The 7 Chakras for Beginners

Healing, Balancing, and Opening Your Chakras with Exercises, Foods, Colors

By MindBodyGreen

The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through.
Blocked energy in our 7 Chakras can often lead to illness so it's important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely.


Here's our quick summary of the 7 Chakras:


1. Root Chakra - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.
Location: Base of spine in tailbone area.
Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money, and food.
More on Root Chakra healing

2. Sacral Chakra - Our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences.
Location: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches in.
Emotional issues: Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, sexuality.
More on Sacral Chakra healing

3. Solar Plexus Chakra - Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives.
Location: Upper abdomen in the stomach area.
Emotional issues: Self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem.
More on Solar Plexus Chakra healing

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4. Heart Chakra - Our ability to love.
Location: Center of chest just above heart.
Emotional issues: Love, joy, inner peace.
More on Heart Chakra healing

5. Throat Chakra - Our ability to communicate.
Location: Throat.
Emotional issues: Communication, self-expression of feelings, the truth.
More on Throat Chakra healing

6. Third Eye Chakra - Our ability to focus on and see the big picture.
Location: Forehead between the eyes. (Also called the Brow Chakra)
Emotional issues: Intuition, imagination, wisdom, ability to think and make decisions.
More on Third Eye Chakra healing

7. Crown Chakra - The highest Chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.
Location: The very top of the head.
Emotional issues: Inner and outer beauty, our connection to spirituality, pure bliss.
More on Crown Chakra healing

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Article prepared by MindBodyGreen

Root Chakra Healing for Beginners

Intro Guide to the 1st Chakra, the Root Chakra
The 1st Chakra, the Root Chakra, represents our foundation and is all about feeling grounded and secure. Here's the quick skinny on what you need to know about Root Chakra healing:

Location of our Root Chakra: Base of spine in tailbone area.
Emotional issues affecting our Root Chakra: Survival issues such as money and food.
Color: Red

Healing Exercises:

• Stomping your bare feet on the ground. Remember, the Root Chakra is all about feeling "grounded."
• Practicing Kundalini Yoga can open up your lower spine. Bridge Pose is another good yoga pose to try out (see above image).

Healing Foods:

• Red colored foods (apples and beets)
• Hot spices (Red cayenne peppers and Tabasco sauce)
• Vegetables from the ground (potatoes and carrots)
• Animal proteins (red meat and eggs)

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Sacral Chakra Healing for Beginners

Intro Guide to the 2nd Chakra, the Sacral Chakra
The 2nd Chakra, the Sacral Chakra, relates to our ability to feel creative, sexual, and accept change. Here's what you need to know about Sacral Chakra healing:

Location of our Sacral Chakra: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches in.
Emotional issues affecting our Sacral Chakra: Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, sexuality.
Color: Orange
Healing Exercises:

• Pelvic thrusts
• Cobra Yoga Pose

Healing Foods:

• Orange colored foods (oranges, tangerines)
• Nuts (any kind)

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Solar Plexus Chakra Healing for Beginners

Intro Guide to the 3rd Chakra, the Solar Plexus Chakra
The 3rd Chakra, the Solar Plexus Chakra, represents our ability to be confident and in control of our lives. Here's what you need to know about Solar Plexus Chakra healing:

Location of our Solar Plexus Chakra: Upper abdomen in the stomach area.
Emotional issues affecting our Solar Plexus Chakra: Self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem.
Color: Yellow
Healing Exercises:

• Kundalini Yoga, Boat Pose (image above)
• Dancing. Shake those hips!

Healing Foods:

• Yellow colored foods (corn)
• Grains and fiber (granola, whole wheat bread)
• Teas (peppermint, chamomile tea)

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Heart Chakra Healing for Beginners

Intro Guide to the 4th Chakra, the Heart Chakra
The 4th Chakra, the Heart Chakra, represents our ability to love -- the quality of our love, our past loves -- and our future loves. Here's what you need to know about Heart Chakra healing:

Location of our Heart Chakra: Center of chest just above heart.
Emotional issues affecting our Heart Chakra: Love, joy, inner peace.
Color: Green
Healing Exercises:

• Bikram Yoga
• Love, love, love. Simply opening up our hearts to others is the best healing exercise to open up the Heart Chakra.

Healing Foods:

• Green colored foods (leafy vegetables, spinach)
• Green tea

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Throat Chakra Healing for Beginners

Intro Guide to the 5th Chakra, the Throat Chakra
The 5th Chakra, the Throat Chakra, represents our ability to communicate and express ourselves. Here's what you need to know about Throat Chakra healing:

Location of our Throat Chakra: Throat.
Emotional issues affecting our Throat Chakra:Communication, self-expression of feelings, speaking the truth, holding secrets.
Color: Blue
Healing Exercises:

• Shoulder stand (see above image)
• Singing, chanting

Healing Foods:

• Juices and teas
• Fruits (all kinds)

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Third Eye Chakra Healing for Beginners

Intro Guide to the 6th Chakra, the Third Eye Chakra
The 6th Chakra (the Third Eye Chakra), is related to our ability to focus on and see the big picture. Here's what you need to know about Third Eye Chakra healing:

Location of our Third Eye Chakra: Forehead between the eyes. (Also called the Brow Chakra.)
Emotional issues affecting our Third Eye Chakra:Intuition, imagination, wisdom, ability to think and make decisions.
Color: Indigo
Healing Exercises:

• Child's Pose or other types of yoga poses with forward bends.
• Eye exercises.
• Herbal oil treatment (see above image).

Healing Foods:

• Purple colored fruits (grapes, blueberries)
• Chocolate
• Lavender flavored spices or tea

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Crown Chakra Healing & Opening for Beginners

Intro Guide to the 7th Chakra, the Crown Chakra
The 7th and highest Chakra, the Crown Chakra, represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually. Here's what you need to know about opening and healing the Crown Chakra:

Location of our Crown Chakra: The very top of our head.
Emotional issues affecting our Crown Chakra: Inner and outer beauty, our connection to spirituality, pure bliss.
Color: Violet
Healing Exercises:

• Meditation
  
• Running or cardio

Healing Foods: Since the Crown Chakra represents our spiritual connection to our surroundings, this Chakra does not benefit from healing foods. The Crown Chakra is more likely to benefit from breathing clean and fresh air and sunshine.

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Articles prepared by MindBodyGreen