SAHASRARA CHAKRA: Balancing Chakras with Asana

Asana is aanother way to balance the chakras int he body. This practice will work to first balance then move the vital energy from the lower chakras to the higher chakras through visualization, mantra, mudra, and asana.

1. MULADHARA CHAKRA
Stand with the feet together, big toes touching. Rest arms to sides and touch thumbs to ring and little fingers extend index and middle fingers towards ground in Bhu Mudra. Imagine that you are standing inside of a red square and chant LLLam to balance the earth energy of the root. When this chakra is overactive, rigidity can result. When it is under active  instability can result. When balanced a stable grounded foundation is known.

2. SVADHISTHANA CHAKRA
Stand with wide feet and hold thumbs over little fingers, extending other fingers with palms turned upwards in Budhi Mudra. Soften knees and move hips around in a circle a few times, rotate to both directions. Imagine an orange sphere in the pelvic bowl as you fluidly move while chanting VVVam to balance the water energy of the lower belly. When this chakra is overactive, a lack of boundaries can result. When it is under active  there may be dwindling passions. When balanced, healthy intimacy and creativity abound.

3. MANUPURA CHAKRA
Stand with feet hips width apart. Hold ring fingers down into palm with the thumbs in Surya Mudra. Imagine a golden upside down pyramid at the solar plexus. As you exhale chant RRRam to balance the fire energy and bend knees as you drop the pelvis into chair posture.  Repeat on the exhalation a few times. When this chakra is overactive, a controlling attitude is present. When under active, you may feel like you have no power. When balanced a healthy identity is empowered to make change in the world.

4. ANAHATA CHAKRA
Stand and begin to swing arms first forward an over head on inhalation, then to sides on exhalation, then behind the body on inhalation, to the sides on exhalation. Change the pattern to lift one arm out to side and over head on inhalation, return to side on exhalation, and change sides.
Imagine an emerald green six-pointed star at the heart and chant YYYam to balance the air energy in the heart. Then stand with heels of hands, pinkies and thumbs resting against each other, but the palm, index, middle and ring fingers opening away from each other in Padma Mudra. When overactive, we may be prone to emotional over-reaction. When under active  depression may result. When balanced we are open to both joy and sorrow.

5. VISHUDDHA CHAKRA
Sit comfortably with spine straight and head balanced on top of shoulders. Turn head around central axis right and left five times. Then nod head up and down five times. Relax the tongue and jaw as much as you can during these exercises. Press tip of thumb into the side of first joint of ring finger, this is Vishuddha Mudra. Imagine a light blue upward facing crescent shape at the base of fhe throat and chant HHHam to balance the space energy of the throat. When overactive we may not listen to others or be prone to aggressive speech. When under active we may feel silenced by those around us. When balanced communication draws from both the heart and mind and we feel empowerd to speak our truth.

6. AJNA CHAKRA
Come into Child's pose with either the hands or a block underneath the forehead. Close the eyes and feel the third eye begin to open as you imagine an indigo blue drop of nectar. Bring index fingers and thumbs together into Jnana Mudra and chant MMM to balance the etheric energy at the third eye. When overactive, we may be prone to over-intellectualism. When under active a disconnection from the bigger picture may result. When balanced we are open to insight and wisdom.

7. SAHASRARA CHAKRA
Lie down in Savasana and align the body along the vertical axis. Place a block at the crown of the head to feel this connection to the crown chakra. Breath up and down the length of the spine as you imagine a rainbow-colored lotus of 1000 petals covering the top of the head and surrounding the entire body with its protective energy. Chant ING to bring awareness to the energy of the consciousness at the crown. When overly open, we may be spacey and unable to focus. When closed, we may find it difficult to connect to anything beyond our limited experience. When balanced the crown opens us to universal consciousness and connection.