What Are Chakras?

Chakra is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning wheel or disk and refers to cone-shaped vortices of energy, which are part of the subtle energy system that surrounds the human body. When the energy is flowing freely it draws in energy from the universal energy field which nourishes and revitalises our whole state of being. When there is a reduction of energy flow, it leaves us feeling lethargic and physically unwell. There are seven major chakras, twenty- one minor and many lesser chakras like those found on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The major seven chakras are located at different points along the spinal column forming a vertical axis from the base of the spine to the top of the head.

The seven major chakras resonate with the seven spectacular colours of the rainbow. The root chakra is red and is located at the base of the spine. As energy flows in both directions, the root draws energy up from the earth and back, creating stability, grounding and support. At the sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat and brow chakras the flow of energy should move freely, uninterrupted through the front and back of the body, emanating outwards. The second chakra, the sacral is orange in colour and is located one inch below the navel, it is concerned with responsibility for ourselves and others, desire, trust and pleasures. The third chakra is the solar plexus, the colour is yellow and is located at the stomach, our power house to create energy, logic and assimilation. The first three chakras are the very essence of our flesh and bones, dealing with survival and the everyday stresses of life. The fourth chakra is the heart, the colour is green or pink, and is located within the heart area, a sacred meeting place where the energies from the first three chakras feed up into the heart and energies from the higher three chakras feed down into it. The heart plays a pivotal role, as the “half way house,” it is beautifully positioned in the middle of these glorious seven centres of spinning light, and is the centre of universal love and compassion. The fifth chakra, the throat, is sky blue in colour. This is the gateway to the higher three chakras. As you can imagine, it is located at the throat and is concerned with communication, with your inner Self and the higher spiritual realms of the universe. The penultimate chakra is the brow, indigo in colour and located between the eyebrows, here lies the seat of our wisdom, the centre of inner vision and seeing beyond the horizon… and finally to the crown chakra, located at the top of the head, violet, gold or white in colour. Here at crown the energy can be felt above the head, upwards and outwards towards the heavens, our divine connection with our higher self, where we become at one with the light.

These spinning wheels of light do not operate independently, chakras function best as a whole. This integrated system of metaphysical energy centres fundamentally affects our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. When a chakra is blocked, a term commonly used when a chakra is not functioning well, a whole host of problems can arise. Each chakra is allied to a physical body part and endocrine gland. The endocrine system helps maintain optimum health levels by controlling the levels of hormones secreted in the body. When the balance of energy becomes unsettled, the hypothalamus which controls the pituitary, the master gland of the body, triggers off a chain reaction of chemical messages to any part of the body that is not functioning properly. This has far reaching implications, and can put an enormous amount of stress on the other endocrine glands, just like a domino effect, creating physical and psychological ailments. If we can sustain a continuous flow of positive energy we can prevent many physical dis-eases.

When we heal the body through dance, our aim is to create positive free flowing energy. When energy flows freely through the whole body we are balancing and harmonising the chakras, we are uniting our physical body with our emotional body. We all experience a whole range of different emotions. On minute we can be happy the next sad. At each chakra different emotions are experienced as we begin to slowly reveal the real you. Step by step I will be guiding you through the dance and together we will experience the joys of laughter, euphoria, contemplation, self awareness, self respect, self worth, unconditional love, self expression, laughter, tears, inner knowing, bliss.