compassion, emotional balance	Love, compassion, connection, grief	Empathy, love, forgiveness, emotional openness	Cold, withdrawn, emotionally distant	Clingy, codependent, overly sacrificing	Heart openers, loving-kindness meditation, “I am love” affirmations
Throat (Vishuddha)	Throat and neck area	Throat, vocal cords, thyroid, mouth, ears	Ether (Space)	Communication, expression, truth	Communication, truth, expression	Clear communication, authentic self-expression	Fear of speaking, silence, dishonesty	Talkative, interrupting, dominating	Chanting, lion’s breath, journaling, “I speak my truth” affirmations
Third Eye (Ajna)	Between the eyebrows (forehead)	Eyes, brain, pineal gland	Light	Intuition, perception, insight	Intuition, insight, perception	Intuition, clarity, inner wisdom	Lack of imagination, poor memory, denial	Hallucinations, obsession, fantasy escape	Meditation, visualization, Trataka, “I trust my vision” affirmations
Crown (Sahasrara)	Top of the head	Brain, nervous system	Cosmic energy / Thought	Spirituality, unity, divine connection	Spirituality, consciousness, unity	Wisdom, awareness, spiritual connection	Cynicism, apathy, closed to spirituality	Spiritual addiction, escapism, disconnection	Silent meditation, prayer, “I am connected” affirmations

Chakras & Doshas: A Deeper Dive

How to Use The Chart Below

The next chart I designed to help you recognize patterns of imbalance between the chakras and the Ayurvedic doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) across different life stages and experiences.

It is not meant to diagnose, but to guide you in:

• Identifying potential vulnerabilities
• Understanding when and why those vulnerabilities show up
• Applying chakra-specific and dosha-balancing practices to restore harmony

Note: Your dominant dosha (prakriti) is not the only force at play.

We each have all three doshas within us, and we fluctuate between them depending on:

• Lifestyle
• Age and hormonal changes
• Emotional patterns
• Trauma
• Environmental factors (seasons, time of day)
• Even unresolved karmic and ancestral influences

You may see yourself reflected in more than one row—that’s not a mistake, it’s awareness.

How To Use This Guide

Step 1: Know your dominant dosha (prakriti)

…but also assess your current imbalance (vikriti). You may feel more “Kapha-like” when depressed, more “Vata-like” during stress, or more “Pitta-like” when overworking.

Step 2: Check which chakras are most vulnerable for you right now

Reflect on your current life stage, stressors, or repeating symptoms. Are you emotionally numb? Scattered? Judgmental? Burned out?

Step 3: Explore the practices

Don’t just treat the symptom—choose a chakra-focused AND dosha-balancing approach. This creates long-term energetic and physical alignment.

Step 4: Return to this guide often

Use it like a seasonal check-in or spiritual health tool. Chakra-dosha patterns shift like the tides.

Chakra–Dosha Relationship Chart

▶️ Scroll to see the full chart →

Dosha Type	Most Vulnerable Chakras	Life Stages or Events of Vulnerability	Why These Chakras?	Signs of Chakra Deficiency	Signs of Chakra Excessiveness	Associated Dis-eases or Imbalances	Balancing/Harmonizing Practices	Preventative (Maintenance) Practices
Vata (Air & Ether)	Root (Muladhara) Throat (Vishuddha)	Root: Early childhood, aging, trauma recovery Throat: Puberty, transitions, menopause	Root chakra needs grounding during unstable times. Throat chakra struggles when voice or direction is unclear.	Fear, anxiety, disconnection, silence, stuttering	Over-talking, controlling speech, rigid planning	IBS, insomnia, anxiety, thyroid issues	Grounding yoga, Mula Bandha, Nadi Shodhana, journaling	Routine, warm diet, oil massage, gentle expression
Pitta (Fire & Water)	Solar Plexus (Manipura) Heart (Anahata)	Solar Plexus: Adolescence, career drive, burnout Heart: Grief, relationship stress, parenting	Solar Plexus inflamed by ambition & stress. Heart chakra burns out from emotional pressure.	Low self-worth, bitterness, coldness	Anger, control, over-competitiveness	GERD, ulcers, hypertension, heart issues	Cooling yoga, heart openers, loving-kindness meditation	Avoid overwork, cool foods, forgiveness, compassion practices
Kapha (Earth & Water)	Sacral (Svadhisthana) Third Eye (Ajna)	Sacral: Adolescence, postpartum, emotional suppression Third Eye: Midlife, spiritual stagnation	Emotional repression and stagnation block the Sacral. Third Eye closes with resistance to change or growth.	Numbness, lack of joy or drive, foggy mind	Emotional dependency, escapism, fantasy addiction	PCOS, depression, obesity, thyroid/hormonal sluggishness	Vinyasa, hip openers, breath of fire, visualization	Stimulating routines, early rising, light spicy diet, spiritual practice

Post-Chart Insights: Exceptions & Deeper Considerations

1. Everyone Has All 3 Doshas.

While everyone has a dominant dosha, you are not made up of just one dosha. The goal of Ayurveda is not to “fix” a dosha—it’s to balance all three, like tuning strings on an instrument. Over-identifying with one can actually blind you to where real imbalances lie.

Harmony may be a better word to use here than balance—it's not about sticking to just one song type or style or mood, but about moving in rhythm. Crescendos can be exhilarating in the symphony of your becoming. Let your wellness practices flow, not harden into rigidity—like a concerto, with sounds both tender and passionate, whose unfolding feels dynamic, deep, and richly alive.

2. Symptoms Don’t Always Match Dosha Labels.

A Kapha can have anxiety. A Pitta can have a cold, sluggish digestion. A Vata may be surprisingly grounded. The body is complex and layered, and these patterns are dynamic, not fixed. The tendencies guide, but don’t define you.

3. Emotions Are the Missing Link.

Most chakra imbalances start emotionally—often before physical symptoms appear.

• Vata: fear, fragmentation, abandonment
• Pitta: anger, self-criticism, control
• Kapha: grief, attachment, stagnation

4. Look at Transitions.

Imbalance is most likely during transitions: 

• Puberty
• Postpartum
• Menopause
• Career shifts
• Relationship changes
• Grief/loss
• Spiritual awakening

These are thresholds that reshape identity, and often reveal where energy is blocked or overactive.

5. Wellness & Healing are Not Linear.

Stay curious, not rigid. The body and soul evolve, and so do the imbalances we’re called to work on. You may work on your Solar Plexus for a period of time and your Throat the next. That’s okay. Healing is an ongoing spiral-shaped shaped, not a straight path to an end destination. But the goal is to have enough self-awareness to live as much of a preventative lifestyle as possible.

6. Use This With Intuition.

Ultimately, only you know your inner truth. Let this chart be a flashlight, not a rulebook. You may not resonate with every detail—and you don’t have to. Trust your inner sense of where energy feels stuck, inflamed, or depleted. That’s where to begin.

7. Some Imbalances Are Collective, Not Just Personal

Not all energy blockages stem from personal choices or habits. Many of us carry ancestral, generational, or societal imprints that weigh on specific chakras:

• Fear-based Root imbalances from colonial trauma or poverty
• Throat suppression in women across generations
• Sacral disconnection due to cultural shame around both innate abilities and sexuality—especially for women's disrespected and marginalized bodies.

These imprints require compassion, not just self-discipline.

8. Harmony Is Rhythmic, Not Static

Balance (vs imbalance) doesn't mean everything is always calm or equal—it means you're in rhythm with what’s needed now.

• In winter, you may need more Kapha grounding.
• In summer, more Pitta cooling.
• During travel, multitasking, new beginnings, loss, endings, or major life transitions, creative overflow, processing trauma or spiritual awakening... more Vata soothing.

Again, harmony may be a better metaphor here than balance—like the ocean, your life moves in waves, tides, and storms. Stillness isn’t constant, but peace runs deep. Let your wellness journey flow with your inner currents, not resist the changing motion. Much like surfing, it’s about learning to ride the waves of life with growing skill and joyful confidence.

If you found this article valuable, please consider supporting INDA Yoga with a donation. Your generosity allows me to dedicate myself to researching, synthesizing, and sharing these profound teachings in an accessible practical way—nurturing the emergence of the Golden Age or what other modern mystics refer to as the new Earth, the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible, the new paradigm—humanity's awakening. And in the spirit of dharma, may your contribution return to you manyfold—in clarity, peace, and blessings along your path.

With love and gratitude,

Teacher Inda

Helping you remember and embody your inner light.