The Connection Between Chakras & Prana

If you’re a regular member of our community here at Daily Life, you may have noticed that we talk about the chakras quite a bit.

And there’s a good reason for that: Chakras are inherently tied to your life force or prana, the energy you bring to every situation in life. Keeping them balanced is crucial for success in just about every area of life.

Prana is that very life force tied to your chakras, the energy that flows within and all around you. Today we’re going to explore the relationship between prana, the chakras and how to bring them together in harmony!

What is Prana?

Prana is defined as “vital energy,” “breath of life,” or “spirit-energy.” In fact, prana has many names due to the mysterious nature of its very being. Many believe that prana is the flow of breath that sustains life, but it is much more.

Think of prana as the cosmic energy that flows all around and through us, and all living creatures, at all times. When prana is flowing freely throughout your body, you feel energized, alive, and connected to the energies of the universe.

Think about a time in your life when you felt like life was so utterly beautiful, so intrinsically magical, that it brought a tear to your eye.

These are moments when prana was strong and bountiful within your spirit.

However, the connection between prana and the breath is authentic, as breath is considered one of the most prominent but subtle forms of prana within the body. You may have heard of the term pranayama, used to describe breath control in yogic sessions or settings.

Breathwork is one way to gather prana and allow it to flow throughout the body.

Make sure to read: What is Prana? & How to Access It

How Does Prana Connect to the Chakras?

When focusing on healing the chakras, we often turn to external tools like crystals, herbs, essential oils, or even sound and color therapy – but prana is an energy source within each of our beings that sends healing energy to the chakras without the need for any tool outside of yourself.

Prana is absorptive, meaning that it gathers energy from the food we eat, the air entering our lungs, and the people’s energies and places around us.

It travels through nadis, or energy channels, in the body, which starts at the base of the spine and travels up to the crown of the head – following the same trajectory as the seven major chakras.

There are three major nadis in the body – the ida, the pingala, and the sushumna. The chakras are located at the intersections of these three nadis, and function as transportation for prana throughout the body.

Therefore, if the chakras are blocked, unbalanced, or overactive, prana may be stuck or prevented from flowing properly through your spirit.

Encouraging Prana to Flow

While there are a few effective techniques for balancing the chakras and encouraging prana to flow, yoga may be one of the most efficient because it connects to both prana and chakras.

In fact, certain poses connect to each chakra, opening them up and allowing them to blossom. Yoga encourages pranayama, the act of controlling the breath, which further connects to and enhances prana.

Let’s explore the best yoga positions for bringing healing and balancing energy to each chakra, encouraging prana flow throughout the body.

The Root Chakra

The Root chakra, also known as Muladhara, is located at the base of the spine. To balance this chakra, try the mountain pose, which grounds your feet firmly in the Earth below and helps you feel more stable and secure.

The Sacral Chakra

Svadisthana, or the Sacral chakra, is located towards the bottom of the abdomen. The best yoga pose to open up this chakra is the revolved triangle pose, which opens the hips and allows the Sacral chakra to flow freely.

The Solar Plexus Chakra

The Solar Plexus chakra, also referred to as Manipura, is located between the navel and the spine. To activate and cleanse this chakra, practice the boat pose, which activates the core of the body and balanced the Solar Plexus.

The Heart Chakra

Anahata – the Heart chakra – is located in the center of the chest, right near the physical heart. The low lunge pose in yoga is the best for bringing harmony to this chakra, as opens the chest and invites healing energy into the Heart.

The Throat Chakra

The Throat chakra, known as Vishuddha, is right in the center of the neck where your physical throat is located. To open and balance this chakra, try practicing the fish pose, which stretches the neck and helps the Throat chakra blossom.

The Third Eye Chakra

The Third Eye chakra, or Ajna, is located in the center of the brows and represents the metaphorical third eye that perceives reality.

To open this chakra, light a candle and simply focus your vision and energy on the dancing flame. This yogic practice, known as candle gazing, allows you to sharpen your perception and encourages the Third Eye to flow freely.

You might also like: Breathwork to Release Anger & Frustration

The Crown Chakra

Sahasrara, or the Crown chakra, is located at the very top, or crown, of the head. One of the best yoga positions for opening this chakra is child’s pose, which is relaxing in itself. Focus on healing white light flowing into your Crown chakra and through the spine to complete your chakra balancing, prana-inviting practice.

A Note on Pranayama

The art of controlling the breath, also known as pranayama, is another great way to encourage the flow of prana. According to this practice, there are four aspects of the breath:

• Inhalation (puraka)
• Internal retention (antara-khumbaka)
• Exhalation (rechaka)
• External retention (bahya-khumbaka)

To practice pranayama breathing, find a comfortable position, sitting up with your spine straightened.

Take a deep breath inward, through both nostrils, until your lungs are full. Hold that breath for a second, try to gather some of it at the back of your throat – as if about to whisper – and exhale once again through both nostrils, slowly. The outward breath should sound like a gentle ocean wave or quick breeze of air.

Repeat this method up to 20 times.

Inviting More Prana into Your Life

By practicing these yoga poses, you’re not only balancing the chakras, but you’re also breaking down any barriers that might prevent your prana from flowing freely throughout the body.

And when you feel that essence of prana flowing through your spirit, you feel more alive than ever, more connected to those subtle celestial energies that surround us everywhere we go.

How will you celebrate the free flow of prana through your spirit?

Related article: How to Balance Your Chakras With Essential Oils