I love to work with the 7 main Chakras (originally spelled Cakra) when creating classes. They represent certain areas of the body and the energy that moves in that region. A fun note is that the rainbow colors are a modern western representation of the associated colors. The original text colors are listed below as the lotus petal color.
Here are some information per Chakra to help you to add more than physical poses to the practice.
Root
- Sanskrit = Muladhara or “root support”
- Bija Mantra = Lam
- Base of the spine down to the feet
- Main function = Grounding, security, survival, safety
- Sense organ = Nose, odor/smell
- Western Modern Color = Red
- Symbol = 4 petaled lotus
- Lotus Petal Color = Crimson Red
- Yantra Shape = Square
- Element = Earth
- Element color = Yellow
Sacral
- Sanskrit = Svadhisthana or “self-established” or “self-basis”
- Bija Mantra = Vam
- Reproductive area (for classes I just call it the pelvic area or hips)
- Main function = Creating, warmth, intimacy, feelings, family
- Sense organ = Tongue, taste
- Western Modern Color = Orange
- Symbol = 6 petaled lotus
- Lotus Petal Color = Vemillion Red
- Yantra Shape = Half (Crescent) Moon
- Element = Water
- Element color = Shining white or Light blue
Solar Plexus
- Sanskrit = Manipura or “city of gems” or “jewel-filled”
- Bija Mantra = Ram
- Navel or Digestive area, liver and stomach
- Main function = Transforming, change, authority, reputation, ego, clarity, learning, power, confidence
- Sense organ = Eyes, visual form
- Western Modern Color = Yellow
- Symbol = 10 petaled lotus
- Lotus Petal Color = Deep blue or Dark rain cloud color
- Yantra Shape = Triangle
- Element = Fire
- Element color = Orange like a sunrise color
Heart
- Sanskrit = Anahata or “unstruck”
- Bija Mantra = Yam
- Heart, lung area. Center of subtle body or spiritual self.
- Main function = Love, devotion, duty, compassion, balance, empathy, growth
- Sense organ = Skin, touch
- Western Modern Color = Green
- Symbol = 12 petaled lotus
- Lotus Petal Color = Deep red
- Yantra Shape = Six Pointed Star
- Element = Air, Wind
- Element color = Smoky gray
Throat
- Sanskrit = Visuddha or “purified”
- Bija Mantra = Ham
- Throat area
- Main function = Communicating, speech, knowledge, expression
- Sense organ = Ears, sound
- Western Modern Color = Blue
- Symbol = 16 petaled lotus
- Lotus Petal Color = Smoky Purple
- Yantra Shape = Circle
- Element = Space or Ether
- Element color = White
Third Eye
- Sanskrit = Ajna or “command” or “enhanced knowledge”
- Bija Mantra = Om
- Between the eyebrows
- Main function = Direct perception, realization, austerity, intuition, release of habits, psychic higher consciousness
- Sense organ = Mind, thought
- Western Modern Color = Indigo
- Symbol = 2 petaled lotus
- Lotus Petal Color = White
- Yantra Shape = Downward Triangle
- Element = Mind
- Element color = None
Crown
- Sanskrit = Sahasrara or “thousand-spoked”
- Bija Mantra = Om or Silence
- Above the crown of the head
- Main function = Realizing, union, higher Self, divine, pure awareness, full realization
- Sense organ = None
- Western Modern Color = Purple/Violet or White
- Symbol = Infinite petaled lotus
- Lotus Petal Color = Whiter than a full moon
- Yantra Shape = Full moon
- Element = None
- Element color = None
Sources
- Nicolai Bachman (www.sanskritsounds.com)
- Historical texts of Hatha Yoga Pradipika chapter 3 and Siva Samhita chapter 5.