Today we will be discussing four simple ways to wellness through unblocking your chakras. Despite the advancements in technology and medicine, the escalating over-dependence of humans on synthetic medicine has resulted in its declining effectiveness. Through our blogs, we have been focusing on Yogic Science and its methods and therapies towards wellness, since traditional medicine, according to health experts worldwide, is soon to take off and take over modern medicine, and is also looked at as the “saviour” in the circumstances!

Traditional medicine has had its roots in all ancient cultures across the world. Ayurveda, the traditional medicine theory from the ancient lands of India, is a storehouse of knowledge and cures! In my previous blog, I talked about the seven chakras, i.e. the energy centres in the human body, and how they are responsible for carrying out all functions of the body and the mind. ‘We, are entirely responsible for our own well-being’ is the thought behind natural medicine, and learning to balance our seven chakras is a key to resolving all the problems we face!

Let’s learn about the methods to balance the chakras and open the energy blockages, naturally:

Balancing the chakras naturally begins with focusing on your day-to-day lifestyle, by keeping a count on what you consume, and maintaining mental health through meditation. However, the five senses can be used to their utmost potential in order to resolve health problems. Let us discuss the detailed ways of natural therapy in order to unblock your chakras!

Affirmation & Meditation

Previously in a blog, I have talked about how the law of attraction works for us, in all the mysterious yet scientific ways. Repeated self-affirmations and meditating on the same are the key to developing confidence and in turn bringing the desire to be healthy, a reality. In meditation, keep your focus on the chakra you want to balance and then repeat these affirmations.

Chakra	Affirmation
Root Chakra (Muladhara)	“I am safe and sound. I am just the way I should be.”
Sacral Chakra (Swadhisthana)	“I am beautiful, and creative. ”
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)	“I am empowered. I accept myself the way I am.”
Heart Chakra (Anahata)	“I am open to love. I love myself unconditionally.”
Throat Chakra (Vishuddhi)	“I communicate and express myself well with everyone I meet.”
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)	“I trust my conscience and intuition.”
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)	“The divine is within me and everywhere around me.”

Colour Therapy

 Every chakra is associated with a particular frequency and hence a particular colour,

• Root (Muladhara): Red;
• Sacral (Swadhisthana): Orange;
• Solar Plexus (Manipura): Yellow;
• Heart (Anahata): Green;
• Throat (Vishuddhi): Blue;
• Third Eye (Ajna): Indigo;
• and Crown (Sahasrara): Violet.

Colour Therapy is a broad field of science in itself. However, in a nutshell, providing my readers with a way out to balance their chakras using colour therapy, it is suggested that you incorporate the related colour of chakra, which you want to balance, in your life. This shall greatly help in facilitating the energy flow through that particular chakra.  Decorating the house with the particular colour, at the places where you eat or sleep, at your workplaces, and on your body (by wearing clothes of that particular colour), activates the energy of the associated chakra.

Nutrition and Exercises

Associated colours  also count when it comes to consumption of food. Nutrition has the power to entirely transform your way of life.

Chakra	Nutrition & Exercises
Root Chakra (Muladhara)	Red-coloured foods: tomatoes, apples, pomegrenates, red berries, and beetroot, among others. Since the Root chakra is associated with the Earth element, eating foods which are lighter on the digestive system is helpful for the chakra balancing. Kriya Yoga helps to balance Root Chakra.
Sacral Chakra (Swadhisthana)	Orange-coloured foods: Oranges, carrots, nuts, seeds and mangoes. Since Sacral chakra is associated with the Water element, consumption of purified as well as alkaline water is a prerequisite for maintaining good health and balancing this chakra. Kriya Yoga helps to balance Sacral Chakra.
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)	Yellow-coloured foods:  Bananas, turmeric, corn, and ginger, among others. Since this chakra is associated with the Fire element, spending time in the Sun or performing fire ceremony are ways to balance the same.Kriya Yoga also helps to balance Solar Plexus Chakra.
Heart Chakra (Anahata)	Leafy greens, avocado, broccoli, and peas, among others. Since this chakra is associated with the Air element, breathing exercises (“Pranayama”), and Kriya Yoga are ways to unblock this chakra.
Throat Chakra (Vishuddhi)	Blueberries, and all the blue-coloured foods. Owing to its association with the Space element, meditation exercises are a must for opening this chakra. Kriya Yoga can also be of help to balance Throat Chakra.
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)	Blackberries, purple kale, raisins, figs and every other indigo-coloured food. Spending time in the natural light is a great way to open this chakra. Kriya Yoga also helps to balance the Third Eye Chakra.
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)	The only nutrition for opening this chakra is introspection and meditation. Kriya Yoga also helps to balance Crown Chakra.

Sound Therapy

 With different colours attached to every chakra, each chakra resounds with a different sound frequency. Sound therapy is an effective method to let the energy flow through the blocked chakras.

Chakra	Sound Note
Root Chakra (Muladhara)	C
Sacral Chakra (Swadhisthana)	D
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)	E
Heart Chakra (Anahata)	F
Throat Chakra (Vishuddhi)	G
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)	A
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)	B

Begin your journey towards a healthier self, today!

See you next week. Till then, Stay Healthy and Stress-free!!  

Let’s open the doorway to the healthy life through the knowledge of 7 Chakras of the human body.

When we talk about elements it is always asked “How 5 elements are related to our body energy centers and how energy centers affect us?” Energy centers are called Chakras. As per the Yogic Sciences, these energy centers affect our health in different ways. In this blog, we shall discuss about the seven chakras, i.e. the energy centers of our body, which  govern our life, and how the complete energy flow through all the chakras becomes the ultimate solution to all problems faced by us; be it stress, fatigue, mental illness, or any kinds of physical ailments.

How do we define Chakras?

Chakra, is a Sanskrit word which refers to a disc or a wheel. According to Yogic sciences, chakras in the human body refer to the various energy centers or focal points starting from the base of the body, running through the spine, till the crown, i.e. the head. All in all, there are seven energy centers in our body. For a healthy life, energy needs to flow continuously through all the chakras, and for the same, the chakras need to be open. In the old traditions of Hinduism, meditating every day on each of the seven chakras was considered an essential way of life. Each chakra defines the combination and balance of the elements.

Let us further discuss each of the seven chakras, and their relationship with the five elements in our bodies.

Seven Chakras of Human Body

The Root Chakra (Sanskrit: “Muladhara”)

• The word Muladhara refers to ‘root place’. The Root chakra represents the Earth element, which further represents the foundation of our body and the basic needs of human life i.e. food, clothing, shelter, sleep, and sex. It is storehouse of Kundalini energy, the energy of our life force.
• It is located at the base of the spine and is physically manifested through gonads and Pelvic Plexus.
• It is connected with the sense of Smell.
• The Root Chakra is associated with the colour Red, the colour of blood, a symbol of life and vitality.
• Over-eating, feeling of ‘Tamas’ (darkness), lethargy, sense of darkness, recurring fear, unbalanced sex life, and a shifted focus are all symptoms of blocked Muladhara chakra.

The Sacral Chakra (Sanskrit: “Swadisthana”)

• The word Swadisthana refers to ‘one’s own place’ (‘Swa’+’adhisthan’) in English. The Sacral chakra represents the Water element, which further represents fluidity, creativity, emotions, attitude towards life, intimacy, sense of expression and feelings and passion in relationships.
• It is located in the first few vertebrae of the sacral region and controls all the fluids of the body. It takes care of adrenal glands, kidneys, and hypo-gastric plexus.
• It is connected with the sense of Taste.
• The Sacral Chakra is associated with the colour Orange, the bright colour which brings about a sense of healthy and happy life. The colour also represents stimulation of emotions.
• Emotional excess/ blockage, negative attitude, jealousy, hatred, anger, fear, lack of passion, objective or confidence in life, and creative blockages are the major symptoms of an unbalanced Sacral chakra.

The Solar Plexus Chakra (Sanskrit: “Manipur”)

• The word Manipur refers to Lustrous Gem in Sanskrit. The Solar Plexus chakra represents the Fire element, associated with energy and passion, and refers to the ‘fire’ required for digestion.
• It is located between the naval and the ribcage, and takes care of the pancreas, spleen, and liver, gall bladder, stomach, and eyes.
• The Solar Plexus is associated with the colour Yellow, representing clarity of thought, desire and passion. It contains ‘Gyanagni’, i.e. ‘the fire of thought and knowledge’.
• It is related to the sense of Sight.
• Anger issues, digestive issues, low or extremely high energy state, lack or excess of passion, egotism, stomach cramps, hypertension, gall stones, ulcers, emotional issues, eye disorders, skin eruptions and imbalanced state of mind are the major concerns associated with the Solar Plexus imbalance.

The Heart Chakra (Sanskrit: “Anahata”)

• Relating to ‘sound’, the word ‘Anahata’ refers to ‘the unstruck chord’ in Sanskrit, a music that is ever present. The Anahata chakra represents the Air element, associated with imagination, compassion, breathing rhythm, and nurture.
• The chakra is physically located between upper thoracic vertebrae and manifests through cardiac plexus and thymus gland.  It controls tactile response from the skin.
• The Anahata chakra represents the colour Green, the colour of love, creativity, and nature.
• It is associated with the sense of Touch.
• Lack of empathy, over dependence on others, bronchial issues, uneasiness, over-excitement, uncontrolled love, relationship issues, and fatigue are symptoms of the chakra imbalance or blockage.

The Throat Chakra (Sanskrit: “Vishuddhi”)

• The word ‘Vishuddhi’ refers to purity. The Throat chakra represents the Space element, and is associated with voice, creative expression and speech.
• The Throat Chakra is located at the cervical/neck vertebrae. It governs the thyroid and parathyroid glands, and is associated with communication, voice modulation, and speech quality. The Throat chakra enables the quality of developing compassionate relationships through realizing the importance of enough space in the same
• It is associated with the colour Blue, which represents purity, clarity, calmness and compassion.
• It related to the sense of Hearing.
• Difficulty of expression, societal concerns, relationship issues, poor voice quality, hearing problems, speech problems and lack of confidence are symptoms of the Throat chakra blockage.

Third Eye Chakra (Sanskrit: “Ajna”)

• The word ‘Ajna’ can be translated as ‘the command center’. The Third Eye chakra commands and takes care of the functions of the mind.
• Located right between the two eyebrows, the chakra takes care of the pituitary gland as well as governs the all five chakras below it. It is associated with imagination, power of intuitions, intellect, insight, understanding, and knowledge.
• The colour Indigo connects us with the space and time.
• It is connected with the sense of Vision.
• Issues of comprehension, problems in imagination, sight issues and at times Sleep problems, memory loss, are the major problems related to the Ajna blockage.

The Crown Chakra (Sanskrit: “Sahasrara”)

• The word ‘Sahasrara’ refers to a thousand-petaled lotus, or the ‘seat of the ultimate’.
• The Crown chakra is located at the highest point of our body, the cerebrum, and connects us to our higher selves.
• This chakra represents intellect and higher knowledge, and connects with the feeling of bliss, joy, celebration and liberation.
• It is represented by the colour Violet, the pure and divine light.
• Lack of empathy, brain fog, depression and lack of understanding, are major concerns related to the Crown chakra imbalance. Unblocking the Crown chakra directly refers to the acquisition of the divine knowledge, and recognition of the higher self.

The seven chakras function together to govern our body and mind, and their blockages can be removed naturally.

Learn how to balance the chakras and take care of your physical and mental health, in my next blog.

Till then, Stay Tuned, Stay Healthy and Stress-Free!

In the previous blog (Five Essential Elements of Life: Natural Ways to Maintain Good Health – Part 1), we talked in detail about how the Earth and the Water element and their imbalances affect our bodies and mental health. This blog shall further explicate the results of imbalances of the Fire, Air and the Space element.

1. The Fire Element:

Fire element refers to passion and an energy that can transform. A balanced Fire element provides the impetus to take important decisions at the right time. However, fire imbalance can lead to various skin irritations, dryness, fatigue and emotional disturbances. People with excessive fire generally have an over-active metabolism.

Natural Ways to Balance the Fire Element:

• The Sun and its rays are the natural treasures to correct the Fire imbalance
• Fire Ceremony (Homa) is a good way to balance the fire element in one’s body
• The Manipur Chakra (at the Solar Plexus) can be activated by Sound & Vibration Therapies
• Meditating on the Manipur Chakra helps balance the Fire element
• Exercising also increases the Fire element
• Imbalance of Fire can lead to anger issues, and meditation has always proven to be effective in anger management.

2. The Air Element

Air controls all the movements of the body. Being directly connected to the respiratory system, the Air element is controlled by the basis of human life– the act of breathing. All the respiratory issues emerge in case of Air imbalance. Air element gifts the sense of imagination, however, can cause distress to those who cannot come to terms with reality and hence suffer relationship as well as time management issues in life.

Natural Ways to Balance the Air Element:

• Breathing exercises are a boon in case of Air imbalance
• Since the Air element is directly connected to the sense of touch, spending more time in cleaner air replenishes your body with vitality and balances your Air element
• Meditating on your Anaahat Chakra (Heart Chakra) balances your air element
• Observing silence for a day will help balance the air element in people who are talkative
• Sound and Vibration Therapy helps in balancing the air element

3. The Space Element

The Blank or the Void defines the connection of the mind and body with the universe. The Space element controls your power of thinking and perception. The more balanced your Space element is, the more enlightened you are in life.

Natural Ways to Balance the Space Element:

• With the Space element being directly connected to the sense of sound, Music or Sound therapy has been considered one of the best ways to maintain the Space element balance. The correct frequency often calms your mind and revitalizes your mind, creating more space for new thoughts
• Meditation exercises  have proven to enhance concentration and balance the Space element
• Meditating on Vishuddhi Chakra (Throat Chakra) balances the space element
• ShunyaTraatak (Focusing on Zero) can help balance the space element
• Observing the gap between consecutive breaths can help balance the space element

Living a life close to nature is all in all the best way to lead a happy, healthy and fruitful life. Though commonly known as alternative medicine, naturo-therapy is the basis of life. To discuss further on thefive elements and their significance on human life, in the next blog, I will talk about the various chakras or the energy centers responsible for controlling our being.

Stay tuned for my next blog!

Till then, Enjoy your being’s balance, Stay Healthy and Stress-Free!

What comes to your mind, when we think of the word ‘Being’? We, as humans, recognize ourselves with reference to the three pillars of our existence, the mind, the body and the universe. A balance between the mind as well as the body has been known to be the basis of sanity, and our connection with the environment defines our social character and further decides our well-being.  In my previous blog, we discussed how the human body is formed by the five elements, i.e. earth, air, water, fire and space. Their balance, in numerous ways, decides our life condition as well as health. Let me further elaborate on the way each element affects our body, as well as mind and the outcomes of element imbalance.

The ancient traditional Indian medicine system, known as the Ayurveda, focuses on maintaining health through takingcare of your diet, enhancing the power of the mind and controlling stress through practices such as meditation. The roots of the element theory are also believed to lay in the ideas of Hippocrates, the father of medicine.  Natural therapy, or Naturopathy, introduced in its modern form in 1902 by Benjamin Lust, had faded in its charm over time, with the proliferation of modern medicine. However, in the contemporary world, it has regained its admiration, owing to the limits of modern medicine being tested repeatedly. The system of Naturopathy, as well as that of Ayurveda, comprises the sole belief in the removal of toxins from the mind as well as the body, creating a balance between the five elements for seeking a healthy life state.

How does the element imbalance affect our mind and body?

Each element affects us on two levels, physiological as well as psychological.

{The physiological stratum refers to our body, i.e. the physical self. The psychological stratum refers to the functions of our mind.}

1. The Earth Element:

The Earth element, being the element of highest density is connected directly to the entire body mass. Its excess causes obesity and lack cause emaciation. The generalization of the Earth element in itself tells you the psychological aspects of it. ‘To be down to Earth’ is often considered a virtue, unless it is in state of excess. The more the Earth element is imbalanced in your being, the more you feel ‘stuck in your own head’, stuck in emotions and lack self-confidence or on the contrary, you are in a constant state of apathy. Brain Fog is another common condition arising from Earth imbalance. The lack of the Earth element pushes you away from emotions and from the sense of life itself.

Natural Ways to Balance the Earth Element:

• Eat foods which are lighter on the digestive system
• Devise ways to manage your time and energy efficiently;
• Enjoy the smell of the earth, touch nature once in a day; a walk on the grass barefoot is the best way to stay connected with the Earth element
• The Ayurveda recommends the Balneotherapy or the Mud therapy to balance the Earth element in your body
• Sound and Vibration Therapy helps in balancing the Earth element
• Meditation on your Mooladhaar Chakra (the Base Chakra) also helps you to balance your Earth element

2. The Water Element:

With direct nexus with all the significant fluids of the body, the Water element takes cares of your blood circulation and controls the body function effectively. Our bodies are made of 60 to 65% water, and its imbalance creates issues in the proper functioning of the body and mind. The system of natural medicine believes water to possess a sense of memory. It is said to retain energy and affect its carrier accordingly. Health issues such as lethargy and kidney-related disorders are a result of Water imbalance.

Natural Ways to Balance the Water Element:

• Drink water, as pure as possible, free from toxins
• Consumption of alkaline, structured water is the best way to neutralize the acidity in the body and balance the entire system
• Hydrotherapy, i.e. external usage of water in different forms is another recommended technique to balance the Water element
• Taking dips regularly in Sea or river water (which are full of minerals) cleans the water element of the body
• Sound and Vibration Therapy helps in balancing the Water element
• Meditating on the Swadhisthaan chakra (Sex Chakra) helps in balancing the water element

We shall talk about Fire, Air, and Space elements and the impact of their imbalance on our lives in my next blog.

Till then, Enjoy your being’s balance, Stay Healthy and Stress-Free!

As fluid as Water, As light as Air
As giving as the Earth, As Bright as Fire
In the unlimited Space, I find the Balance
This is my Existence and all I Desire
- Dipannita Sahai

The Universe is made of five elements, Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. As per Yogic sciences, for the creation of anything, Space is required. This is how the universe came into existence. First, Space appeared and in Space, Air and other gases came into existence. Then, Fire began to transform gases and elements. With the fusion of gases, Water came into existence. To hold everything together, Earth came into existence. This happened in no time, like a big bang.

As universe is created of 5 elements, everything in it, including human beings, constitutes of these five elements. A proper study and understanding of these elements is key to maintaining good physical as well as mental health. Each cell of our body has the presence of these five elements. Repercussions of the imbalance between the five are conspicuous and often addressable. Ayurveda is created on this concept of 5 elements.

What happens when there’s imbalance?

When the five elements are imbalanced, we face issues such as the climate change. Climate change occurs due to imbalance of Earth and Air element. We have extracted Petroleum, Coal, Wood, nuclear power etc. from the Earth, burnt and used them according to our needs, releasing the by-products in the atmosphere, thus creating Air imbalance.

The smallest unit of planet Earth is the element, Carbon. Everything around us, the land, the rocks, vegetation, or the air, abounds with carbon in some form or the other. Plants are the greatest absorbers of carbon. However, humans, through their industrial practices (development and usage of factories, automobile, rockets, nuclear reactors) have raised the atmospheric carbon levels to an extent where nature is unable to maintain its balance. Owing to human malpractices, the greenhouse gas CO2 is unable to leave the atmosphere of the earth, and hence is leading to a global temperature raise, which in turn is gradually making life conditions tougher on the planet.

The imbalance of the five fundamental elements, in the same way, can lead to alarming repercussions.  Our bodies are connected with each other and to the universe through these fundamental elements existing within us.  Let us now understand the five elements in detail.

1. Earth

Earth nurtures everyone and everything that lives on it. The Earth element symbolizes stability, permanence and rigidity. It is directly connected to the digestive system, and hence its imbalance causes digestive issues, and may lead to weight gain and lethargy and cause immense amount of stress. The excess of the earth element causes a condition known as brain fog where thinking is muddled and productivity drops.

2. Water

Water indicates eternel flow or fluidity, nurturing and unstable nature. Nearly 70% of our bodies is Water. All the fluids in our body are linked to the water element. The element is directly connected to the sense of youthfulness, taste, and the various fluid substances inside our body – blood, lymph, urine, intracellular fluid, and even emotions. The imbalance of water element directly leads to kidney function issues, further leading to digestion, energy imbalance, and blood-related disorders. With issues in relationships, and instability in life, the imbalance also leads to extreme anxiety, fear, nervousness, and fatigue.

3. Fire

 Fire element, as its name suggests denotes passion, vitality, the power to transform, burn (anger), and self-esteem. Fire gets transformed into tissue and energy. In our mind, it is fiery intelligence and fiery emotions. In our eyes, it creates vision. Fire imbalance can lead to either extreme depression and lethargy or anxiety and sleeping problems.  Hot flashes and skin irritations are indicators of excessive fire element. It is extremely important when it comes to mental health and happiness.

4. Air

Air is the element that is eternally dynamic, flexible and mobile. Respiration, sensation of touch, movement, contraction and relaxation, all subtle movements, including that of nerves in our body are air dominant in nature. Air element lets you take the flights of fantasy. However, air imbalance can trap you inside your head, leading to over-thinking and depression. As long as you’re able to keep your imagination in control and make good use of your thoughts, your air element is balanced. Relationship and commitment issues  and problems in decision making arise when the air element is imbalanced.

5. Space

The Space element is the foundation of your relationship with the universe. The vacant spaces inside the body, big and small channels, along with sound and auditory channels are predominant in Space by nature. Moreover, the manifestation of all your desires, creativity, wisdom, dignity, knowledge and compassion, are all regulated by the space element and hence it is the essence of life. Space is important in relationships, as well as in each and every cell of our body. Proper rest and meditation have been regarded as the most important components of leading a healthy life. Meditation helps new ideas and thoughts to make space in your mind.  The balance of Space element is primary for achieving success in life.

A perfect balance of Yin-Yang, harmony between the body and the mind, and between one and the universe, is essential for a happy life. Following certain food habits, as well as meditation, are few of the many ways which can help you achieve the perfect balance required for happiness and success. In the upcoming blogs, I shall take you on a journey of realization, helping you recognize the imbalances in your body and eventually overcome the same.

Till then, Stay Balanced, Stay Healthy and Stress-free!!!