Lesson Two: Energise the Roots

No matter which style of yoga practice a student does, as long as there are asanas involved, there will come a point in which, inevitably, the concept of the Chakras will have to be tackled and learnt. It is the natural course of the journey especially as the student progressively goes through the deeper and more advanced types of yoga postures.

There are seven Chakras along the line of the spine. An eighth one is actually present although this one is like the overall and encompassing aura of the person already.

Chakras are energy centres where the most abundant energetic currents meet and intertwine. Based on personal experience, these points could be felt as hollow, deep and empty holes within the energetic body, in the line of the spine. It is very tricky to pinpoint a specific organ to refer to each for there is none. It is an extraordinary energetic experience which shall just happen in the course of time.

The experience to feel and access the chakras are a combination of the skills gained through the progressive practice of asanas, cleansing (Kriyas) as well as the Bandhas or energy locks.

Normally, a strong asana practice shall naturally open these points together with the awakening of the Kundalini. There are specific groups of asana, though, which target the root chakra as given below.

Each chakra rules a specific point of the physical, emotional and mental states of the superficial body. In deeper absorption with the Kundalini, the chakras open and awaken the psychic and spiritual faculties of the practitioner.

For this round, we are going to take a closer look at the Muladhara and the Svadhithasana Chakras. These two centres are very related and located very close to each other at the base of the spine. They govern our ability for reproduction, survival and other earthy functions. They are very important chakras for they represent the physical body itself - our bones, joints, muscles and our innate ability to use them for movement and growth.

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Good Luck! - F