Teacher Training
Our Group Session tonight was focused on the seven major chakras. In yoga teacher training so far, we’ve learned all about the physical aspects of yoga by studying each of the postures in the Hot Power Fusion sequence. We’ve learned both the English and Sanskrit name, how to physically do each of the postures, how to cue each posture along with correcting alignment and suggesting modifications as well as learning about the physical benefits of each posture.
Tonight’s chakra lecture dived into the spiritual side of yoga. With chakras, we can use these energy centers within our bodies to learn more about ourselves, tap into our own energy and grow ourselves spiritually. The word chakra means “wheel” or “disc” and refers to energetic clusters within the body also known as wheels of energy. These energy centers are located in the body along the spinal column. They’re represented with the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, indigo, and violet.
The first time I really learned much about chakras was in Jill’s Hot Power Fusion By Candlelight class last month. During class, we received a brief introduction to each chakra and worked to balance them along the way. In a nutshell, the seven major chakras are: Muladhara, Svadisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna and Sahasrara.
The first chakara, Muladhara is represented by the color red. It’s located at the base of the spine, in the pelvic floor and down in the feet in legs. This is the chakra that is in contact with the Earth most often.
The second chakra, Svadisthana is represented by the color orange. It’s located in the reproductive organs, womb, hips, sacrum and lower abdominals. This chakra is generally associated with water, flow and the ability to let go.
The third chakra, Manipura is represented by the color yellow. It’s located in the abdominals, lumbar spine, obliques and detox organs such as the stomach, liver, spleen and pancreas. This chakra is where all of our personal power comes from. It’s the engine that helps get us to where we want to go, our willpower.
The fourth chakra, Anahata is represented by the color green. It’s located in the heart center, through the shoulders, arms and hands. This chakra is also known as the Heart Chakra and is the bridge from “me” to “we” with the focus being on “What can I do for others?”
The fifth chakra, Vishuddha is represented by the color turquoise or light blue. It’s located in the neck and throat. This chakra is also known as the Throat Chakra and represents your ability to speak your truth. It also represents your authentic voice.
The sixth chakra, Ajna is represented by the color indigo. It’s located in the forehead, the space between the eyebrows. It’s also known as your third eye center. This chakra represents your intuition, your vision and the way you guide yourself through life.
The seventh and final chakra, Sahasrara is represented by the color violet and/or white. It’s located in the space between the crown and several inches above the head. This chakra is also known as the Crown Chakra and is all about your own connection to the divine. The Crown Chakra is all about your ability to connect with the Universe and everything around you.
After going through and discussing each of the seven chakras, Jill led us through a mini Hot Power Fusion flow where we got to tap into each of the seven chakras. For once, I wasn’t worried about memorizing the sequence, trying to think of what posture came next or strained to listen to what cues she used. I was completely relaxed and at peace. It was the perfect way to end the first Group Session of the week.
Image Source: MindBodyGreen.com