The word ‘Chakra’ has been taken from the Sanskrit word which means ‘Wheel, cycle or circle’! Chakras are the energy-points situated in our body. It is the Seven chakras that are talked about the most out of the 114 that exist in the human body.The concept of chakras is found in the ancient traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The word Chakra was used first in the Vedas, which are considered as the most sacred, authenticated & scientific literature.

The question arises what these chakras have to do with our body or what importance they hold when it comes to meditation or yoga?

As mentioned before, chakras are named so because they symbolize growth, dynamism and movement. Chakras are not actually wheels; they are basically triangular. The human body is a complex system of energy forms. It is necessary to mention that our body also possess 72,000 ‘nadis’ which are energy channels. ‘Prana’ or the vital energy moves along the Nadis. Different nadis meet at different points in the body & they form a triangle. We call this triangle a chakra, which means ‘wheel.’ In the image given below the location of the MAIN chakras can be observed.

Our 7 chakras need to be balanced, in order for our body to function properly, to allow our energy to flow smoothly through our bodies. If any one of the energy centres does not function well, then the others won’t function as well as they should. Here are a few benefits of Chakra Balancing:

• Becoming more grounded and safe in the world
• Healthy boundaries
• Improved self-confidence and self-esteem
• Able to give and receive love with ease
• Clearer communication
• Mental focus
• Greater sense of connection

Let’s try to know more about the chakras in brief:

S.No	Chakra Name	Color	Location	Element	Body-Function	Purpose
1	Root chakra	Red	Base of the Spine, tailbone	Earth	Elimination of waste and toxins, core balance, pelvic floor	Feeling of being grounded, safe and secure.
2	Sacral or Pelvic Chakra	Orange	Two inches below the belly button in the lower abdomen	Water	Lower digestion and absorption, immune system, sexual organs	Feeling pleasurable, accepting, creative and abundant
3	Solar Plexus Chakra	Yellow	Around the point where the ribs meet in the middle of your abdomen	Fire	Upper digestion, stomach, diaphragm	Feeling confident and in control, self-worth
4	Heart Chakra	Green	Center of the chest, on the breast bone	Air	Breathing, cardiovascular function	Feeling loved and giving love, inner peace
5	Throat Chakra	Blue	In the throat in the Adam's apple area	Space	Taste, swallowing, speaking, jaw tightness	Being able to communicate and express, both inwardly and outwardly
6	Third Eye Chakra	Indigo	In the forehead, between the eyes	Light	Sight, decision-making, perception	Feeling able to understand life situations and perceive meaning
7	Crown Chakra	Violet	On top of or just above the head	Cosmic Energy	Mental peace and connectedness	Feeling beautiful, connected and purposeful