In Yogic philosophy, a chakra is one of the seven subtle vortexes of energy that organize how consciousness moves through the body and mind. The word chakra means “wheel” or “disc” in Sanskrit, referring to the centers along the spine where energy, awareness, and perception converge. There are two levels — physical and psychic — that influence the nervous system, emotions, and behavior, so that we might transcend imbalance and raise our energy. The goal is to help us reach our highest potential when experiencing life.
Traditionally, the seven chakras are described to be aligned along the spine from the base of the pelvis to the crown of the head. These centers are not meant to be “activated” or controlled, but observed and refined through practices like posture, breath, meditation, mantra, and a Sattvic lifestyle. When attention becomes steadier and habits more balanced, energy flows more clearly, cleanly, and efficiently through these centers.
Chakras belong to the Prāṇamaya Kosha, the subtle body or layer of experience that sits between the physical body (Annamaya Kosha) and the mind (Manomaya Kosha). They help explain why varying emotional states can affect the body, like the impact of stress on digestion, the breath, and skin. Each chakra corresponds to specific qualities of awareness, areas of the body, and aspects of the human experience such as safety, creativity, will, love, expression, insight, and meaning.
Chakras are best understood as a map rather than a belief system. As a collective, they offer a way to understand how internal states influence perception, behavior, and state of mind. Yoga works on much deeper levels than movement of muscles or flexibility. From this perspective, Yoga becomes a practice of awareness — learning how to sense, regulate, and align the flow of energy and attention throughout the whole system.
At their core, the chakras describe how consciousness experiences itself through the body. By cultivating awareness rather than force, Yoga invites these centers into balance, allowing the mind to become clearer, the Self more responsive to the body, and perception more refined.
