A Chakra Tutorial: What Do They Do?

Location: Base of spine
Associated color: Red
Function: The Root chakra affects confidence and trust. When it picks up on negative outside cues and shifts out of balance, the result can be depression, fatigue, low body temperature, and anemia.
Need a chakra boost? Bring the color red into your life through diet, decoration, and clothes. Get plenty of sleep and daily exercise.

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Location: Lower abdomen and genital region
Associated color: Orange
Function: The Sacral Hara is connected to intimacy and being in touch with your feelings. Signs of misalignment include genital health issues (yeast infections, urinary tract infections, etc.), depression, and low sex drive.
Need a chakra boost? Embrace the color orange, as well as massages, baths, and anything else that calms your mind and stimulates your senses.

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Location: Stomach area (includes the digestive and nervous systems)
Associated color: Yellow
Function: The Solar Plexus chakra governs humor, decisiveness, smarts, and impulses. Potential problems caused by this chakra’s poor performance are nervousness, digestive issues such as ulcers and food intolerance, and trouble concentrating or feeling confident.
Need a chakra boost? Surround yourself with the color yellow and be sure to get adequate sunshine exposure every day.

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Location: Heart
Associated color: Green
Function: Not surprisingly, this chakra influences all matters of the heart: love, relationships, forgiveness, kindness, empathy, and so forth. If it’s out of whack, you might struggle with self-acceptance, breathing and circulation issues, and too much negativity in relationships.
Need a chakra boost? Fill your life with green and keep your loved ones close, both physically and emotionally. Natural settings are supposedly great ways to stimulate this chakra as well, so go for long walks in parks and forest areas.

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Location: Throat
Associated color: Blue
Function: The Throat chakra is responsible for creativity, self-expression, trust, and loyalty. Lying, doubt, thyroid imbalances, respiratory problems, and the inability to articulate your thoughts and feelings clearly are cues that this chakra needs your attention.
Need a chakra boost? Seek out the chakra’s signature color and everyday activities that tap into your creative side, such as singing and having meaningful conversations with people.

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Location: The space between the eyes
Associated color: Indigo
Function: This is an area of intuition, insight, and psychic abilities. A Third Eye chakra that’s out of balance can manifest itself as sleep disorders, confusion, inability to make good decisions, and problems with physical balance.
Need a chakra boost? Indigo is a powerful stimulant, as are meditating and focusing on the stars at night. Anything that focuses your mental energy and has a spiritual slant is good for the Third Eye.

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Location: The crown of the head
Associated color: Purple
Function: The Crown chakra connects to spirituality and the universe at large. A faulty connection can lead to headaches, a lack of spirituality in your life, a feeling of disconnectedness or purposelessness, and mental illness.
Need a chakra boost? Add purple touches here and there, such as using lavender essential oil as an aromatic. Start a dream dictionary to be more in touch with inner thoughts and spirituality.

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons