Anahata Chakra

We continue our exploration of the seven energy centers called chakras and this week we have been working with the fourth chakra located at the heart - the Anahata Chakra. It has the color of vibrant green, which I once described sitting in the yoga studio on retreat at Sanctuary in the rainforest of Queensland and simply said..."look outside, that's the color I'm talking about!". Its sound vibration resonates in the note of F and has the seed mantra of YAM. 

As previously stated, these elements are an integral part, not only of our Universal environment but of the subtle energy systems of our being. When we experience our connection to the elements we are able to deepen our sense of an inherent relationship to all that's around and within us. Each chakra represents varying aspects of ourselves from the most physical to the most ethereal.

The heart chakra has the element of air energy and lies in the center of all the chakras, forming a meeting point of the lower three more physically bound energy centers to the upper three more ethereal realms. 

What magnifies the significance of the air element in yoga is its relationship to the breath. We can go through our entire lives without being conscious of how we breathe. And what makes yoga unique is the connection to breath. If we practice yoga postures without any awareness of what's happening with our breath, we are simply doing calisthenics. It's the ability of pranayama (altering breath to change states) that penetrates through all the levels of our being, from the most obvious physical body to the most blissful aspects of consciousness and it can be incredibly powerful. This includes research that has shown that 80% of anxious symptoms can be reduced within a minute of diaphragmatic breathing. In other words, when we feel the stressors of life building up, we have one immediate tool to tear them down...deep, belly breaths that emphasize a longer and slower exhalation.

This week in the United States we celebrated Thanksgiving, the perfect time to come to the heart. It was a timely reminder, as so many people gather with family and friends, and as Ram Dass says, "If you think you're enlightened, spend the weekend with your family". Overall, it's an opportune time to cultivate the highest versions of ourselves and sit in loving kindness. 

In classes this week the emphasis has been on connecting to the heart center as a place of love and compassion. If we are focused in the heart and act from that place, all of the other wheels of energy pass through and complement what's happening in the middle. Yoga poses that "open the heart space" such as backbends and expansions of the chest are also useful.  But in a deeper sense, everything comes together in the heart...the very physical grounding of the lower three chakras come to a sense of balance within the heart and, at the same time, support the expansion and create a foundation for the energy to expand in this love focused part of our being. It also is a transitional point for how we speak our truth, follow our intuition and connect to higher consciousness through the upper three chakras. When we can come fully into our heart and embrace the air element, we begin to recognize how all of us are connected.

One of the ways this connection to all beings is evident is that we are all breathing the same air: the air that our ancestors breathed and that all beings are breathing throughout the world. We all share a common breath. Imagine if each of us literally lived and breathed these breaths from an intention of peace, compassion and love, what an incredible gift each of us, with every breath, would be offering to all beings everywhere. Truly, a breath of the heart.

We can further manifest the air element through wearing a rich, bright green color and chanting the bija mantra-yam, yam, yam and using such affirmations as:

I am loved. I let love in.

I am kind to myself.

I live in peace and gratitude.

We know that the energy of the heart is capable of touching all beings and that the air element is fundamental to simply being alive. So let's connect into this powerful place that dwells within the heart by moving our bodies from a place of self-care, by truly getting to know our breath, to recognize how this energy connects us to all beings everywhere and to support ourselves in creating a life that lives from a place of love...more powerful than any other emotion or action. Let's live in our hearts. Let's infuse ourselves and our communities with love. Let's enjoy this same breath that we all breathe as one.

Manipura Chakra

We continue our exploration of the seven energy centers called chakras and this week we have been working with the third chakra called the Manipura or solar plexus. The location of this center can be found toward the spine where the soft abdomen connects with the more rigid rib cage on the torso. It has the color of vibrant yellow (think of the sun), resonates in the note of E and has the seed sound of RAM. 

The element of this chakra is that of fire, the third of the physically oriented chakras representing the center of our power and is about self-worth, self-esteem, and transformation. If we think about the energy of fire, it's all about change, absorption, and courage. To fully stand in our own power, we often have to "walk through the fire" of change. It's about finding the courage to begin the process of shedding limiting beliefs, about fully understanding our self-worth and standing up for ourselves. When in balance, we stand in our own power and, in doing so, set the platform from which the upper four chakras begin to express themselves. This place of transformation can be fraught with challenges. Think of a time that required you to invoke your most courageous self. What did it feel like before you faced this challenge? How did you source the energy to face this situation? Were you able to overcome feelings of inadequacy and move forward? Did you let the strength of your convictions flow easily? What did this experience teach you?

As we've been chanting repetitions of "Ram" this week it's as though we are plucking the string of a violin or guitar that begins to vibrate. This vibration awakens and opens the energy of the chakra, helping us to connect to it more fully. The most powerful tool we have through chanting this sound is through our own voice. When we chant it alone or in groups and connect to the sound current,  we awaken our own energy and its potential to shift. As we've practiced it this week, I've encouraged students to really project their voices, emphasizing a wide-open mouth in the "aaaa" sound and notice the strong resonance of the following "mmmmm". It's also a terrific way to work on controlling the breath. We've been taking a deep inhale, followed by "ram, ram, ram, ram..." until the breath is out and on the next exhale a single long "ram". This can be repeated two or more cycles concluding with sensing the experience in silence.

In order to charge up our fire energy, we can incorporate within our yoga practice things that challenge or scare us, such as an inversion or that "difficult" pose that we avoid practicing at home. Twists and poses that engage the core muscles can "fire" up the Manipura chakra. We can add layers into manifestation through wearing a bright yellow, chanting the bija mantra-ram, ram, ram and using such affirmations as:

I am courageous.

I am whole.

I stand in my power.

A blocked third chakra might be evident by someone who feels powerless, has low self-esteem or who haven't been able to be heard. It is a place in which those who've been victimized may eventually find healing from their trauma. On the opposite end of the spectrum, people with an over-inflated element of fire (that which is out of balance with the other elements and energy centers), might seem "full of hot air", boastful and without substance. A great example of this are politicians seeking election. Bringing the fire element into harmony with our whole self is vital in creating a sense of power underlined by a sense of humility.

We know that fire is a transformative element with the example of a wildfire clearing the undergrowth of the forest in order to enrich the soil, clear debris that prohibits some plant species from thriving and awakening new growth...a true rebirth of energy. Although fire can be powerful and sometimes painful and even deadly, we know that it is often the spark that is needed for us to move along our own path of growth.

So what are you holding onto that could be cleansed out of your being in order for the next layer of growth to take place? How about working with the fire energy of your third chakra and see what happens. Move wisely, as too little energy here will leave things unchanged and too much might blow things out of balance. Step into the fire with intelligence and let yourself be mesmerized by the flames.

Svadistana Chakra

Last week we began exploring the seven energy centers known as the Chakras. This week, we've been working with the second chakra, which in Sanskrit is called the Svadistana or sacral chakra.

These seven chakras or spinning wheels of energy, run from the base of our spine to the crown of our head. When we experience our connection to them we deepen our sense of an inherent relationship to all that's around and within us. Each chakra represents varying aspects of ourselves from the most physical to the most ethereal.

Water energy is associated with the sacral chakra and is located about two finger widths distance below our navel. This center is about fluidity, empathy, femininity, our connection to sensual energy and emotions. It's about how we form and maintain relationships. It has the color of vibrant luminous orange and the seed (bija) mantra of VAM. Throughout the week during classes, we have been chanting vam which, when broken down, the "V" sound buzzes at the lips, the "A" sound opens the throat/chest and the "M" (as in m-m good) hums throughout the body and skull. When we chant the seed sound, it's as though we are plucking the D-note string of a violin or guitar that begins to vibrate. This vibration awakens and opens the energy of the chakra, helping us to connect to it more fully. The most powerful tool we have through chanting this sound is through our own voice. When we chant it alone or in groups and connect to the sound current,  we awaken our own energy and it has the potential to shift.

If we think about the energy of water it's all about fluidity. When the water in a mountain brook takes its downhill journey and comes across a rock, it doesn't think "here's an obstacle, I'd better give up and turn around" but rather finds a way to move around it. Sometimes it gathers more energy waiting for more water to arrive, other times it moves over, under or around the boulder. If we think of the movement of the ocean, the tide ebbs, and flows, the waves roll in and out. Within the water element there exists a definite feeling of freedom and letting go as well as a myriad of different moods. 

As the second chakra is related to emotions, when this chakra is in balance our emotions flow through us, just as the element of water does and whatever emotions are present are simply there without judgment and we begin to recognize what emotions might be present. For example, if the emotion of fear is found, our practice supports us in seeing that fear is here without judging if we are good or bad. We begin to "befriend" fear by bringing it into our awareness and perhaps exploring what underlies the emotion. It's as though we are bringing whatever emotion is nestled within our bodies from the dark shadows of the unknown to the light that sits in front of us. We begin to recognize what fear looks like so that we can invoke the element of water and let it flow through us without allowing it to take up permanent residence. All emotions are valid and seeing them arise and then fall away, like the ebb and flow of the tide, is the second chakra finding balance.

A blocked second chakra might be evident by someone who we know who seems to always be fearful or angry (or some other seemingly permanent emotional state). It's as though the emotion becomes lodged within us and expresses itself as "who we are", yet we know that if we become conscious of the deep-seated pattern we have an opportunity to change our course. Part of this process is undertaken through guided meditation, chanting, affirmation, yoga asana, and breathing practices. In order to know this, however, we must find silence in which to hear it.

We can also use affirmations to bring healing and balance into this energetic center. Helpful statements might be:

I feel my emotions and my pain.

I reawaken my passion.

I surrender to this moment.

During a chakra reading, I was once told that being highly empathic and as such the drawer to my second chakra was wide open and people were dumping their stuff into my open chakra. It was one of the first times that I recognized the need for strong boundaries in my relationships with others. I was taught to clear and protect my own energy so as to better serve others. If I can allow what I want to flow in and out of this energy center, not only do I personally feel better but the relationships around me have clarity and compassion.

So, let's continue this journey together as we undertake some basic steps to understanding the second chakra, the element of water, and learn to let go and go with the flow.

Muladhara Chakra

My Mom loves popcorn...and so do I, and sometimes when she's over for a visit we pop up a fresh batch and enjoy it together. At the moment, my husband and I are staying with a friend as our newly purchased condo undergoes renovations. Being a guest in his house, I used his pot which has a glass lid for making the popcorn. As I stood over the stove, I could see the kernels burst and seemingly jump around the pan and I could relate...at times, we are like popcorn, ungrounded and flying all over the place. Without a lid on the pot, complete and utter chaos would ensue.

It got me to asking myself what it is that I was needing at the moment. Being in the midst of a major life transition, leaving a home of 18-years and downsizing into another abode I am feeling the need for stability so, over the next few weeks, we'll be exploring the seven chakras. The word Chakra means wheel and they run from the base of our spine to the crown of our head.  And it's certainly a good time to get grounded as I not only move into a new life chapter but also as we launch into the holiday season.

Located at the base of the spine, the Muladhara chakra connects us through our physical bodies to the energy of Mother Earth. We feel this energy through our bones, muscles, and tissues. Just as we might say that a building has "good bones" that create the foundation of the structure, we too can feel our physical nature through our bones and the muscles that move them. This physical body of ours is how we connect into the physical world around us, not only through movement but by standing barefoot on the soil or sand, getting our hands into the dirt through gardening, hugging a tree or touching a huge granite rock during a hike. We can feel the pulse of the earth, her energy, and rawness.

To connect to this field of experience we can also visualize the base chakra as a spinning vortex of deep, vibrant red. If we close our eyes and imagine an outward spinning of red at the base of our spine we can magnify the experience through repeating the seed or bija mantra for this chakra which is LAM (sounds like LOM). We can repeat this over and over to create not only a humming at the energy center but a vibration at the lips with the sound of "mmmmm". Try lam lam lam lam lam lam lam...repeatedly for a few minutes and feel its effects.

The base chakra is about security, safety, community, and connection and when it's in balance, we feel as though we are able to move freely about our life. When out of balance it can lead to a sense of insecurity and greed. We need this balance in order for our energy to continue to rise up through the higher chakras, so spending time being on the earth is a vital foundation for further growth. We can also use affirming statements or mantras to enhance our connection:

I am safe.

I trust more. Fear Less.

I am centered and grounded.

A powerful visualization is to sense a radiant orb of red light, centered in front of the sacrum, at the base of the spine within the pelvis. From this light, we send a powerful tap root down our body and embedding it into the earth's energy. Since this chakra is also associated with our tribe and ancestry, we might find it useful to honor the qualities of our ancestors, who forged a path for us to exist and, at the same time, perhaps imprinted within us some qualities that no longer serve us. We can let go of what we don't need sending it to Mother Earth who can transmute any form of energy. The image can be like an esoteric umbilical cord connecting us to a safe energy from which we originated and from which we get nourished.

I also made a connection this week from a powerful vision I had as my husband and I were leaving Australia and returning to live in the States in 1997. The image was of me standing ankle-deep in the iron-rich Australian sandy soil of the Outback, often called "The Red Center". I felt that before I could literally uproot my Australian life, I needed to connect into the powerful roots of where I had been. I needed to have a sense of security and familiarity as I was about to undergo a massive life shift.

So notice if you're feeling unsettled and either literally or metaphorically place your feet in the soil in a favorite place of yours on the earth. Allow yourself to get grounded and supported by the earth's "mother" energy and know that when you do, no matter where you are physically in the world, you will always be home.

Inside the Box

I never know where inspiration might come that will ignite the idea for my weekly blog. Having written consistently over the past 15 plus years, I have grown to simply trust that some spark will arise if I simply stay open to the possibility of what may come to me. I have also become good at latching onto conversations or comments that cross my path from week-to-week, feeling into the energy and everyday concerns that people, including myself, have.

This week's inspiration came from a conversation with a younger relative. He's 25-years old, single, a college graduate, and uninspired by his job. He's looking for something different but doesn't know what and he has an interest in travel. Not surprisingly, my words of support were to take off traveling...he has no major responsibilities to keep him planted in the same place. He has the opportunity in many directions to explore and venture into that void of the unknown, yet knowing if need be, he can head back to something more familiar. I harkened back to a time when I was finishing up as the head coach of a gymnastics club. I was at an impasse as to what to do next. I knew I'd keep teaching the casual aerobics/fitness class but quietly made a deal with myself that over the next 12 months I would say "yes" to anything that seemed interesting and reasonable.

I wound up working at a very popular pub in Melbourne, The Geebung Polo Club, learning how to cook. I loved the fast-paced, very social, and hectic work environment. It was lively and interactive. I was good at getting food out quickly in a short period of time and fine-tuning my cooking skills. I had even considered going to a culinary academy but shelved that idea as my main goal was to travel extensively. Had I not given myself permission to try something different, I may have stayed "inside the box" which is one of comfort and familiarity.

And that's the main thought of the week...to notice when things feel familiar and comfortable, and to notice if there's something sitting outside of the box that you're curious about. Something that may have been lurking in the shadows of your consciousness but for whatever reason has stayed hidden. Sometimes we believe the "no" voice roaming inside our heads. We believe in the limitations we set for ourselves and keep the heart-pulling endeavor tucked away. But what if anything were possible? What if you didn't have to worry about the "how" to do it, and just took one step toward it? 

I have also witnessed how these opportunities to take chances are finite as I've seen my Mother's world shrink. She has dementia and the possibility of exploring has diminished. I see this as another reason to explore and uncover what lights your fire, sooner, rather than later.

We've just passed the New Moon cycle, a perfect time for planting seeds of intention that we hope manifest in the future. This week in classes we've been working on staying open to the potential that sits before us. We begin the process by getting truly grounded, sending energetic roots of energy from our body into the earth. From that starting point, from connecting into a familiar and solid energy, we inhale into a field of infinitely expanded space. As we exhale, energy returns through our envisioned energetic roots to the "Mothership" once again connecting back to the familiar. As we continue connecting to the breath, each inhaling breath expanding into the unknown potential, each exhaling breath connecting to the familiar, we eventually point our hearts in the direction of something that we're curious about, yet is sitting in the shadows. As we breathe into it, we begin the process of linking what we wish to manifest from the unknown into the known. It's as though we are silently speaking our intention to the Universe, tilling the soil for future manifestation.

Happy exploring!