The Chakras, Yoga and Ayurveda?
Curious about chakras? Discover what they are, how they work, and why every yoga and Ayurveda student should understand this subtle energy system.
What the Heck Are the Chakras (and Why Should We Care)?
Let’s just say it: chakras sound a little woo-woo. Energy wheels? Spinning vortexes of color in the body? What even is that? If you’ve ever thought, “I hear about these all the time in yoga but have no idea what they actually do,” you are so not alone.
But here's the deal—chakras aren’t just rainbow-colored New Age fluff. They are part of an ancient energetic anatomy system that bridges your body, mind, and soul. They show up in the teachings of yoga, are referenced (symbolically or subtly) in Ayurveda, and most importantly, they offer us a map. A map for healing. A map for understanding ourselves. A map for not losing our minds in a world that pulls us in a million directions.
So let’s dive in. Not into the Instagram version of the chakras with perfectly curated lotus petals. Into the real stuff. Why we study them, what they’re doing in our yoga and Ayurvedic practices, and how they actually relate to real life.
Okay, But What Are Chakras?
“Chakra” literally means wheel in Sanskrit. According to Anodea Judith, whose book Wheels of Life is basically the modern chakra bible, chakras are centers of organization for the reception, assimilation, and expression of life force energy. Think of them as hubs where energy, biology, emotions, and consciousness all come together.
There are seven main chakras running along the spine—from your tailbone to the crown of your head. And while they’re not physical organs you can x-ray, they do correlate to bundles of nerves, endocrine glands, and major psycho-emotional themes. Like safety, creativity, power, love, voice, insight, and connection. No big deal, right?
Why the Chakras Matter in Yoga
In yoga, chakras are like your inner GPS.
Each pose, breath, and chant you practice is working with energy in some way. Feeling grounded in Warrior II? That’s root chakra. Singing “Om” in class? Hello, throat chakra. Feeling like you cried in pigeon pose but you don’t know why? That’s your hips—aka the second chakra, where we store emotion and creativity.
When we move through yoga consciously, we’re not just stretching our hamstrings—we’re inviting energy to shift. We’re balancing our system from the inside out.
Chakras help us understand why a heart-opening pose might bring up grief, or why standing postures help us feel more secure when life feels unstable. They bring a language to what we feel but can’t always explain.
Why the Chakras Matter in Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, health isn’t just the absence of disease. It’s the balance of body, mind, senses, soul, and environment. And chakras help us understand where things might be stuck or out of sync.
For example: someone dealing with chronic digestion issues? We might connect some of it to manipura, the third chakra—the seat of fire, transformation, and power. Can’t find your voice or feel like you’re never heard? Maybe look over to vishuddha, your throat chakra, waving a flag.
Ayurveda zooms out and looks at the whole picture: the doshas (vata, pitta, kapha), the tissues (dhatus), the mind (manas), and yes—the chakras. They’re subtle, but they inform everything. A stuck chakra can signal where prana (life force) isn’t flowing, and Ayurvedic practices—from herbs to oil massage to mantra—can help restore harmony.
According to Ayurveda, health is the equilibrium of dhātus and the mind, and that disease arises when there’s disconnection or excess. Chakras help us track that disconnection. They’re not separate from Ayurvedic wisdom—they’re embedded in the subtle layers of it.
So... Do I Need to Study Chakras?
If you’re a yoga teacher, an Ayurveda student, or just a curious human trying to heal—yes. Studying the chakras is like learning how to read your own energy blueprint. It’s empowering, it’s clarifying, and it connects all the dots between your physical symptoms, emotional patterns, and spiritual growth.
You don’t need to memorize the Sanskrit or know how many petals are on each chakra (unless you want to). But you do need to understand that:
You’re not just a body. You’re energy in motion.
Your life experiences leave imprints.
And the chakras offer a way to move through, not around, your stuck points.
So Where Do We Begin?
We begin by noticing. Start at the root. Ask yourself: Do I feel safe? Supported? Grounded?
Then move upward. Get curious about where you feel blocked, and where energy flows freely. Use yoga to explore. Use Ayurveda to support. Use chakra study to decode the deeper messages your body’s been whispering (or maybe yelling).
Because honestly? This work isn’t just about spiritual enlightenment. It’s about learning how to be a more whole human in a wild world. To live from the inside out. To reclaim your energy and your truth, one center at a time.
Cited + Inspired By:
Judith, Anodea. Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System.
Judith, Anodea. Eastern Body, Western Mind. Celestial Arts, 2004.
Want to go deeper? I guide students and clients through the chakras in both yoga and Ayurveda sessions. Reach out if you're ready to uncover where your energy wants to flow.