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What are Chakras - A simple guide for the beginner

Updated: Aug 10

Chart of the 7 Major Chakras: A colorful guide detailing the seven chakras, their locations, symbolic colors, and functions. It includes balancing techniques for each chakra to promote spiritual and emotional well-being.
Chart of the 7 Major Chakras: A colorful guide detailing the seven chakras, their locations, symbolic colors, and functions. It includes balancing techniques for each chakra to promote spiritual and emotional well-being.

What Are Chakras?

If you've ever taken a yoga class, tried meditation, or browsed a wellness shop, you've probably heard the word chakra. But what are chakras, really—and how can this information help in your day to day life?


Chakras 101: The Basics

The word chakra comes from Sanskrit and means “wheel” or “disk.” In simple terms, chakras are energy centers in your body.


You can think of them like spinning wheels of energy that keep you feeling balanced—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.


There are seven major chakras, and each one lines up along your spine, starting at the base and going up to the top of your head. Each chakra is linked to different organs, emotions, and aspects of your life.


But here’s something we explain to make it easier for our clients to understand; Each chakra also corresponds to a major gland or organ system in your endocrine system—the network of glands that produce hormones to regulate metabolism, growth, mood, and more. This mind-body connection shows how energy and physical health go hand in hand.


The colors of the chakras directly correspond to the colors of the rainbow, and they follow the same order—from red to violet. This isn’t a coincidence; both chakra colors and rainbow colors are based on the visible light spectrum, which is how light breaks down into different wavelengths that we perceive as color.


Just like a rainbow is created when light is split into its full spectrum, the chakras represent the full spectrum of human energy and consciousness—from our most physical needs to our highest spiritual awareness. Each chakra vibrates at a different frequency, just like each color in the rainbow has a unique wavelength.


Many, including us, also use healing stones or crystals to help support chakra balance. Each chakra resonates with stones that are believed to help align and energize that area. It works by frequency or vibration. Just as the earth vibrates at a 7.83 hz, each chakra and stone vibrate at their individual freqency. For the stone, this is based on type and color.


Adding a mantra—a positive phrase or prayer repeated silently or out loud can further strengthen chakra balance by aligning thoughts and intention with energy flow.


Remember, where the mind goes, the energy flows!


The 7 Main Chakras

(with Endocrine Glands, Organs, Stones & Mantras)

  1. Root Chakra (Base of spine)

    • Color: Red

    • Represents: Safety, security, and stability

    • When balanced: You feel grounded and secure

    • Mantra: “I am safe. I am grounded. I belong.”

    • Endocrine Connection: Adrenal glands (sit on top of kidneys; produce stress hormones)

    • Organs: Legs, feet, bones, colon, rectum, immune system, kidneys

    • Stone: Red Jasper – Promotes grounding, strength, and stability

    • Foods: Root vegetables (beets, carrots, potatoes), red fruits (apples, cherries), protein-rich foods

    • Herbs: Dandelion root, ashwagandha, burdock root


  2. Sacral Chakra (Just below the belly button)

    • Color: Orange

    • Represents: Emotions, creativity, and sexuality

    • When balanced: You feel emotionally open and inspired

    • Mantra: “I am creative. I honor my emotions. I embrace joy.”

    • Endocrine Connection: Ovaries or Testes (produce reproductive hormones)

    • Organs: Reproductive organs, bladder, kidneys, lower back, hips

    • Stone: Carnelian – Encourages creativity, sensuality, and emotional flow

    • Foods: Orange fruits (oranges, mangoes, papaya), sweet potatoes, coconut, healthy fats

    • Herbs: Damiana, maca root, cinnamon, calendula


  3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Upper abdomen)

    • Color: Yellow

    • Represents: Confidence, personal power, and willpower

    • When balanced: You feel self-assured and motivated

    • Mantra: “I am confident. I am powerful. I take action.”

    • Endocrine Connection: Pancreas (regulates blood sugar and digestion)

    • Organs: Stomach, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, upper digestive tract

    • Stone: Citrine – Boosts confidence, motivation, and personal empowerment

    • Foods: Yellow foods (corn, pineapple, bananas), whole grains, ginger, chamomile tea

    • Herbs: Chamomile, turmeric, ginger, milk thistle


  4. Heart Chakra (Center of chest)

    • Color: Green

    • Represents: Love, compassion, and forgiveness

    • When balanced: You give and receive love freely

    • Mantra: “I am love. I am open. I forgive and I am forgiven.”

    • Endocrine Connection: Thymus gland (supports immune function, especially in youth)

    • Organs: Heart, lungs, circulatory system, upper back, arms, hands

    • Stone: Rose Quartz – Opens the heart to love, compassion, and emotional healing

    • Foods: Leafy greens, broccoli, avocados, green tea, herbs like basil and mint

    • Herbs: Hawthorn berry, rose, motherwort, holy basil (tulsi)


  5. Throat Chakra (Throat area)

    • Color: Blue

    • Represents: Communication and self-expression

    • When balanced: You can speak your truth clearly

    • Mantra: “I speak my truth with clarity and grace.”

    • Endocrine Connection: Thyroid gland (controls metabolism and growth)

    • Organs: Throat, neck, jaw, mouth, vocal cords, ears

    • Stone: Blue Lace Agate – Supports clear, calm communication and honesty

    • Foods: Blueberries, blackberries, raw honey, herbal teas, seaweed, coconut water

    • Herbs: Licorice root, slippery elm, peppermint, echinacea


  6. Third Eye Chakra (Forehead, between the eyes)

    • Color: Indigo

    • Represents: Intuition, insight, and imagination...the all knowing

    • When balanced: You trust your inner wisdom

    • Mantra: “I see clearly. I trust my intuition.”

    • Endocrine Connection: Pituitary gland (the “master gland,” influences all others)

    • Organs: Eyes, brain, forehead, nervous system, pineal-pituitary bridge

    • Stone: Amethyst – Enhances intuition, spiritual awareness, and mental clarity

    • Foods: Purple foods (grapes, plums, eggplant), cacao, goji berries, walnuts

    • Herbs: Gotu kola, mugwort, lavender, rosemary


  7. Crown Chakra (Top of the head)

    • Color: Violet or white

    • Represents: Spiritual connection and higher consciousness your connection to God

    • When balanced: You feel connected to something greater than yourself

    • Mantra: “I am one with divine light. I am connected.”

    • Endocrine Connection: Pineal gland (regulates sleep-wake cycles with melatonin)

    • Organs: Brain, central nervous system, upper skull, connection to universal energy

    • Stone: Clear Quartz – Amplifies spiritual connection and universal energy

    • Foods: Fasting, pure water, herbal teas, light fruits like lychee, white peaches, and cleansing foods.

    • Herbs: Lotus, frankincense, white sage, lavender


Why our Chakras Matter

When your chakras are balanced, energy flows smoothly through your body. You feel good—emotionally, mentally, and physically. But when one or more chakras are blocked or out of balance, it can show up in different ways, like stress, low energy, anxiety, or even physical pain. In our wellness center, we emphasize working on the heart and root chakra as these two are foundational energy centers. The other 5 have a better chance of maintaining health, strength and vitality if you're grounded in love.


Because of their connection to the endocrine system and internal organs, imbalances in your chakras might even be reflected in hormonal shifts or chronic physical symptoms. Many people use practices like yoga, meditation, breathwork, sound healing, and energy work (like Reiki) to help bring their chakras and overall health back into balance. When you are grounded in self love, alignment is the end result.


An example of health with practice comes from one of our recent Reiki classes. A participant showed up sleepy and snarfy. She had not slept well the night before and had sinus issues during the first 30 minutes of the class. While practicing self Reiki during the powerpoint, this participant noticed a marked improvement in her symptoms just by practicing. It was noticable and this act of practice allowed this particpant to be fully engaged feeling good for the entirety of the class.


Combining God and Chakras: A Sacred Connection


We are sometimes asked about our work and our faith. Working with the chakras doesn't conflict with a belief in God—in fact, it can deepen your spiritual walk. It certainly has been the case for us. We describe it like this, Chakras are part of the body God created, woven into the fabric of our physical and energetic design. Just as God gives us breath, a beating heart, and healing through prayer, He also gifts us with tools for self-awareness and inner harmony. Using chakras as a way to better understand ourselves, release emotional blockages, or align with divine peace is not worshipping something separate from God—it’s honoring the intricate way He made us. When approached with prayer, gratitude, and deep respect, chakra healing can be a sacred act of faith and stewardship of the body, mind, and soul.


Where the mind goes, the energy flows and chakra balancing is no exception. Crystals and mantras/prayer can be used together—place a stone on the associated body part while quietly repeating the mantra to help restore alignment and peace. Say it with meaning, say it with love in your heart. We are what we tell ourselves and rarely do we speak kindly. These mantras will reinforce your positivity particularly if done with gratitude. Much like prayer, we are grateful for all that we have been provided and when we express it, it is spoken into existence.


Self-Balancing with Intention and Stone Healing

Your chakras are intelligent—they naturally strive to return to balance when given the right support. As you relax, speak or think the chakra’s mantra or pray, focusing on the energy center as it opens, clears, and recharges. Even just a few minutes of focused intention like this can help your body’s natural energy system recalibrate, releasing emotional blocks and promoting well-being. Again, do this with much love & gratitude for a better outcome.

Watch your body lighten, your eyes brigthen and your spirit awaken.


Begin your journey into chakra healing with Margarita Alcantara's guide, exploring essential oils, meditation, yoga, and more for balanced self-healing.
Begin your journey into chakra healing with Margarita Alcantara's guide, exploring essential oils, meditation, yoga, and more for balanced self-healing.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be a yogi or spiritual expert to explore your chakras. Just paying attention to how you feel and taking small steps to care for your body, mind, and emotions is a great place to start.


Your energy matters and understanding your chakras can be a powerful tool for healing and personal growth. The book to Chakra Healing A Beginner's Guide is a great start if you would like to learn more about self healing techniques which will better help you help others. If that is of interest to you, feel free to contact us regarding our certification programs.


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