The 7 Chakras and How They Influence Balanced Health

Domonique D. Hargrove, B.A., M.S., NCEP Certified Trainer, Founder& President of “Slight Edge Performance Program” LLC

Be sure to “like” and “follow” our Team Page facebook.com/SlightEdgePerformanceProgram

What Are The 7 Chakras?

There are seven chakras. The Root Chakra, located as the base of the spine, which represents our foundation and grounding. The Sacral Chakra, located in the lower abdomen, which represents creativity, passion, intimacy, and connection. The Solar Plexus Chakra, located in the upper abdomen, which represents self-worth, confidence, and the power of transformation. The Heart Chakra, located in the center of the chest, represents love, forgiveness, inner peace, and joy. The Throat Chakra, located in the throat, represents communication and expression. The Third Eye Chakra, located between the eyes on the forehead, represents imagination, intelligence, and trust. The Crown Chakra, located at the top of the head, represents oneness, spirituality, and connectivity.

1. Root Chakra ( Muladhara Chakra): Muladhara or the root chakra is one of the seven primary chakras according to Hindu tantrism. It is symbolized by a lotus with four petals and the colour red. The muladhara chakra is located at the perineum, the space between the anal outlet and the genital organ. This the most basic chakra in the body.

Mula–adhaar means foundation. The muladhara chakra is the foundation of the physical structure and the energy body. Having a stable foundation is very important. Unless the muladhara is stabilized, one will not know health, wellbeing, and a sense of stability and completeness. These qualities are essential for a human being to make an effort to climb high.

2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana): The word ‘Svadhisthana‘ is derived from two Sanskrit words, ‘Swa’ and ‘Adhisthana’ where swa means ‘one’s own’ and ‘adhisthana’ means abode or seat. Therefore, the word literally means ‘one’s own abode’ though there is another meaning of ‘swad’ in Sanskrit i.e. ‘take pleasure in.’

The second chakra is our passion and pleasure center and governs our emotions, senses, intimacy, creativity, and connection. A balanced second chakra allows us to express our creativity, form deep, intimate relationships, and pursue our passions. An imbalanced sacral chakra can lead to many disturbances, including commitment issues, stifled creativity, lack of drive, lack of confidence, depression, back pain, and urinary/reproductive issues.

3. Solar Plexus (Manipura chakra): In the solar plexus area (upper part of the belly, where your diaphragm rests); it is the third chakra from the bottom in the traditional system counting 7 chakras. The most commonly accepted location for the third chakra is at the solar plexus level, between the navel and the lower part of the chest. That’s why it’s often referred to as the “solar plexus chakra.”

The main function of this energy center is to provide actual momentum to move forward and realize personal desires and intentions in the world. It plays a fundamental role in the development of personal power. It feeds one’s direction in life and the actions taken in order to reach your goals. It influences preoccupations about social status and self-image.

4. Heart chakra (Anahata): Anahata or heart chakra is the fourth primary chakra, according to Hindu Yogic, Shakta and Buddhist Tantric traditions. In Sanskrit, anahata means “unhurt, unstruck, and unbeaten”. “Anahata Nad” refers to the Vedic concept of unstruck sound. Anahata is associated with balance, calmness, and serenity. The anahata chakra is associated with unconditional love, compassion, and joy. It is the source of deep and profound truths that cannot be expressed in words. Anahata is a bridge between the lower and upper chakras integrating the manifest with the spiritual.

On the physical level, the heart is associated with the organs heart and lungs and in the polar nature of these organs a strong symbolic meaning can be found: The space of the heart chakra is beyond polarity, beyond inhaling or exhaling, beyond tension and relaxation; it is the space holding them all. Through the heart chakra, we connect to the unconditional love of unity, which underlies all phenomena. Invisible as the air, which is the element of this chakra, the unity behind all things finally becomes tangible for us.

5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha chakra): Vishuddha chakra, the communication chakra located at the throat, is associated with the color blue and with the space element. The qualities of this chakra are communication, truth, and self-expression. Vishuddha governs not only our communication with others, but also our own internal communication—with our own self, and with our higher power.

The gland associated with Vishuddha is the thyroid, which regulates metabolism and affects physical and mental development. When this chakra is in balance we are able to tune in and listen to the guidance of our higher self. We are able to truly find our inner truth, and to communicate and live our truth in daily life. A balanced Vishuddha chakra allows us to easily communicate with others, and to be honest with ourselves.

To successfully reach and open the fifth chakra, the body must attain a certain level of purification which helps to achieve sensitivity needed for the subtler upper chakras. Purification is attained through diet, yoga, meditation, and exercise. As we move up the chakras, balancing each one, Vishuddha chakra becomes easier to work with as it builds from a stable, balanced base.

6. Ajna Chakra (Third Eye Chakra): The 6th Chakra, or the Third Eye Chakra (in Sanskrit, Ājñā, which means “Command” or “monitoring center”), is located in the forehead above the meeting point of the two eyebrows. Its main colour is purple, and the element it is associated with is light. It is the Chakra of perception and discrimination.

The Third Eye Chakra can be considered the “mother” of the 7 Chakras. While all other Chakras provide and produce different instincts, impulses, wills, feelings, emotions and experiences, the Third Eye Chakra is supposed to be the one supervising them all. It is really the eye of the soul, the Seer, the centre of presence and perception, the omega point in which all the others chakras impressions are being perceived. For this reason, it has also been called the “Seat of the Soul”. Its location in the centre of the brain reflects this central role.

The pineal gland is small gland in the brain located near the center of the brain. It sits between the two hemispheres where the two halves of the thalamus join.

The pineal gland, also known as the third eye, or Ajna Chakra, is thought to be the organ of spiritual insight. It is that part of the brain associated with the flow of attention in an inward direction. In healing the self, we want the attention to flow inward.

In Energy Work, we see the body as an antenna, a receptor for flows of knowledge or information. The pineal gland, in particular, is a great antenna for receiving these downloads of knowledge.

Cognitions enter through the crown and light up pineal gland which receives the download which, in turn, creates waves. These waves, or channels of consciousness, flow in various directions and become like strings that start to hum.

7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara Chakra): Known as Sahasrara in Sanskrit, Crown (Sahasrara) Chakra is the top Chakra of the seven Chakras and is a thousand-petalled Lotus at the crown of the head. It is our link to the universe that tunes us to the highest form of consciousness and the Divine. It is our basis of illumination and spiritual connection, to our higher sense. Expression of gratitude is the life lesson that this Chakra teaches us. It represents Infinite wisdom. The opening of this Chakra points to the realization of pure awareness that leads to divine communion with the world.

A person with a balanced Crown (Sahasrara) Chakra is graced with an ever expanding self-realization, self-awareness and self-reflection that empower them to stand out in the crowd as they are freed from the shackles of desire. When this Crown (Sahasrara) Chakra is blocked it results in harmful and unhelpful thoughts that originate from the lack of direction and the resentment that the divine powers have abandoned you.

If you meet a person with a magnetic personality, someone who can achieve “miracles” in life, you know that you are standing in the presence of a person with a balanced crown chakra. You will find that knowing has replaced beliefs, as the crown is where we hold on to our belief system. An awakened crown chakra person will question any and all of our beliefs, constantly expanding the level of self-awareness and self- reflection. They also have the ability to surrender to their love for all life and the divine; they are at peace with themselves.

Eating To Keep Chakras Energetic and Healthy

Emotionally, the root chakra is linked to financial independence, money, and food. A block in the root chakra might manifest by feelings of burnout, fatigue, or a lack of motivation. To stimulate the root chakra, reach for vibrant crimson foods such as beets, strawberries, radishes, tomatoes, and chilies.

Balance your sacral chakra with all things orange. Think carrots, mango, oranges, orange peppers, peaches, apricots, and sweet potatoes. Foods rich in Omega-3s, such as salmon, also work well to balance this chakra. Nuts and seeds such as flax, almonds, walnuts, and sesame provide additional fatty Omega-3s, which aid in cardiovascular health and reduce inflammation.

Like the chakra’s color, think yellow when it comes to balancing your solar plexus. Bananas, pineapple, corn, lemons, and yellow curry. Yellow is a natural mood enhancer. Also feed this chakra with complex carbohydrates and whole grains such as oats, brown rice, spelt, rye, farro, beans, vegetables, and sprouted grains. These foods provide crucial fiber and sustainable energy.

Balance your fifth chakra with blue foods. Blueberries and blackberries are particularly good sources of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. For the throat chakra, think healing and soothing foods and liquids such as coconut water, herbal teas, raw honey, and lemon. Fruit that grows on trees such as apples, pears, and plums are also known to be excellent at healing this chakra.

Think purple for the sixth chakra or the brow chakra. Purple grapes, purple kale, blueberries, purple cabbage, eggplant, and purple carrots. Also include cocao, which is rich in flavonoids and boosts serotonin, which helps to relieve stress and inflammation. These “brain foods” can instantly help clear an overworked mind and help to regain focus.

The crown chakra focuses more on fasting and detoxing than it does on food. It focuses more on the spiritual aspect of our bodies; our minds. Detoxing can help our bodies flush out toxins, boost our energy, and clear our mind. Meditation and yoga is an excellent way to strengthen and heal the crown chakra. It can teach us to live mindfully and take some quiet, peaceful time for ourselves amidst our chaotic lives. Meditation herbs or essential oils such as sage, lavender, frankincense, and juniper are wonderful in balancing this chakra.

Let’s continue to be conscious and proactive about making sure we are getting these vital phytonutrients in our diet and eating lifestyle with Nutrilite™ Perfect Pack.

Nutrilite™ Perfect Pack

Bringing you the best of nature and the best of science, Nutrilite™ Perfect Pack contains a variety of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to seriously build your foundational nutrition.

Each daily serving contains:

Nutrilite™ Double X™ Multivitamin: The ultimate multivitamin with 22 vitamins and minerals and 22 plant concentrates helps fill nutrient gaps and provides antioxidant protection against free radicals.^†
Nutrilite™ Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables: Provides phytonutrients equal to 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables.^†
Nutrilite™ Balanced Health Omega: Provides DHA and EPA omega-3s to support brain and eye health.^†
Nutrilite™ Vitamin D: Helps calcium absorption for strong bones.^†To ORDER Nutrilite™ Perfect Pack email me at domonique.dhfitness@gmail.com