Maybe you've seen a rainbow of glowing circles stacked up someone's spine on a yoga studio wall and thought, "Okay, but what is that?"
Those are the chakras, and if you've ever felt a lump in your throat before saying something hard, or "butterflies" in your belly before a big moment, you already have a feel for what they're about.
What Is a Chakra?
Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means "wheel." The idea comes from ancient yoga traditions in India, which describe spinning centers of energy running along the body, from the base of the spine to the top of the head.
You'll find a lot of different chakra systems out there. The one most people in the West know today has seven main chakras, each linked with a part of the body, a color, and a theme in our emotional lives.
I like to think of the chakras as a map. Not a medical chart, but a gentle way of noticing where you're feeling open and flowing, and where you might be feeling stuck.
The Seven Main Chakras
1. Root chakra (Muladhara) Where: Base of the spine Color: Red Theme: Safety, stability, and feeling grounded. When this area feels off, you might feel anxious, scattered, or like the ground keeps shifting under you.
2. Sacral chakra (Svadhisthana) Where: Lower belly Color: Orange Theme: Creativity, pleasure, and emotions. This is your "let yourself enjoy things" center.
3. Solar plexus chakra (Manipura) Where: Upper belly Color: Yellow Theme: Confidence and personal power. Think of the gut feeling that says, "I can do this."
4. Heart chakra (Anahata) Where: Center of the chest Color: Green Theme: Love, connection, and compassion, for others and for yourself.
5. Throat chakra (Vishuddha) Where: Throat Color: Blue Theme: Expression and speaking your truth. That lump-in-the-throat feeling? This is the neighborhood.
6. Third eye chakra (Ajna) Where: Between the eyebrows Color: Indigo Theme: Intuition, insight, and inner knowing.
7. Crown chakra (Sahasrara) Where: Top of the head Color: Violet or white Theme: Connection to something bigger than yourself, however you understand that.
Why the Chakras Might Matter to You
Stress and old pain don't just live in our thoughts. They show up in our bodies: the tight jaw, the clenched belly, the heavy chest. The chakras give us a language for noticing those places with curiosity instead of judgment.
You don't have to believe in energy centers to find this helpful. Even as a simple check-in tool, they can help you slow down and ask, "Where am I holding things right now?"
A Simple Chakra Check-In
Try this the next time you have five quiet minutes:
Get comfortable. Sit or lie down, and take a few slow breaths.
Scan from the bottom up. Gently bring your attention to each area: the base of your spine, your lower belly, upper belly, chest, throat, forehead, and the top of your head.
Notice without fixing. Does any area feel tight, warm, heavy, buzzy, or quiet? There's no right answer.
Breathe into what you find. If one spot stands out, rest a hand there and breathe toward it for a few rounds.
That's it. You're not trying to "fix" a chakra. You're just getting to know your own inner landscape a little better.
Where Reiki Comes In
In my Reiki sessions, I often move through areas connected to the chakras, holding space at each one. Many people find it deeply relaxing, and some say it helps them notice what their body has been carrying.
Reiki and chakra work are a complement to therapy and medical care, not a replacement for either.
Come Explore
Over the next few months, I'll be taking a closer look at some of these chakras, starting with the root chakra and how to feel grounded in a busy season.
And if you'd like to experience this work for yourself, in person or from the comfort of your own couch, I'd love to see you. [Book a Reiki session here.]
