Through all of our lives’ twists and turns, our bodies react to environmental, personal, professional, and emotional influences.Â
Searching for answers on the internet can be an endless scroll of doom and gloom.
In reality, you might just have blocked chakras.
Chakras block the prana that flows through our bodies.
Chakra and prana are words from the ancient Sanskrit language, meaning “wheel” and “life force.”Â
Everyone has seven Chakras, or energy wheels, spinning inside them.
It’s important to start the chakra healing from the lowest part of the body.Â
If the first chakra is blocked, the other six will also have issues.
The chakras, in order, are Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown.
Each chakra is associated with a color and element of nature.
(Sidebar: You might also like to learn about Sacral Chakra Affirmations to Increase Creativity and Sensuality)
What Blocks the Chakras?
The lack of willpower, focus, and preservation of our bodies cause chakra blocks.
While you can’t see a blocked chakra on an x-ray or in a blood test, you can definitely feel the blockage with awareness.Â
There are simple ways to connect physical or emotional issues to determine what blocks the specific chakras.
- Root: Root chakra issues present symptoms of not feeling grounded or able to stand on your own with stability.
- Sacral: Challenges in our personal lives and intimacy can block the sacral chakra. Professional turmoil or toxic workplaces can also contribute.Â
- Solar Plexus: Something is awry with your solar plexus chakra when you spend a lot of time on the toilet or cannot manage a healthy diet. This could be due to abuse, neglect, or self-esteem.
- Heart: Emotions drive the heart chakra, and if you are having trouble controlling emotions, that’s a sure sign that one of the emotions is blocking the energy flowing around the heart chakra.
- Throat: Bullying, dominance, and negative words can quickly throw the throat chakra for a loop.Â
- Third Eye: If you feel your “head is in the clouds,” you probably have some third eye chakra disruption. Making tough decisions like job changes or major relationship decisions can also cause a blockage.
- Crown: People who rely on “stuff” to define them instead of authenticity and grace are likely dealing with the greedy nature of a blocked crown chakra.
A chakra being blocked can lead it to be underactive or overreactive. That’s why it’s critical to unblock chakras.
How Do You Know Your Chakras Are Blocked?
Maybe you just feel an overall “out of sorts” and can’t quite figure out why. This is where it’s critical to figure out which chakra is blocked and take action. Some signs of blocked chakras are:
- Root: Anxiety, fear, insecurity, sense of not belonging
- Sacral: Lack of pleasure and creativity, disconnected from the world around you, fatigue
- Solar Plexus: Digestion issues, eating disorders, emotional eating, liver or kidney issues
- Heart: Stress, anxiety, depression, emotional highs, and lows
- Throat: Poor eating habits, afraid to speak up, negativity in words
- Third Eye: Clouded thoughts, confusion, pessimism, inability to make decisions
- Crown: Indifference, greed, apathy, feeling superior
7 Simple Ways To Unblock Chakras
Once you’ve identified which chakra is blocked, you can take steps to get the energy wheel moving again at a regular and helpful pace.
Knowing how to clear blocked chakras can be life-altering and generally can be done anywhere.Â
Meditation, yoga poses, essential oils, and crystals are four main ways people can unblock chakras.
NOTE: If you are new to meditation, don’t let it intimidate you. It seems impossible to block your mind from all the stressors. You can’t do “good” or “bad” in meditation. The beauty of these practices is that by simply trying them, you succeed at them. As time goes on, you’ll be able to focus more on yourself and less on the world around you.
1. Root Chakra Cleansing
Crystals: Tiger’s Eye, Black Tourmaline, Black Obsidian, Garnet, Red Jasper
Yoga Pose: Malasana (Garland Pose), Utkatasana (Chair Pose), Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold)
This blocked chakra will make you feel on uneven footing. Start with a walk through nature, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells. Remain focused on the things around you; if a stress-inducing thought comes into your mind, watch it pass like a cloud in the sky.
A grounding exercise can also help. Sit in a comfortable position and identify five things you can see without moving your head, four things you could touch if you reached out, three sounds around you, two things you can smell, and one thing you taste.
2. Sacral Chakra Cleansing
Crystals: Amber, Sunstone, Tangerine Quartz, Aragonite
Yoga Pose: Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose), Utkata Konasana (Goddess Squat), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
Get your creativity flowing with water. Since water is the element associated with the bright orange glow of the sacral chakra, you should stay hydrated. Please don’t overdo it.
You can figure out your water intake by following these guidelines from Wendy Bazilian, a registered public health doctor, and nutritionist, “Aim to drink half an ounce for every pound of body weight.” That means if you weigh 120 pounds, you will drink 60 ounces.
Add orange-colored foods to your meals, like orange slices, fresh orange juice, or bell peppers. Orange or citrus-scented bath salts or essential oils can also clear up the sacral chakra.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra Cleansing
Crystals: Citrine, Yellow Jasper, Yellow Topaz, Pyrite
Yoga Pose: Navasana (Boat Pose), Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II Pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (Dolphin Pose)
Feed your soul and solar plexus chakra with healthy, anti-inflammatory foods. When you eat well, you feel better. Do not starve or overfeed a blocked solar plexus issue.
Do activities that challenge you. You want to build up your self-esteem and feel victorious. Try a rock-climbing wall, which will also help build core strength, another solar plexus opener.
When it’s trauma or drama blocking your solar plexus, this is a perfect time to reach out for counseling or a friend who is always willing to listen. Keep the discussion positive and focus on how you wish to improve your situation.
Don’t just repeat negative thoughts out loud. At the end, affirm the conversation with the chants, “I am worthy. I am confident. I am deserving.”
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4. Heart Chakra Cleansing
Crystal: Rose Quartz, Aventurine, Jade, Amazonite
Yoga Pose: Salamba Bhujangasana (Sphinx Pose), Natarajasana (Dancer’s Pose), Ustrasana (Camel Pose)
The heart is one of the most precious organs for emotional and physical survival. It is also one of our most guarded parts.
The heart-opening poses above might leave you dizzy and confused. This is common as we expose a very delicate part of our bodies. You can always default to a child’s pose or mountain pose to get your bearings.
True love starts within us, so write yourself a letter of admiration. This love letter should include the things you love about yourself and the gifts you bring to the lives of your loved ones.
Share your love with an act of grace, like volunteering. For example, help clean up a local park or spend a Saturday at the animal shelter helping feed stray pets that also need love.
5. Throat Chakra Cleansing
Crystal: Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst, Blue Kyanite
Yoga Pose: Marjaryasana and Bitilasana (Cat & Cow Pose), Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand Pose), Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
Wear blue when you need to clear the throat chakra and find your voice. Even a pop of blue color on a necklace or earrings can reinvigorate the blocked chakra.
Breathing exercises can help get the energy spinning in the throat chakra. For example, try 10 minutes of “Lion’s Breath,” where you start by sitting on the floor, bracing yourself with your hands, and inhaling through the nose.
Then open your mouth and stick out your tongue (think of a lion roaring) and exhale with a “haaaaa” sound until you have no more air to exhale.
When you can’t find spoken words, grab your journal and write. Getting the thoughts onto paper will help unblock whatever is keeping your voice from being heard.
6. Third Eye Chakra Cleansing
Crystals: Apophyllite, Azurite, Clear Quartz, Pink Tourmaline
Yoga Pose: Trataka (Candle Gazing), Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Legged Forward Fold), Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breaths)
Cleansing the third eye chakra starts with recognizing it and giving it serious attention. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and move your eyes as if you were trying to look at your forehand (still with your eyes closed).
Should thoughts appear in your mind, do not judge them and let them float away. Take deep breaths as you focus on the third eye.
Wake up early to see the sunrise from a tranquil place. You’ll get the same energy boost if you watch a sunset.
Connecting with the sun’s power and finding the clarity the beginning or end of a day brings, you can get the energy moving in your third eye chakra.
7. Crown Chakra Cleansing
Crystals: Selenite, Lepidolite, Howlite, White Agate
Yoga Pose: Padmasana (Lotus Post), Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose), Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
Meditation helps clear a blocked crown chakra. Beginners might be frustrated with the difficulty of turning their minds off, but with time you’ll find it gets easier.
Another example of letting thoughts pass is thinking of yourself at a giant table with loved ones.
If someone hands you a food dish you don’t like, you simply pass it on without another thought. You can treat your intrusive meditation thoughts like the food dish you pass.
Cluttered thoughts can lead to a cluttered life (and blocked crown chakra), so spend time cleaning the clutter in your closet or cupboard. You’ll find this incredibly soothing for your crown chakra.
Final Thoughts
Our chakras can get blocked easily, but there are so many techniques and tools to help. Aveda offers Chakra Balancing Pure-Fume for a quick fix for each of the seven chakras.
You might think you don’t have the time to heal your chakras, but you can’t afford to neglect these practices because of the health issues that can arise. Make yourself a priority, and your chakras will be better balanced.
