What are chakras?
The seven chakras are "energy transducers" in the aura. They are stimulated by sound, colour and mineral vibrations, and integrate physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual facets of the human into a coherent whole. There is generally an overlapping and sharing of functions amongst chakras.

Where are the chakras located?
The seven chakras are located roughly near our glands: the names of each chakra describes roughly where it is located: They are the root chakra, womb, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye and crown.

The physiological roles of the chakras:
The root and womb chakras are related to generative and sexual functions. The solar plexus chakra is related to digestion. The heart chakra is related to the heart and circulation, and the throat chakra is related to the lungs and the voice, including the ears, nose, and throat. The third eye chakra is related to vision, the eyes, and the pituitary gland. The crown chakra is related to the brain, and especially the pituitary and pineal glands.

The psychological functions of the chakra:
The three lower chakras are related to our raw emotions and biological instincts ranging from sexual desire and hunger, into passion, anger, pleasure and joy and other relatively simple emotional states. The four higher chakras are related to higher cognitive states - the heart chakra is related to empathy and understanding, the throat chakra is related to vocal expression, hearing, and the ability to communicate, the third eye chakra is related to discriminative cognition and the ability to understand, and the crown chakra is also related to understanding and comprehension on a spiritual level.

Exercises to stimulate the chakras:
The chakras can be stimulated by exercise - the Tibetans have developed rituals that we can benefit from. These exercises are included in The Goddess And Her Chakra Energy

Located at the base of the spine, the Base Chakra forms our foundation. It is related to our survival instincts, our sense of grounding and connection to our bodies and the earth. Ideally this chakra brings us health, prosperity, security, and dynamic presence. 

The Sacral Chakra, located in the abdomen, lower back, and sexual organs, is related to creativity, emotions and sexuality. It connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation, and movement. Linked to the reproductive area of the female body, creativity is heightened when this chakra is awakened.

 

The Solar Plexus Chakra is known as the power chakra. It rules our personal power, metabolism, and is where intuition is manifested on the physical plane. When healthy, this chakra brings us energy, a strong sense of self, spontaneity, and non-dominating power.

The Heart Chakra is related to love and is the integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity. A healthy heart chakra produces enhanced empathetic abilities, allows us to love deeply, feel compassion, and experience peace, lightness and balance.

Located in the throat, the Throat Chakra is related to communication and creativity. The vibration of sound released through language and song promotes clarity and a sense of lightness and well-being. 

The Third Eye Chakra is related to the act of seeing, both physically and intuitively. As such it opens our psychic faculties and our understanding of archetypal levels. The awakening of the third-eye chakra leads to clairvoyance or the ability to see on the non-physical planes.

The Crown Chakra relates to consciousness as pure awareness. It is our connection to the greater world beyond, to a timeless, spaceless place of all-knowing. When awakened, this chakra brings us knowledge, wisdom, understanding, spiritual connection, and bliss.

If you like the information on this page, then you'll love the eBook: The Goddess Guide to Chakra Vitality - an 88 page guide designed to equip you with the basics of chakra health. Keeping our Chakras healthy is one way to achieve balance in our work, home and social lives. This guide provides an explanation of Chakra energy points, their related gemstones and essences, and how to access the inner goddess energy through short exercises. Perfect for busy people who are looking for an understanding of how to recharge at stressful times throughout the day. 

See also: 

Chakra Power Tools  ::  the Chakra Workout Tool Kit