Since the internal physiological components within a chakra (of soft tissue, gland,

organs, nerves and spine) are interconnected, when any one of these physiological
components is affected, altered, or manipulated it will have an associated effect on the
others.
Its also absolutely key to note that the nerve ganglia within each chakra feeds back
energetic information that we feel via a chakra to the brain via the spine and nervous
system, where it can be interpreted in the mind as mental projections, thoughts,
images and also accompanied by feelings we perceive due to hormonal secretions
associated to the functioning of each chakra.
Therefore its important to remember from a yoga perspective when we talk of a
posture affecting a particular chakra, its effect will be along the whole chakra area of
influence, and all the components within it, from spine through to soft tissue and also
affects feelings and state of mind These dynamics are also obviously of particularly
great importance to Yoga practitioners, in the context of working towards union of
body, mind and emotions and will be further explored in later chapters.
Similar to the interconnectedness of component parts within an individual chakra, but
in an even greater sense, nothing in the body as a whole works in isolation, so the
condition of one chakra will also have an effect on the other chakras around it as they
attempt to compensate for imbalances in one another. (Indeed its worth a reminder
that everything in the natural world is interconnected, which we can often forget)
In my opinion, to a certain extent, you could draw an analogy with a chakra to the
functionality of our mouth. Through our mouth we absorb nourishment in the form of
air and food, and also similarly expel through it. Our mouths also have the capacity to
shut off from absorbing nutrition that is not to our taste, or potentially harmful.
On a more subtle level, we draw in energetic or vibrational nourishment from our
environment into each chakra, to resonate with and feed each energy centre,
depending on its particular qualities. This energetic nutrition feeds the organs, glands
nerves and spine.
Similarly, we also expel through our chakras as we do waste products through our
mouth via our out breath. In this case each chakra emits the vibration of the particular
organs which sit behind them, whether they are harmonious vibrations or not. The
vibrations also, when interpreted, can also give an indication to the condition of the
organs, glands, nerve plexus and associated area of spine.
Its a bit like looking through a window into a house whats inside can be seen
through the window, and whats inside shows itself to the outside.
Working with and understanding the full implications of chakras in relation to our
health and wellbeing is a real fusion of Eastern philosophy and wisdom combined
with Western medical science. This is exemplified by Table 1 overleaf which gives a
fuller list of correspondences for each chakra, where Mantras and Deities are equally
represented alongside more medically recognisable physiological associations.
This fusion of East and West is particularly important to remember wit