7chakras

and the subtle body

What Is a Chakra Anyway? An Introduction to
the subtle body.
If you practice yoga, you’re probably at least a little familiar with the chakras.
Aligning, clearing, and meditating on these esoteric centers is a common
intention in yoga classes throughout the world. We do asanas that open certain
chakras, chant mantras that make them vibrate, and call up colors to tap into
their power. Yet, with all this chakra-talk ringing throughout the yoga world,
how many of us can define what a chakra is?
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Multiple Anatomies .............................................4
The Subtle Body ...................................................................4
Enter the Chakras .................................................................5
The Chakras and You...........................................6
Muladhara: Finding Our Roots ...........................................6
Svadhistahana: Releasing Creative Flow............................7
Manipura: Strong Self, Strong Stomach .............................7
Our Spiritual Connection ....................................8
Anahata: Getting to the Heart of Things .............................9
Vishuddi: Speak Up and Be Heard ......................................9
Ajna: Going Mental ............................................................10
Sahasrara: Sensitive Spirit ................................................10
Cosmic Chakras ..................................................11
Taking notice from the outside… ........................................11
...while growing conscious of what’s within… ...................11
…and then tying it all together. ..........................................12
Insights From The Planets.................................12
Mars .....................................................................................13
Mercury ...............................................................................13
Jupiter..................................................................................13
Venus....................................................................................14
Saturn ..................................................................................14
Sun .......................................................................................14
Moon ....................................................................................15
Multiple Anatomies
Chakras don’t show up in an x-ray. You can’t feel them in a massage. They’re not of the
physical world at all. In fact, chakras are part of our subtle body, the energetic anatomy of
yoga. In yogic anatomy, we have not one, but rather five, bodies. These bodies, called the
koshas, or “sheaths,” are layered inside each other like Russian dolls. You’re already familiar
with the first, annamaya kosha, or the “food” sheath. This is the physical body we move
about in each day. The next layer, pranamaya kosha, is made up of prana, the vital life force
that powers us and the universe. It’s often referred to as the subtle or energetic body.

The next two koshas deal in our thinking, directly affecting the way we make decisions in our
day-to-day lives. Manomaya kosha, the “mind-stuff sheath,” is generally considered to consist
of the mind plus the five sense organs. It’s the body we activate when we act reflexively, in
autopilot. The next layer, vijnanamaya kosha, takes us to more intentional behavior. Vijnana
is discernment, intellect, conscience, and wisdom. This is the sheath we enter when we shape
our environment with discernment and intention, rather than simply reacting to whatever it
throws at us.



Finally, we have anandamaya kosha, the “bliss sheath.” This is the final Russian doll, the last,
thin veil between unenlightened awareness and our higher Selves. For most, living in the
anandamaya kosha is not a daily experience. Through yoga practice, however, we work our
way towards this innermost sheath, involuting closer and closer towards the Self within.

The Subtle Body

When it comes to chakras, however, we’re working in the second sheath, the pranayama
kosha. Also known as the astral body, the subtle body is distinct from our physical form.
While the physical body consists of the material building blocks of bones, skin, and blood,
the subtle body is purely energetic.

Prana, the vital life energy that flows throughout the body, travels through the subtle body
through a network of channels called nadis. Like veins or nerves, this vast network of
72,000 pathways reaches every part of the subtle body. Blockages in these pathways
restrict the @low of prana, affecting us on both the physical and energetic levels. Ashtanga
yoga practice works to systematically purify these energetic channels, letting prana @low
freely through the body.

Through the center of the body, along the length of the spinal chord, run three important
channels. The @irst, the shushumna nadi, runs analogous to the spinal chord. On either
side of it run the ida and pingala nadis, on the left and right, respectively. The ida nadi is
the lunar channel, associated with feminine, intuitive aspects of being. The pingala nadi,
on the other side, is the solar channel, associated with masculine, logical characteristics.
As Sadhguru explains on the Isha Foundation's blog, these two nadis “represent the basic
duality in the existence.” “Bringing balance between the Ida and Pingala,” he explains,
“will make you effective in the world, it will make you handle life aspects well,” easily
navigating between masculine and feminine, logical and intuitive.

Enter the Chakras

Where do the chakras @it into all of this? The chakras are where the nadis intersect,
converging into energetic plexuses. These seven “psychoenergetic vortices,” as they are
described in Georg Feuerstein’s Shambala Encyclopedia of Yoga, run directly along the
shushumna nadi. When they are clear of obstructions, energy can run from the muladhara
chakra at the base all the way through the shushumna nadi to the sahasrara chakra at the top
of the head.

These circles of intense energy have corresponding effects on the physical body,
regulating its functions and emotions. Any blockages or dysfunction in the chakras, then,
has an effect on or physical, psychological, and emotional life. Hatha yoga practice, like
the Ashtanga yoga practice, removes blockages, clearing the chakras and allowing prana
to circulate freely. Which, to sum it up, is all just one more good reason to get on the mat.
The Chakras and You
We spent the whole last chapter talking about subtle anatomy. We de@ined the chakras as
plexuses of pranic channels, esoteric structures of the energetic body. Now, however,
we’re going to take a step back from the energetic, into the substantial. Subtle though
they may be, the chakras have de@inite palpable effects on our physical and emotional
lives.

Think of it this way: Prana is life force energy. It travels through the body through the
nadis, which intersect in major plexuses at seven points, the chakras. Prana is our
energetic and spiritual fuel. If for some reason its passage is blocked, the surrounding
area will suffer on every level. Often, this experience is most noticeable in the physical
body.

Of course, all of our states are intertwined. Human beings are complex. Our emotional,
physical, energetic, psychic and spiritual states all affect one another. The chakra
framework is an effective tool for learning to identify the ways our physical state is
symptomatic of our other states. This new awareness facilitates healing on every level.

Muladhara: Finding Our Roots

We begin at the root, the muladhara chakra. Located at the base of the spine, this chakra
keeps us, quite literally, grounded. It’s tied to the legs and feet, so blockages of pranic
@low here can leave us feeling unbalanced and uprooted. Degenerative arthritis, knee
pain, sciatica, and other problems of the legs and feet might indicate disruption in the
muladhara chakra, leaving us feeling unstable. This chakra is also related to our ability to
eliminate waste, encompassing the rectum, kidneys and large intestine. Unexplainable
gastrointestinal issues, such as stress-related constipation, indicate an imbalance in
muladhara chakra.

Each chakra also relates to the endocrine system, helping to regulate our hormonal
balances. For the muladhara chakra, this conversation in physical-energetic balance
exists with the adrenal gland. With all we’ve already discussed, this correspondence
makes perfect sense. Our adrenal gland, responsible for the levels of adrenaline in our
body, regulates our stress responses. If we feel stressed and unstable, imbalance in our
adrenal gland may be to blame. Or, vice-versa, stress from external stimuli may create an
imbalance in our adrenal gland. Either way, dysfunction exists in rooting muladhara
chakra, and the stress-related physical effects in the legs and elimination organs result.
Svadhistahana: Releasing Creative Flow
Just between the pubic bone and the navel sits the svadhistahana chakra, seat of our
sexual, reproductive, and creative energies. This plexus is tied to our reproductive
system, affecting the ovaries or testes, as well as the bladder and kidneys. Urinary
problems, such as infections or incontinence, might indicate dysfunction in the
svadhistahana chakra, as might problems of the kidneys. Hip, pelvic, and lower back pain
also indicate that energy isn’t circulating freely in this area.

On a hormonal level, the ovaries and testes control our sexual energy. Imbalances in sex
drive, or physicalized expressions of issues around sexuality and intimacy, can manifest
in this chakra. Sexual energy is also our generative energy, and therefore affects our
creative selves. If we’re feeling any physical symptoms of blockage in the svadhistahana
chakra, then, it might be worth examining our sexual or creative lives. Untraceable lower
back pain or sudden tightness in the hips could be indicative of imbalances in our lives
leading to blockages in this sacral chakra.

Manipura: Strong Self, Strong Stomach

The manipura chakra, sometimes referenced as the “solar plexus chakra,” sits between
the navel and the breastbone. As you’d suspect by its location, the manipura chakra is
related to the digestive system, affecting the liver, gall bladder, stomach, spleen, and small
intestine. It’s glandular parallel is the pancreas, which regulates blood sugar and
secretes digestive organs. Digestive issues, blood sugar problems, stomach ulcers, and
other ailments of the digestive system are all symptomatic of blockages in the manipura
chakra.

The manipura chakra is also associated with our personal power and sense of self. When
you think about the physical effects of imbalance in this chakra, this emotional
association makes a lot of sense. Nervous nausea or “butter@lies” in the stomach are
psychosomatic phenomena associated with situations that challenge our security in our
personal power. When we see these two parallel imbalances, emotional and physical, in
terms of the manipura chakra, we @ind a useful framework for identifying the source of
the imbalance in our lives.

As you can see, these three base chakras all provide insight into our basic psychological
needs, in terms of security, creativity and sense of self. Using this framework for
examining our emotional and physical lives, we can examine imbalances and work
towards developing a healthier, happier day-to-day. The result is a more grounded,
creative, secure personal state. With the next four chakras, we’ll apply this same
psychosomatic framework to our interpersonal and spiritual lives.
Our Spiritual Connection
The chakras, as we’ve discovered, offer us a fascinating framework for exploring our
intersecting physical, emotional, and energetic lives. Nothing exists in isolation, and
@inding the parallels between our blockages is a useful way to guide us towards @inding
balance in all aspects of our lives. The @irst three chakras, which we explored in the last
chapter, offer valuable insight into our personal wellbeing and the various aspects of our
sense of self. The next four, at the heart, throat, third eye, and crown, reveal the state of
our interpersonal and spiritual lives.
Anahata: Getting to the Heart of Things

The anahata chakra sits right at the heart, making it the ruler of all things circulatory.
The state of this particular energetic plexus affects not only the heart, blood and
circulatory system, but also the lungs, arms, and the immune and endocrine systems.
Asthma, lung disease and, of course, heart disease might indicate blockages in this area,
as would pain or dysfunction in the upper back, shoulders, arms or wrists.

The anahata chakra is also tied to our thymus gland, the control center of our immune
system. Ever notice how a broken heart and a sudden illness seem to go hand-in-hand?
Disappointed hearts, romantic or otherwise, can unbalance our anahata chakra, wearing
out our immune system and welcoming in illness. Other physical symptoms might also
indicate imbalance in this important center. Pain in the upper back or shoulders,
breathing trouble, or chest pain could be symptomatic of blockages in our ability to love,
both romantically and generally.

Vishuddi: Speak Up and Be Heard

The next chakra, the vishuddi chakra, is located in our throat, affecting all things vocal. A
sore throat, laryngitis, TMJ, or bronchitis could all stem from imbalances in this throat
chakra. The vishuddi chakra is also tied to all areas of the face and neck, and can be the
root of problems in the chin, cheeks, lips, jaw, tongue, and ears. Frequent unexplainable
neck and shoulder pain? Vishuddi chakra. Sore throat or lost voice with no apparent
cause? Vishuddi chakra again.

This important chakra is also tied to the function of our thyroid gland. The thyroid gland
regulates our metabolism, and dysfunction here can result in inexplicable weight gain or
loss. It also can weave its way into all aspects of your life, causing depression, anxiety,
fatigue, change of appetite, dif@iculty concentrating, body temperature issues, and more.
On an emotional level, this makes a great deal of sense. Think about the last time you had
something you wanted to get off your chest, but just couldn’t quite say. Maybe you were
in a situation where you felt you wouldn’t be heard, or were scared to express your
feelings. Feeling unable to express our truth causes an emotional toll that affects our
psyche, appetite, and physical wellbeing.
Ajna: Going Mental
Right between your eyebrows, settled in with your third eye, sits the ajna chakra. This
important energetic plexus sits at command center, governing the brain and head.
Headaches, sinus issues, blurred vision, eye problems, and seizures all relate to
imbalances in the ajna chakra. This chakra also controls the pituitary gland, which
governs the function of the other glands. Needless to say, imbalance in the pituitary
gland trickles down throughout the system.

If you’re feeling lost psychically, imbalance in the ajna chakra may be to blame.
Blockages here affect our judgment, leading to indecisiveness, perfectionism,
aggressiveness, or stubbornness. Losing our grasp on our intuition creates a
destabilizing imbalance that affects every level of our being. Recognizing the physical
signs of imbalance in the ajna chakra, we’re given a hint to look at the state of our psyche,
examining any life circumstances that may be sending our decisive abilities off-balance.

Sahasrara: Sensitive Spirit

The @inal chakra, sahasrara, sits at the top of the head, resting like a halo on our crown.
Physically, it affects the spinal cord and brain stem. It also governs the pineal gland,
which produces melatonin and regulates our cycles of sleeping and waking. It stands to
reason, then, that the sahasrara chakra’s affects are mostly psychic in nature. Imbalances
here may result in depression, sleeplessness, fatigue, memory-issues, and other such
symptoms of a pained psyche. A blocked sahasrara chakra may also leave us over-
sensitive to stimuli, disturbed by variants in light, sound, and environment. These are the
familiar symptoms of spiritual depletion, those times when life has us feeling low, joyless,
and destructive. Noticing the physical and emotional signs and caring for ourselves
accordingly can set us on the path towards healing.

Identifying the ethereal experiences related to these four chakras can be a dif@icult task.
Often, we ignore our emotional and spiritual selves, pushing through the emotional and
psycho-spiritual pain that unbalances these upper four chakras. Whether it be our ability
to love and be loved, speak and be heard, decide and understand, or feel ful@illed and
joyful, the psychic and emotional experiences related to these chakras are important to
our wellbeing. Luckily, with this framework, we can access their imbalances through
visceral physical experience, putting us on the path to healing for fuller, happier lives.
Cosmic Chakras
For Ashtanga yoga practitioners, the new and full moons are frequently a cause for
celebration. Abstaining from yoga practice on these astrologically signi@icant days, many
Ashtanga practitioners relish a much-needed break. As time goes on, however, the
anticipation of these days goes beyond the enjoyment of a rare morning spent sleeping
in. Simultaneously honoring the moon’s rhythms and purifying the body through yoga,
we become increasingly sensitive to the affects of the lunar cycles. The new moon brings
with it both a grounding affect and, frequently, a decrease in energy. The full moon, on
the other hand, increases energy, often creating an almost frenetic feeling in mind and
body. Both are welcome causes for a break from yoga practice.

Taking notice from the outside…

While it’s often the @irst we notice, the lunar cycle is not the only rhythm we grow
attuned to through yoga practice. Through continued practice of Ashtanga yoga, we grow
increasingly sensitive to energies and cycles, both internal and external. We start to feel
prana moving on the energetic level of the body, picking up the subtler effects of practice.
We also start to feel more strongly the effects of external stimuli. This can be the food we
eat, our environment, or even the movements of the stars.

Perhaps this is effect most obvious in terms in terms of the food we eat. With regular
yoga practice, you may begin to notice how your practice changes according to what you
had for dinner the night before, or what you’ve been eating throughout the week. Later,
you may notice your body become more sensitive to alcohol, intoxicants, or even sugar.
Maybe you feel increasingly attuned to shifts in the weather, feeling a rainfall resonating
energetically. Perhaps you’ll notice your body and mind cycle with the seasons, syncing
with the Earth’s cycles with instinctive intuition. The sensations you experience will be
diverse, ever-growing, and completely individual. One thing, however, is certain. The
longer you practice Ashtanga, the more you’ll pick up on the effects external stimuli have
on your energetic system.

...while growing conscious of what’s within…

Internally, yoga practice continually deepens our self-awareness and, with it, our
sensitivity. Think back to when you were @irst beginning yoga practice. Every movement
probably felt foreign and revolutionary. The basic action of moving your body through
space and into postures required concentration and new consciousness. After you’ve
been practicing for some time, however, the asana practice becomes more and more
subtle. Awareness of bandhas, which evolves throughout our practice lives, invites a
nuanced approach to postures.
Perhaps you develop a delicate awareness of the hands and feet, or the intricacies of
movement in the hips. Because it happens gradually, we don’t necessarily notice this
awareness as it develops. Compared to your @irst experiences of Ashtanga, however, you
probably experience your body in asana today on an incredibly subtle level.

Eventually, this subtle awareness deepens into the energetic body. We start to feel the
energetic lines of the asanas as we tap into them through the physical body. Think about
the psychosomatic experience of asana as it relates to the chakras, for example. You may
start to feel the psycho-energetic effects of asanas that open the heart, unblocking
anahata chakra. Or perhaps you feel an energetic sensation related to strengthening
your base, building the security and grounding of a strong muladhara chakra. Your
energetic experience of yoga practice will, again, be your own, relating to your history
and your life at the moment. It will also evolve over time, as your practice grows and
your situation changes. Whatever your experience, the longer you practice Ashtanga
yoga, the more sensitive you will become to your energetic body.

…and then tying it all together.

This combined external and internal sensitivity makes the parallels between planets and
chakras a particularly interesting framework to explore, especially for those practicing
Ashtanga Yoga. Under this framework, each chakra has a corresponding planet. Just like
the moon, the planets affect us energetically, depending on their movements and
positioning. Understanding them in terms of the chakras can help us become more
sensitive to these effects, just as abstaining from practice on the new and full moon can
help us become more sensitive to lunar cycles. In the next entry, we’ll explore the ways
awareness of the planets and chakras can help us navigate our energetic lives.

Insights From The Planets

In our last post, we discussed the sensitivity cultivated through continuous Ashtanga
practice. Overtime, yoga practice increases our awareness, helping us become more and
more attuned to both external and internal stimuli. As this evolves, it’s useful to have
frameworks within which to study our experiences. Not only do these frameworks give
us a guide for making use of the new information self-awareness provides, but they also
help us @ine tune this sensitivity through exploration of new points of consciousness.

To this end, exploring the parallels between the planets and the chakra system can be an
extremely useful practice. Combining awareness of both external and internal stimuli,
this framework gives us valuable insight into the state of our energetic body and how it’s
affected by external cycles. Pairing each chakra with a planet, we can investigate the
effects cosmic movement while simultaneously inquiring into our own energetic states.
Mars
Our base chakra, muladhara, is associated with the planet Mars. Mars in@luences our
physical strength, offering us courage with an intense, childlike energy. As our root
chakra, muladhara’s effects align well with this dynamic planet. We are strongest when
we are at our most rooted. Feeling secure and grounded, we are able to follow our
intuition, allowing us to be decisive as we seek out the most productive paths. With
awareness of these parallels, we can study how the movements of Mars align with our
personal experiences of muladhara chakra. With increased sensitivity, we can notice
when we become uprooted, perhaps avoiding undesirable and reactive behaviors in the
process.

Mercury
Svadisthana chakra, located just between the pubic bone and navel, is ruled by
capricious Mercury. In astrology, this planet represents intelligence and creativity, just as
svadisthana represents our personal generative and creative powers. When Mercury is in
retrograde, communication fails, technology glitches, and the best-laid plans go awry.
When Mercury is on our side, however, our ability to build and create @lourishes.
Becoming aware of the cycles of this planet and allowing ourselves to be inquisitive about
their energetic affects can offer interesting insights into our creative and productive lives.

Jupiter
Jupiter guides our third chakra, center of our sense of self. A healthy manipura chakra
positions us for generosity, establishing a strong sense of personal worth that allows us
to give freely. Jupiter, likewise, is a generous planet. A sign of prosperity, it begets
increase in all things. This can have both positive and negative effects. If our manipura
chakra is imbalanced, our insecurities may lead us towards unproductive, even hurtful,
action. If our manipura chakra is balanced, we have a base from which to be productive
and loving in all of our interactions. Studying this propensity for increase in both this
chakra and its corresponding planet allows us to evaluate the motivations of our actions
and choose more productive paths.
Venus
Our heart chakra, or anahata, is governed by Venus. Named for the goddess of love, this
planet represents love, beauty, and harmony. Imbalance in this chakra may bring about
disharmony in our lives, as we struggle to approach our interactions with love and
compassion. Recognizing the patterns of this openhearted planet and the parallels with
our own energetic experience allows us to investigate what in our lives may be blocking
this important energy center.

Saturn
Vishuddi chakra, located in the throat, governs our ability to speak our truth. Saturn, its
corresponding planet, functions in the cosmos like a teacher, helping us grow in
character. Throwing educational obstacles in our path, this planet helps us come into our
power, growing into our fullest selves. As we develop our character, we gain the ability to
effectively communicate. Understanding ourselves gives us the stability to speak and be
heard. Investigating the connections between vishuddhi chakra and Saturn’s lessons can
offer valuable insights into developing productive communication and moving through
any feelings of isolation we may be experiencing.

Sun
Situated right between the eyebrows, at the site of our third eye, ajna chakra has major
effects on our mental acuity and our ego-self. It’s cosmic parallel, appropriately, is the
sun. Astrologically, the position of the sun at our birth has a powerful effect on our
personality, determining the “sun sign” that will form our foundational traits. As we
move past our identi@iers, towards a more universal identity, however, the ajna chakra
dynamically opens. We become more discerning, letting go of conditioning and
increasing the power of our intuition. By looking into the positioning of the sun in our
charts, we can better determine what conditioning we start with, allowing us to move
through ego towards a more open, intuitive perspective.
Moon
Finally, we reach sahasrara chakra. Sitting on the top of the head, like a halo, sahasrara
is the ruler of our spiritual wellbeing. Imbalances here will be felt on a deep emotional
or intuitive level. As the gateway to enlightenment, opening this chakra reveals the way
to our unconscious Self. It makes sense, then, that this chakra is governed by the
intuitive, subtle power of the moon. The moon is, in many cultures, associated with the
divine feminine, casting light on our emotive, intuitive selves. Growing sensitive to lunar
cycles, as we do in Ashtanga yoga, we @ind insights into the state of our sahasrara chakra
and our own evolutionary paths.

Like any framework, these parallels are only a guide. They provide a jumping off point
towards cultivating and understanding the sensitivity developed in yoga practice. Paying
attention to the external effects of the planets and the internal balance of our chakras, we
gain valuable insights towards choosing more productive action, every day.