Chakras are the foci within our bodies where the energy which makes up our life force is generated. Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel; a good representation of the spherical energy field the word refers to.

There are six Chakras which are located along the spine and a seventh one above these, removed from the physical element of your body.

We think of these Chakras as being composed of energy; but it is very important to realize that the Chakras are closely related to and have influence over your physical body.

A healthy alignment of all of the seven Chakras will allow you to maintain your own health and happiness during your life. It is important to understand what each of the chakras is, and what it does for you.

Muladhara

The Muladhara is the chakra of the lower body. It is the root chakra, or the base chakra. This chakra is related to security, to survival, and to instinct. Also, it is related to the potentiality of the basic human life. The center of this chakra is located between the anus and the genitals of a person.

The chakra is said to relate to the adrenal glands inside the body – and is responsible for the flight or fight decisions a person must make during their life. Therefore, this chakra is in charge of your own fight or flight, and of those basic, human emotions.

Swadhisthana

The Swadhisthana is the chakra that contains the reproductive parts. The chakra is located in the area known as the sacrum. It relates to emotions such as sexuality and creativity. The chakra corresponds to the sexual organs, and produces the sexual hormones that guide our lives.

This is the Chakra which controls the sex hormones as well. This Chakra also is responsible for mood swings, It’s symbol is a six-petal lotus.

Manipura

The Manipura is the navel. It is considered to be the solar plexus chakra. This chakra deals with the transitions that are found between base emotions and complex emotions. The chakra itself is in charge of base emotions and complex emotions, and dictates the way that they flow into each other. It deals with the flow of energy, the flow of digestion, and can be compared to the way that the pancreas functions in the body.

The Manipura plays an important role in the way that food is converted into energy. It is symbolized by a ten petal lotus.

Anahata

The Anahata is the heart. This Chakra is responsible for love and other complex emotions, as well as your sense of equilibrium and well being overall. This Chakra corresponds to the thymus gland (located in the chest) and the immune system in the physical body.

This Chakra is symbolized by a twelve petal lotus

Vishuddha

The Vishudda is the throat. Symbolized by a sixteen petal lotus, it is in charge of both communication and growth. It is paralleled to the thyroid, and does the same thing.

The growth is a form of expression, so the Vishudda is in charge of expressions. Communication is a very important part of your every day life, and therefore this chakra is in charge of it.

Ajna

The Anja is your eyebrow or forehead. This Chakra is the third eye. Ajna is responsible for your ability to visaualize and is the Chakra related to light, time and awareness.

It is symbolized by a two petal lotus, and is in charge of regulating sleep and awakening. These are very important functions within the body, and therefore this chakra is very important.

Sahasrara

Symbolized by a one thousand petal lotus, the Sahasrara is the seventh and final chakra. It is the chakra of consciousness. It communicates with the rest of the body in the same manner that the pituitary gland does. The Sahsrara is connected to all of the body systems, and is the key player in consciousness.

The author Jonathan Benjem writes for the popular chakra-balance.com site. To learn how knowledge of the seven chakra can transform your whole life and how you can get free chakra meditation instant balancing and healing sound recordings.