The Journey Through

the Chakras
Inside the Wheels of Life
 Intro
The chakras: elusive, abstract, and
at the forefront of every trendy
yoga conversation.
However, unless we experience
them firsthand, the chakras seem
to be more of an illusion than a
reality. Until then, we have to take
the word of the yogis who have
walked the kundalini path before us
to understand the power and usage
of these esoteric energy centers.
The term chakra means “wheel” or
“circle” in Sanskrit. In a yogic sense,
it’s more commonly translated
as “vortex” or “whirlpool.” The
chakras are also known as psychic-
energetic centers or spinning points
of energy connected by subtle
channels (nadis) that carry prana
throughout the body.
Start by meeting each of the
chakras then take our “Which of
Your Chakras is Out of Balance?”
quiz to determine which of your
chakras is in need of activation.
Next, learn about the history
behind the chakras and gather the
knowledge you’ll need to better
your chakras down the road.
Continue on by reading all about
the various ways you can soothe,
activate, and balance each chakra.
Our hope is that you gain a better
understanding of these energy
centers and the yogic practices
associated with each, as you
journey through the chakras.
-The beYogi Tribe
Contents
3 What is a Chakra?
Uncover the meaning behind our body’s
energy centers and learn all about
Kundalini.
4 Meet The Chakras
Gain a better understanding of each
chakra and its’ location within the body.
5 Which of your chakras is out
of balance?
Learn how an imbalanced chakra can
effect you and your body.
6 Muladhara Chakra
The first of the seven chakras, learn
about the history behind this chakra and
the activation process.
9 Svadhisthana Chakra
Svadhisthana chakra, or second chakra is
related to the water element.
12 Manipura Chakra
Manipura, or third chakra, resides at the
solar plexus.
15 Anahata Chakra
Anahata, or fourth chakra, is assciated
with the heart and chest.
18 Vishuddha Chakra
Our fifth energy center is related to the
throat and speech.
21 Ajna Chakra
Ajna, or sixth chakra, is responsible for
our perception.
Sahasrara Chakra
24 Begin on the path of enlightenment with
the help of sahasrara.
2
What is a Chakra?
Chakras are known as the body’s energy
centers. Though we’re said to possess
countless chakras, there are seven major
chakras vertically spanning the midline of
the body, from the base of the spine to the
crown of the head. Each chakra governs
a particular area of the body, element,
emotion, and mental state. When the
chakras are open, they allow a free flow
of energy that facilitates a balanced and
healthy life.
The chakras are associated with particular
deities that represent a different aspect
within us. They mirror our emotions
and behaviors and reflect back to the
subconscious feelings, habits, and thoughts
that make-up or foster our growth. Each is
What is Kundalini?
Kundalini is a dormant energy that
resides within each of us. This energy
is traditionally represented as a coiled
serpent; According to many yogic
traditions, Kundalini is said to be curled
up in the back part of muladhara chakra or
first chakra, around the sacrum. When it
uncoils, it rises up a subtle channel within
the spinal cord and passes through the
chakras.
Once it reaches the seventh chakra or
sahasrara, one attains yoga’s ultimate goal
of spiritual enlightenment. This awakening
connected to a higher brain center.
Chakras in the legs relate to animal instinct
and consciousness, while chakras above
muladhara or first chakra relate to human
consciousness and spiritual evolution.
Symbolism is important for awakening the
chakras. Each chakra is represented by a
color, a yantra (geometrical shape), a beej
mantra (sacred seed sound), an animal
symbol, divine beings, and a lotus flower
with a specific number of petals.
The chakras are subtle manifestations of
human consciousness, and their purification
enables kundalini energy to rise upward for
the ultimate yogic goal of self-realization.
results in the complete evolution of one’s
body, mind, and soul. The concept behind
Kundalini comes from the yogic philosophy
of ancient India. It refers to the intelligence
behind yogic awakening and spiritual
process.
In the Western world, the understanding
of kundalini is often associated with the
practice of expressive or religious practices.
These practices induce an altered state
of consciousness, manifesting either
physically or mentally.
3
 Meet the Chakras
Sahasrara
Sahasrara chakra is the final point

where the kundalini energy can
manifest. When kundalini reaches
sahasrara, the yogi begins on the path
of enlightenment.
Ajna
Ajna chakra is located in the brain, at the
top of the spinal cord. When awakened,
ajna chakra gives clear perception of
oneself and the outside world.

Vishuddha
Vishuddha chakra is located directly
behind the throat pit in the cervical plexus.
It is related to truthfulness and taking
responsibility for one’s own actions.

Anahata
Anahata chakra is located at the center of
the chest on the inner wall of the spinal
column. It’s related to the heart center but is
not actually located at the biological heart.

Manipura
Residing at the solar plexus, manipura
chakra is like the sun of the body.
It radiates prana and gives energy,
dynamism, and achievement.

Svadhisthana
Svadhisthana chakra’s counterpart in

Muladhara
the mind is the unconscious. It’s the
storehouse of karma, samskaras, and
mental impressions.
The root of all the chakras, muladhara
is the seat of the kundalini energy. Its
awakening is very important to begin
the process toward enlightenment.

4 4
 Which of Your Chakras
is Out of Balance?
Check all the boxes that apply and count up each mark. Fill in the total below the chakra with
the matching color, the higher the number the more imblanced the chakra. Learn how to
activate your imbalanced chakra on the pages listed with each chakra description.

How do you feel?

Anxious Flakey Conceited Obsessive

Doubtful Emotional Submissive Skeptical

Controlling Scared Dependent Neglectful

Disliked Depressed Rejected Materialistic

Unsafe Controlling Dramatic Critical

Replusive Moody Mellow Oversensitive

Confused Hopeless Awkward Disconnected

Impersonal Insecure Lazy Stubborn

Jealous Egotistical Lonely Shy

Unimaginitive Cynical Impatient Restless

Selfish Paranoid Weak Indecisive

Arrogant Judgmental Manipulative Aggressive

Timid Vain Patronizing Uninspired

Tired Frustrated Impulsive Irrational

Muladhara Svadhisthana Manipura Anahata Vishuddha Ajna Sahasrara

Chakra Chakra Chakra Chakra Chakra Chakra Chakra
To activate To activate To activate To activate To activate To activate To activate
this chakra, this chakra, this chakra, this chakra, this chakra, this chakra, this chakra,
follow the follow the follow the follow the follow the follow the follow the
yogic practices yogic practices yogic practices yogic practices yogic practices yogic practices yogic practices
found on the found on the found on the found on found on found on found on
Muladhara Svadhisthana Manipura the Anahata the Anahata the Anahata the Anahata
Activation Activation Activation Activation Activation Activation Activation
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(pg.7-8) (pg.10-11) (pg.13-14) (pg.16-17) (pg.19-20) (pg.22-23) (pg. 25-26)
Muladhara
The first of the seven chakras is
muladhara: the root chakra, which
is associated with the earth element.
In our body, the earth element is
represented as our bones, tissues, and
our connection to the ground.
Meet Ganesha
As Ganesha, the remover of obstacles,
governs muladhara.
With his elephant
head, human body,
and portly belly,
Ganesha is one of
the most recognized
deities of the
Hindu pantheon.
His job is to clear
obstacles, grant new
perspectives, and
guide us to recognize
our strength and wisdom.
As the deity of the first chakra,
Ganesha blesses all beginnings and
asks us to connect to our bodies and
to the earth. For many people, there
is disconnect from our bodies—we
move through daily routine without
conscious attention to our actions.
We swallow a pill to numb pain, eat
quickly or distractedly, and spend
more time in our head than our body.
Ganesha, commonly depicted with
four arms, holds a goad in one hand
to prod humans forward on the path
to enlightenment. Muladhara chakra
establishes survival, stability, and
security. When you align your body
and emotions, you manifest your
ability to live a full life. Your body is
home to your spirit and ike any home,
there needs to be a strong foundation.
Arriving at the mat
To ground down and tune into
the sensations in our body is to
acknowledge pain, limitations, and
where we feel good. This is similar to
the mala beads in Ganesha’s hands
which represent the continuous
process of knowledge; we never stop
learning.
Like a tall tree with deep roots,
growing and expanding a strong
connection to the body and the
earth is vital. Ganesha’s large head
represents our own capacity for
expanded awareness. To live our best
life, we must open our big Ganesha
ears and listen to the wisdom within,
build a solid foundation, and tune into
our full abilities.
6
Muladhara
Activation
The root of all the chakras, muladhara
is located inside the perineum in
males, halfway between the anus
and scrotum. It’s located on the rear
side of the cervix in women. Until
muladhara is purified the mind will
remain tamasic, stuck in attachments
and delusions.

Muladhara relates to the

reproductive, excretory, and urinary
organs. This includes the rectum,
large intestine, bones, teeth, legs,
and spine. Physical dysfunctions can
manifest in the form of sciatica, back
pain, and immune disorders.

Since muladhara is the first of all

chakras, its influences are the base of
our whole being. It gives us a sense
of groundedness and security, as well
as the feelings of safety and stability.

Because muladhara holds all of our

passions, including our agonies and
complexes,its imbalance can make us
feel ungrounded, fearful, and have
low self-esteem.

For the full article

CLICK HERE.

7
 Hero pose
Sanskrit: Virasana
Step By Step:
1. Sit with your legs folded underneath you in Thunderbolt pose, knees
together.

2. Slide your feet out from under you so that they’re

resting along your outer thighs. The backs of your
feet will be against the floor, and your big toes will
point slightly inward. You can grab the insides of
your calves and rotate them outward to make the
pose feel more spacious.

3. Rest your hands on your knees, palms down.

Reach the crown of your head toward the sky
and melt your shoulders down your back. Find
expansiveness in your chest. Close your eyes and
settle in. Stay in the pose for 30 seconds or up to a few minutes.

Warrior II Pose
Sanskrit: Virabhadrasana II
Step By Step:
1. Begin standing with your feet together. Step your feet about 3 to 3 ½ feet
apart. Turn your toes slightly inward so that the outer edges of your feet are
parallel.

2. Turn your right toes out 90

degrees and anchor the outer edge
of your left foot to the floor.

3. Inhale and bring your arms to

shoulder height, hands reaching
away from you.

4. Exhale and bend your right knee

until it’s aligned over your ankle.

5. Gaze past your right hand,

breathing slowly and smoothly.
Stay here for 20 to 30 seconds.
Inhale and straighten your leg, then
change sides.
8
Svadhisthana
Svadhisthana chakra, or second
chakra, is associated with the water
element. It represents movement,
flow, sexuality, pleasure, desire, and
creativity.
Svadhisthana asks us to tune into
our flow, into our desire, our sexual
nature, and our desire to create—we
move from the place of inner knowing
to an awareness of the world around
us.
Svadhisthana develops at around six
to eighteen months of age, the time
when a person begins to recognize
that they are separate from the world
around them. At this age, children
discover their limbs and their ability
to move unassisted.
Svadhisthana is depicted as a six-
petaled lotus flower. At the base
of the lotus flower is Makara, the
alligator—an animal able to dive into
water or sit on the shore. Vishnu, the
Lord of Preservation, and Rakini Shakti
the Shakti or Goddess energy of this
chakra, sit above Makara, governing
this chakra.
Vishnu’s energy works to bring us
back to a state of equilibrium, so we
function from our most radiant self.
Rakini has two heads to represent
the duality between one’s internal
landscape and the external
environment.
Rakini represents the inner fluidity
that allows us to move seamlessly
with the duality we encounter
everyday. When we learn how to live
in our natural flow, we connect our
inner world with the outer world
around us, and we connect with inner
joy and happiness.
Opening the door to desire
We need to find a balance between
our inner needs and external
conditions. As we fall off balance,
Rakini and Vishnu are the awakening
forces that jolt us into action to find
balance in our lives again.

The seat of Vishnu and Rakini

When the world is out of balance,

Vishnu changes shape and arrives
in the world to bring it back into
balance. During the world ages,
Vishnu is believed to have returned in
many forms including: a fish, a turtle,
a boar, a prince, and Buddha.
9
Svadhisthana
Activation
Svadhisthana’s counterpart in the
mind is the unconscious. If kundalini,
the dormant energy that’s within
each of us, resides into svadhisthana,
negative samskaras or emotions, can
rise to the surface to be expelled.
Svadhisthana is the key to moving
beyond one’s past!

Seated close to muladhara, or first

chakra, svadhisthana lies at the base
of the spinal column. It’s a small
bony structure that can be felt at the
coccyx.

This chakra is related to the

reproductive and urinary systems,
the liver, kidney, spleen, sex organs,
and stomach. Its imbalance manifests
in these areas in the form of urinary
problems, gynecological disorders,
and low libido. When svadhisthana is
imbalanced, there may be issues with
morality, guilt, blame, and power.

Svadhisthana is also the source of

our creativity and our ability to
experience pleasure.

For the full article

CLICK HERE.

10
 Hare pose
Sanskrit: Shashankasana
Step By Step:
1. Sit with your legs folded underneath you in Thunderbolt pose. Begin with
your hands resting on your thighs. Close your eyes.

2. Inhale and reach both hands to the sky, palms facing forward. Exhale and
bow forward, keeping your arms and torso in one line.

3. Bring your forehead and hands to the floor in Child’s pose, with your arms
extended forward yet relaxed. Hold the breath for a moment, then inhale and
lift your head and torso—again reaching your hands toward the sky.

4. Exhale and lower your hands to your knees. Practice two to four more
rounds.

Churning the Mill

Sanskrit: Chakki Chalanasana
Step By Step:
1. Sit with your legs outstretched and your feet wide. Interlace your fingers
and extend your arms at shoulder height in front of you. Exhale and reach
forward, keeping your arms parallel to the floor.

2. Reach around to the right and lean back. Then, reach to the left and forward
making big circles with your hands, as if you were churning butter. Exhale as
you reach forward and inhale as you lean back. Practice five clockwise circles
and five counterclockwise circles.

Victorious breath
Sanskrit: Ujjayi Pranayama
Step By Step:
1. Get comfortable in a meditation posture, eyes closed. Rest your hands on
your lap. Open your mouth wide and exhale, as if you were fogging up a
mirror, slightly constricting your throat.

2. Close your mouth but maintain this breath, breathing through your nose.
Continue for one to five minutes.

11
Manipura
Manipura, or third chakra, means
“lustrous gem,” and this chakra is
truly a jewel. Located at the solar
plexus, the element associated with
the third chakra is fire.
Manipura can act as the fire in your
belly that motivates you and propels
you forward. Spending too much time
in the third chakra can burn you out.
However spending too little time in it
will leave you feeling fearful, weak,
lethargic, and inert.
When we connect to Manipura,
we connect to our inner power to
incinerate fear, jealousy, and low self-
esteem.
A myth of Agni
Agni, the god of fire, oversees the
third chakra. Red in color, Agni is a
two-headed god, who treats everyone
as equals. He is found in the homes of
the poor, in the homes of the wealthy,
among the homeless, and sometimes
running wild.
Once there was a woman engaged to
be married to a rakshasa, or demon.
But a sage saw her, fell in love, and
took her to his home. The demon was
distraught looking for his beloved
and, in search for her, came across
Agni.
Agni, who is welcomed into every
home, knows everyone’s business.
The demon demanded that Agni tell
him the location of his fiancé. Agni
answered the rakshasa, who went and
took his beloved back from the sage.
The sage cursed Agni so that he would
burn up everything, both pure and
impure. Horrified by this curse, Agni
disappeared from the three worlds
of gods, humans, and demons. Where
previously there was fire, warmth,
joy, and food, now became cold, dark,
dismal, and barren.
The Lord of Creation, Brahma,
recognized the importance of Agni
in the three worlds and asked him to
come out of hiding and bless everyone
with his gift of fire.
Unable to lift the curse completely,
Brahma instead mollified the curse
by saying that all Agni consumed,
whether pure or impure, would be
purified. Agni agreed to return to
the three worlds, where he provides
warmth, heat, and transformation.
12
Manipura
Activation
Once kundalini or the dormant
energy within each of us, has reached
manipura, judgment and personal
prejudices fade away, and the yogi
comes to see things for what they
truly are.

Manipura is located below the

diaphragm and above the navel at
the solar plexus on the inner wall of
the spinal column.

It relates to the kidneys, adrenals,

mid-spine, spleen, and stomach.
With its location at the solar plexus,
manipura is closely tied to the
digestive fire and heat regulation in
the body.

Imbalances may be in the form of

liver and kidney disorders, diarrhea,
indigestion, and other digestive
issues.

Manipura is our source of self and

personal power. When out of whack,
it can manifest as low self-esteem
and distortion in our self-image. It
can also affect our perception of
others in the form of judgment.

For the full article

CLICK HERE.

13
 Boat pose

Sanskrit: Paripurna Navasana

Step By Step:
1. Sit with your legs bent and feet flat on the floor in front of you.

2. Hold onto the backs of your thighs, just above your knees. From the ground
(while leaning back) lift your toes

3. Bring your shins parallel to the floor and draw your chest toward the sky to
flatten your low back. Stay here or reach your arms straight ahead. Hold the
pose for 20 to 30 seconds. Exhale and release.

Bellows breath
Sanskrit: Bhastrika pranayama
Step By Step:
1. Get comfortable in a meditation posture, eyes closed. Rest your hands on
your lap.

2. Take a deep breath in through your nose, feeling your belly expand. Then
exhale forcefully through your nose, feeling your belly draw in toward your
spine.

3. Forcefully inhale through your nose, again feeling your belly expand. The
length of your exhalations and inhalations should match. These breaths should
be exaggerated but rhythmic. Practice nine more rounds, then return to natural
breathing.

14
Anahata
Anahata, or fourth chakra, is also the
heart chakra and regulates our heart,
lungs, and thymus gland. Our heart is
said to house the Atman, our highest
self.
Anahata is ruled by the air element.
When we feed and nourish our lungs,
where we take breath, we open
ourselves up and are able to live in a
fully-functioning state.
Yet through fear, phobias, and –
isms (racism, ageism, sexism, etc.),
we slowly suffocate. If the lungs
do not work to their full capacity,
the chest will cave in—sometimes
causing people to physically form a
hunchback.
A healthy heart chakra keeps our
blood flowing, our lungs working,
and our body healthy. As the heart,
lungs, and thymus gland keep the
body healthy and alive, Shakti is the
dynamic force behind this existence.
Shiva leaves the world
There is a story in which Shiva’s
beloved wife, Sati, dies and his heart
breaks. To avoid pain, he goes into
deep meditation. Escaping into his
meditation, Shiva stops performing
his duties as the god of destruction.
There is a continuous cycle always
occurring with a beginning, middle,
and end—but without Shiva
destroying, there can be no beginning.
The world stood still. Nothing died,
nothing grew. The demons began
to take over the world and the gods
went to the great mother, Shakti, for
help.
Shakti listens to their pleas to awaken
Shiva from his meditation. She agrees
to be born as a human with the sole
purpose to arouse Shiva and set the
cycle of life back into motion.
The bliss of the heart
To bring Shiva back into the world,
Shakti is reborn as Parvati—the
maiden of the mountain. Parvati is
born with a deep love and longing to
be united with Shiva.
Through heartfelt devotion, and by
performing extreme meditations,
Parvati rouses Shiva from his grief and
brings him back into the world where
they marry, make love for thousands
of years, and bring the world back to
balance.
15
Anahata
Activation
The kundalini can potentially rise
all the way from the first chakra,
muladhara, up to the top of the head
at the seventh chakra, or sahasrara.
Our spiritual evolution is determined
by how high this kundalini energy
has reached.

According to some lineages, only

when the kundalini has made it to
anahata can one become a true yogi.
Until then, they’re merely a yoga
practitioner.

Anahata relates to the structures

in the chest area: the heart, lungs,
breasts, esophagus, shoulders, ribs,
and diaphragm, as well as the arms,
hands, and circulatory system.

Anahata gives us all the joyful

emotions we naturally associate with
the heart; love, hope, compassion,
confidence, and forgiveness. When
anahata is imbalanced, it appears
in the form of jealousy, anger, hate,
and fear.

For the full article

CLICK HERE.

16
 Fish pose

Sanskrit: Matsyasana
Step By Step:
1. Lie on your back and slip your hands underneath your bottom with palms
touching the floor. Keep your feet together and relaxed. Inhale and push your
elbows into the floor to lift your chest toward the sky.

2. Bring your elbows as close together as possible, then gently rest on the
crown of your head. Keep most of your weight on your elbows.

3. Breath slowly and smoothly through your nose. Stay here for 30 seconds to
one minute.

4. To come out of Fish pose, push your elbows into the floor and lift your head
one or two inches. Carefully lower.

Cow Face pose

Sanskrit: Gomukhasana
Step By Step:
1. Sit with your legs folded underneath you and
rest your hips to the right. Then, swing your left leg
around so that your left knee stacks over your right
knee.

2. Adjust your feet, so they are resting outside of

your thighs with your toes pointed behind you.

3. Reach your right hand behind your back, palm

facing away. Inhale and reach your left hand up.

4. Exhale and bend your arm, clasping your fingers

behind your back. If they don’t quite connect, hold onto both ends of a strap.

17
Vishuddha
Vishuddha, oe fifth chakra, means
purity. Better known as the throat
chakra, this energy center governs
speech and communication.
Located in the throat space, its
color blue, encourages peaceful
communication. When the throat
chakra is balanced, we communicate
well—both with others and with
ourselves.
Everyone has experienced a moment
of transition—similar to being in a
fog or at a fork in the road, this can
be a scary, eciting juncture. In these
moments, we can look to Saraswati’s
response to Brahma.
Saraswati says only through our
knowledge can we create. This
knowledge is not external but
internal.

The goddess of flow, speech, Embrace the goddess

knowledge, and the arts Saraswati is
the deity governing the vishuddha.
The throat chakra is a bridge
connecting your heart to your brain,
and it also connects your heart to the
world. Our intentions move from our
heart to our head, where they utter in
sound and speech.
The Birth of Saraswati
In the beginning, Brahma, the lord of
creation, sat and wondered how to
turn all chaos into order. From within,
a voice answered, “with knowledge.”
Saraswati is known as the artists’
goddess. In ancient times, Saraswati
was considered to be a great healing
river flowing from the heavens to
earth.
When someone bathed in the
Saraswati river, he or she would
be healed from all diseases. Over
time, she became associated
with speech and knowledge.

And from Brahma’s mouth came out

Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge,
arts, and creativity playing her lute
and shimmering with gold light. As
she strummed, she taught Brahma the
mantras necessary to create the next
world.

18
Vishuddha
Activation
Although vishuddha chakra is given
the least emphasis of all the chakras,
its awakening is the secret of youth
urging physical rejuvenation.

Vishuddha can provide us with the

proper understanding of the duality
of life, higher discrimination, and
healthy detachment.

The realm of vishuddha includes the

throat, thyroid, vocal cords, cervical
spine, mouth, teeth, and gums.

Physical dysfunctions can manifest

as thyroid issues, speech or voice
problems, as well as gum or tooth
issues.

When it’s imbalanced, it can inhibit

our personal expression and our
decision-making. We are unable to
connect our mind with our heart.

When vishuddha is balanced,

however, we are able to listen, to
perceive, and to articulate a response
from our heart.

For the full article

CLICK HERE.

19
 Shoulderstand
Sanskrit: Sarvangasana
Step By Step:
1. Lie on your back with your legs together. Place your
arms alongside your body with your palms facing
down.

2. Bend your knees, inhale, and lift your hips,

supporting your lower back with both hands. Reach
your feet toward the sky and relax your toes.

3. Walk your hands down your back and draw your

elbows close together. Breathe slowly and deeply,
holding the pose for 20 seconds to a minute.

4. To come out of the pose, lower your legs overhead

in Plow pose. Place your hands flat on the floor and
slowly roll all the way down.

Lion Pose
Sanskrit: Simhasana
Step By Step:
1. Sit with your legs folded underneath, toes untucked.

2. Open your knees wide. Place your hands on the ground in between your
thighs, fingers pointing toward you.

3. Roll your shoulders down your back and lengthen your spine. Close your
eyes.

4. Take a big inhalation through your nose. Then open your mouth, stick out
your tongue, and exhale with a smooth “ahhhhhh” sound looking upward with
your eyes wide open. Repeat this four more times.

5. Release and rest for a few breaths in Thunderbolt pose (Vajrasana).

20
Ajna
Ajna, or sixth chakra, is the chakra of
light and inner sight. We open Anja
when our masculine and feminine
energy meld, recognizing ourselves
and everything around as coming
from one source.
In Indian myth, the fusion of
masculinity and femininity is
represented by Ardhanarishvara, an
androgynous form that is half-man
and half-woman—symbolizing the
union of Shiva and Shakti.
More than an androgynous figure, this
icon represents non-duality: the belief
that all aspects of the universe come
from a single source.
Marriage of being and knowing
Ardhanarishvara is the marrying of
being and knowing, as well as of
matter and consciousness. We must
melt the heart and mind together to
receive true bliss.
Awakening Shiva’s Heart
Shiva became all thought, and Shakti
became all heart. Open to the pain
of separation, Shakti understood
suffering arose from people’s inability
to connect with divinity and oneness.
She incarnated into the form of
Parvati and spent thousands of years
meditating to reach union with Shiva.
Through her discipline and inner
tapas, Shakti in the form of Parvati,
awakened Shiva’s heart.
Fusion of heart and mind
This fusion of heart and mind and
matter and consciousness is the
opening of the sixth chakra—the
ability to see beyond the physical
object in front of us to the subtle
energy that makes and connects all
objects.

Poet and playwright Kamla K. Kapur

relates the split of Shiva and Shakti to
a command from Brahma, who could
not recognize their vast shimmering
presence. When the two split, the pain
was so unbearable for Shiva that he
turned to meditation to control his
senses of desire and pain.

Meanwhile, Shakti spent her days

suffering, using her energy to
manifest different ways to merge back
with her beloved.
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Ajna
Activation
Often called the ‘third eye’, ajna
chakra is the channel through which
a yogi comes to understand the true
nature of his or her existence.

Ajna chakra is located in the brain

at the top of the spinal cord. It
is directly behind the third eye,
in between but just above the
eyebrows.

Ajna relates to the brain, the pineal

gland, the eyes, ears, and nose.
Physical dysfunctions can be in the
form of depression, blindness, brain
tumors, deafness, headaches, and
strokes.

When we move into the ajna

chakra, we gather all of the data
collected from past experiences,
sensory inputs, and future desires
to recognize that time has no
boundaries, limitations, or set order.

When it is awakened, attachment

fades and higher perception
sets in. Dysfunctions of ajna can
cause unfounded fears, delusions,
attachment, and jealousy.

For the full article

CLICK HERE.

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 Tree Pose
Sanskrit: Vrksasana
Step By Step:
1. Stand with your feet together. Send your tailbone
toward the floor and the crown of your head toward
the sky.

2. Lift your right foot from the floor and place it

along the inside of your left leg, above or below the
knee. Open your right knee to the right.

3. Fix your gaze at one point ahead of you to help

with balance.

4. Inhale and reach your arms out to the sides, then

overhead, joining your palms together. If you feel
steady here, begin to visualize an object—such as a
lotus or the face of Buddha. Fix your mind’s eye on
this image and close your eyes. Keep visualizing this
image to help you balance. If you fall out of Tree
pose, come right back into it.

5. Stay here for 30 seconds to a minute, then change

sides.

Honeybee Breathing
Sanskrit: Bhramari pranayama
Step By Step:
1. Get comfortable in a meditation posture, eyes closed. Gently close the flaps
of your ears with your index fingers.

2. Reach your elbows out to the sides, but let your shoulders drip down your
back. Inhale slowly through your nose.

3. Exhale slowly and smoothly making a long humming sound.

4. Silently inhale through your nose, then exhale with a humming sound. Keep
your awareness at ajna chakra. Repeat this three more times.

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Sahasrara
Sahasrara, or seventh chakra, connects
us to divine intelligence. Located at
the crown of the head, this energy
center is associated with thought,
consciousness, and enlightenment.
When we connect to sahasrara, we
understand our spiritual sovereignty.
We are all connected to a cosmic web
where our thoughts are the basis of
manifestation.
Sahasrara, also known as the crown
chakra is the doorway into this cosmic
web. Think of this energy center
as a thousand-petaled lotus flower
constantly unfolding to reveal the
magic and mysteries of all life.
Shiva and the supreme
consciousness
In the universe, we have matter and
consciousness: Shakti and Shiva.
Shakti is the feminine energy of
the cosmos, and she represents
matter. Shiva, the masculine energy,
represents pure consciousness and
governs the crown chakra.
as our thoughts are both creative
and destructive, Shiva appears in
divergent forms: Mahesvara (the Great
Lord), Nataraja (Lord of the Dance),
Rudra (the howler), and Bhairava (his
fearsome form).
These different forms are single petals
on the ever-blooming lotus. They
help us to understand our true nature
as part of a single consciousness.
When we recognize different aspects
of ourselves, we unite to our single
source of ultimate consciousness.
The mind-body-spirit connection
In order to balance the crown chakra,
we must balance all of the chakras.
There must be a foundational
connection to the emotional, physical,
and mental state of your being, as
well as your spirit.

Thought originates at sahasrara. With

thought, “we can create, destroy,
learn, and grow.” Shiva, an all-
pervading essence is the ultimate
form of consciousness that is both the
creator and destroyer.

Like our ever-changing thoughts,

Shiva comes in many forms. Just

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Sahasrara
Activation
Deemed a chakra by some and not
by others, sahasrara is the final point
where the kundalini energy can
manifest. Kundalini’s culmination
here is the beginning of yogic
enlightenment.

Sahasrara is located at the top

of the head and corresponds
to the pituitary gland. Physical
dysfunctions can manifest in the
form of muscular, skeletal, or
nervous system issues.

When kundalini reaches sahasrara,

the yogi begins on the path of
enlightenment. This is beyond what
the logical mind can comprehend.

But for the sake of trying to

understand sahasrara, it can be said
that this point relates to spirituality,
intuition, and a connection to the
divine.

When fully activated by kundalini,

individual awareness fades away and
the seer, seeing, and seen merge into
one.

For the full article

CLICK HERE.

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 Supported Headstand pose
Sanskrit: Salamba Sirsasana

Step By Step:

1. Begin kneeling with your legs folded underneath, toes

curled under.

2. Clasp your upper arms just above your elbows. Place

your forearms on the floor in front of you. Keep your
elbows exactly where they are but release your hands.
Interlace your fingers.

3. Place the top of your head on the floor so that your

hands are cradling the back of your head. Lift your hips
and then walk your feet toward your head. Once your hips
are over your shoulders, bring your knees into your chest,
one at a time. Slowly straighten your legs. Keep your feet
together and relaxed.

4. Fix your gaze on the floor about a foot in front of you.

Stay here for 10 to 20 seconds, and then lower carefully—
one leg at a time.

Lotus pose
Sanskrit: Padmasana

Step By Step:
1. Sit with your legs straight.

2. Use your hands to carefully place your right foot on top of your left thigh.
Then place the sole of the foot next to the pubic bone and facing the sky.

3. Bend your left leg and place your left foot on top of your right thigh. Then
place the sole of the foot also next to the pubic bone and facing the sky.

4. Rest your hands on your knees in jnana mudra, or psychic gesture of

knowledge, with palms down and thumbs and index fingers touching. Stay
here for as long as it is comfortable.

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 Meet the Authors
Kimi Marin teaches yoga to help others
find clarity in their mind, body, and
spirit. She guides students through their
practice by riding the waves of breath,
continually aligning breath and body into
a rhythmic flow of consciousness. Kimi has
a master’s degree in literature, and loves
to combine the power of stories with
yoga. She often weaves the myths and
stories about various poses into the class.
Her transformative Yogic Lore workshops
are a fun combination of stories, asana,
meditation, and mantra. Kimi was
featured in Origin Magazine’s Inspire
Series, was the featured ambassador for
Ahnu Footwear June 2013, and her writing
has been published on several blog sites.
Learn more at kimimarinyoga.com.

Julie Bernier teaches women the art of

self-care so that they feel their healthiest
and happiest in their own unique bodies.
This holistic approach to individualized
wellness is rooted in the ancient Indian
knowledge of ayurveda. Julie is a
registered ayurvedic practitioner by the
Association of Ayurvedic Professionals
of North America (AAPNA), a Certified
Massage Therapist, and a classical hatha
yoga teacher. She studied each of these
modalities in the US and straight from
the source in India. Connect with Julie at
trueayurveda.com, on Instagram, or on
Facebook.

References:
• Radha, Swami Sivananda. Kundalini Yoga. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass
Publishers, 2004.
• Judith, Anodea. Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System. Woodbury,
MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1987 and 1999. Print.
• Saraswati, Swami Satyananda. Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Bihar, India: Yoga
Publications Trust, 2008.
• Saraswati, Swami Satyananda. Kundalini Tantra. Bihar, India: Yoga Publications Trust,
1984.

27
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