Open Your Chakras and Restore Inner Balance
Elodie Abadie • 28 juillet 2025
Open Your Chakras and Restore Inner Balance
Chakras lie at the heart of many spiritual traditions, especially in yoga and Ayurvedic medicine.
These invisible energy centers influence our physical health, emotional well-being, and mental clarity.
When our chakras are open and aligned, the vital energy (prana) flows freely, allowing body, heart, and mind to live in harmony.
In this article, discover:
* What chakras truly are
* Where they are located in the body
* How to recognize imbalances
* Which yoga poses, breathing techniques, meditations, and foods help restore balance to each chakra
What Are Chakras?
The word chakra means "wheel" or "disk" in Sanskrit.
Chakras are energy vortexes that spin at specific points in our subtle body. They act as bridges between the physical body and energetic layers, influencing vitality, emotions, thoughts, and spiritual connection.
Although there are hundreds of minor chakras, the yogic tradition focuses on seven main chakras, aligned along the spine from the perineum to the crown of the head.
1. Root Chakra – Muladhara
- Location: Base of the spine, between the anus and genitals
- Color: Red
- Element: Earth
- Core Function: Safety, grounding, survival, connection to the physical world
Signs of Imbalance:
- Constant fear or insecurity
- Chronic fatigue, heavy legs, constipation
- Difficulty staying present
Practices:
- Yoga: Tadasana (Mountain), Virabhadrasana II (Warrior 2), Malasana (Garland)
- Meditation: Visualize red light at the base of the spine, imagine roots growing into the earth
- Mantra: LAM
Beneficial Foods:
- Red foods: beets, strawberries, red apples, tomatoes, cherries
- Root vegetables: carrots, turnips, radishes, sweet potatoes
- Complete plant proteins for structure and stamina
2. Sacral Chakra – Svadhisthana
- Location: Lower abdomen, just below the navel
- Color: Orange
- Element: Water
- Core Functions: Emotions, pleasure, sexuality, creativity, relationships
Signs of Imbalance:
- Emotional blockages, guilt, sexual issues
- Co-dependency or emotional eating
- Menstrual pain or pelvic tension
Practices:
- Yoga: Hip openers like Baddha Konasana (Butterfly), Kapotasana (Pigeon), Goddess Pose
- Meditation: Visualize an orange lotus glowing in the pelvic area
- Mantra: VAM
Beneficial Foods:
- Orange fruits and vegetables: mango, orange, carrot, apricot, sweet potato
- Hydrating drinks: coconut water, herbal infusions, fresh juices
3. Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura
- Location: Between the navel and the sternum
- Color: Yellow
- Element: Fire
- Core Functions: Confidence, willpower, personal strength, digestion
Signs of Imbalance:
- Low self-esteem, need for control, repressed anger
- Digestive issues, ulcers, reflux
- Indecisiveness
Practices:
- Yoga: Sun Salutations, Navasana (Boat), seated twists
- Breathing: Kapalabhati (Breath of Fire)
- Meditation: Visualize a golden ball of fire in the center of your torso
- Mantra: RAM
Beneficial Foods:
- Yellow foods: lemons, bananas, corn, pineapple, turmeric
- Whole grains, legumes, sprouted seeds to fuel digestive fire
4. Heart Chakra – Anahata
- Location: Center of the chest
- Color: Green (sometimes pink)
- Element: Air
- Core Functions: Love, compassion, forgiveness, emotional balance
Signs of Imbalance:
- Loneliness, jealousy, heartbreak
- Asthma, chest tightness, shallow breathing
- Difficulty giving or receiving love
Practices:
- Yoga: Chest openers like Ustrasana (Camel), Bhujangasana (Cobra), Setu Bandhasana (Bridge)
- Meditation: Gratitude practice, love-based affirmations
- Mantra: YAM
Beneficial Foods:
- Green foods: spinach, avocado, kiwi, broccoli, mint, parsley
- Calming herbal teas: linden, lemon balm
5. Throat Chakra – Vishuddha
- Location: Throat
- Color: Light blue
- Element: Ether
- Core Functions: Communication, truth, authentic expression
Signs of Imbalance:
- Fear of speaking, weak voice, excessive talking
- Sore throat, thyroid imbalance, neck pain
- Poor listening skills
Practices:
- Yoga: Matsyasana (Fish), Simhasana (Lion), Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
- Sound: Chanting, mantra work, sound healing
- Mantra: HAM
Beneficial Foods:
- Blue/purple foods: blueberries, blackberries, seaweed, spirulina
- Clean water, broths, sage or thyme infusions
6. Third Eye Chakra – Ajna
- Location: Between the eyebrows
- Color: Indigo
- Element: Light
- Core Functions: Intuition, insight, imagination, clarity
Signs of Imbalance:
- Lack of vision or clarity, overthinking
- Migraines, blurry vision, insomnia
- Escape into fantasy, disconnect from reality
Practices:
- Yoga: Balancing postures: Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon), Garudasana (Eagle), gentle inversions
- Meditation: Breathe into the space between your brows
- Mantra: OM
Beneficial Foods:
- Indigo/purple foods: grapes, red cabbage, eggplant, figs, blackcurrant
- Foods rich in antioxidants for brain support
7. Crown Chakra – Sahasrara
- Location: Top of the head
- Color: Violet or white
- Element: Pure consciousness
- Core Functions: Spirituality, connection, wisdom, transcendence
Signs of Imbalance:
- Disconnection from self or others, loss of purpose
- Over-identification with the mind, spiritual bypassing
- Mental fog or excessive rationalism
Practices:
- Yoga: Seated meditation, Padmasana (Lotus), Yoga Nidra
- Spirituality: Stillness, time in nature, inspirational reading
- Mantra: OM or sacred silence
Nutrition:
- No specific food. Crown energy is nourished by purity: light fasting, hydration, rest
- Embrace spiritual nourishment: silence, breath, light, simplicity
Final Thoughts: The Art of Chakra Alignment
Chakra alignment isn’t a one-time fix—it’s a journey of self-awareness.
Balancing your chakras means practicing consistently through:
- Movement (Yoga)
- Breath (Pranayama)
- Mindful eating
- Meditation
- Emotional self-listening
When one chakra heals, it naturally supports the others.
Your body feels lighter, your mind calmer, your heart fuller, and your life more aligned.
Namaste 🪷
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