3/2/2021 Understanding the chakras - Blog - Reeve Foundation

Understanding the chakras

Posted by Elizabeth Forst in Life After Paralysis on October 19, 2016
# Health, Rehabilitation

During yoga and meditation, we use the breath to bring

awareness and mindfulness to our practice. We also use Blog
visualization focusing on a brilliant gold ball of light categories
traveling up and down our spine with the expansion of the Daily Dose
breath. Another important component of meditation is the Life After
internal awareness of the seven chakras in our spirit body Paralysis
that collaborate with the breath and visualization Research
techniques. Chakra is an Indian Sanskrit word meaning News
wheel or disk that literally translates to the idea of a
spinning energetic wheel in seven distinct areas of our spine
Join the
where our prana, chi or life force ows up and down.
discussion
These seven energetic spiritual wheels begin at the very in our forum
base of our spine and traverse vertically to the crown of the
head – they each have a coordinating color, organ Tags
representation and location in the physical body. When
Hope
performing meditation, it is important to imagine the gold
Happens
ball of light circling smoothly through each of these colorful
Here 25
wheels, allowing prana to ow. This is hugely important in
Stories
maintaining balance between our physical and spiritual
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body. On the contrary, if a chakra is blocked, a backup of
Voting
energy festers causing a disease situation in the physical Español
bodies hence the importance of performing daily meditation Health
to avoid suchReeve Summit 2021: Where Care, Cure and Community Connect | Virtual
blockage. Research
Conference | April 27-29, 2021
Rehabilitation
The rst chakra, or root chakra, is Muladhara in Sanskrit, and
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called is nestled in the base of the spine. It represents
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source of physical stability and basic needs on this earth
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3/2/2021 Understanding the chakras - Blog - Reeve Foundation

such as Quality of Life

nourishment. Team Reeve
Collaborating organs Team
are the spine, LeGrand
skeletal system and Advocacy
immune system. and Policy

When our root chakra Caregiving

is open, we feel Relationships

Lifestyle
fearless, secure and
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grounded. Contrarily,
Know
a blockage here
SCI
allows insecurity,
Awareness
depression and or
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fear to manifest. Its
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associated color is red.
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The second chakra, or sacral chakra, is called Svadhisthana
in Sanskrit, and is positioned above the pubic bone. It
represents our source of creativity and sexuality and the
coordinating organs are the reproductive system, kidney
and bladder. When the sacral chakra is open, we imbibe in
our creative expression and emotionally connect with
others. If blocked, the physical body may experience
reproductive issues or an inability to receive pleasure. Its
associated color is orange.

The third chakra, or solar plexus, is called Manipura, in

Sanskrit, and is located between the navel and breastbone.
It represents our personal power system and the seat of our
ego, strength and anger. Respective organs are the
stomach, intestines, gallbladder, liver, pancreas and spleen.
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When the solar Summit
plexus 2021:
is open, Where
we Care,dent,
are con Cureinand Community Connect | Virtual
control
and feel immense self-esteem. AConference | Aprilcan
blockage here 27-29, 2021

represent digestion or liver/gallbladder issues and

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3/2/2021 Understanding the chakras - Blog - Reeve Foundation

spiritually cause an inability to control oneself and or fear of

rejection. Its associated color is yellow.

The fourth chakra, or Anahata, is the heart center – it acts

as a bridge between the rst three physical body related
chakras with the upper three more spiritual chakras. This is
our center of love and healing. Collaborating organs are the
heart, respiratory system, and breasts. When the heart
chakra is open, we may love freely, have great compassion
and foster healthy emotional relationships with others.
Contrarily, a block at this chakra may represent heartache,
an inability to love oneself and even a physical
manifestation of heart disease. Its associated color is light
green.

The fth chakra, or Vishuddha in Sanskrit, is located in the

throat area. An area of verbal expression, this relates to our
ability to speak the truth and avoid lying. Collaborating
organs include the thyroid, neck vertebrae, esophagus,
mouth, teeth and gums. When the throat chakra is open, we
are able to communicate and express ourselves truthfully
and freely. Its associated color is sky-blue.

The sixth chakra, or Ajna in Sanskrit, is also known as the

"third eye" – this is the center of our higher intuition.
Located centrally on the forehead, strength in this area
helps one disseminate between fantasy and reality and is
the seat of one's wisdom. Collaborating organs include the
eyes, nose, face and brain. A strong third eye helps one to
learn from experience and tap into one's higher self. Its
associated color is indigo.

The seventh Reeve Summit

and nal 2021:
chakra, Where Care, is
or Sahaswara, Cure and Community Connect | Virtual
represented
Conference | April 27-29, 2021
by a 1000 petal lotus and is located at the highest point –
the crown of the head. This is the center of spiritual
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enlightenment and when fully open helps us connect with

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3/2/2021 Understanding the chakras - Blog - Reeve Foundation

God and or a higher power. Collaborating organs include the

nervous system and brain. An area of ultimate
understanding and knowledge, it is the chakra that allows
for inward ow of wisdom from the divine – an extremely
important area for our spiritual connectedness. Its
associated color is violet or white.

Only scratching the surface with unveiling the details of the

seven chakras, it is most important in our meditation
practice to be aware of these centers in the spirit body.
Staying connected and balanced between the physical and
spirit body provides for a healthy mind, body and spirit.
Working through spinal cord injuries is and often times
di cult time to maintain such balance, and so therefore
during rehabilitation it is important to connect inward so as
to heal within. Whether it is one-week, six months or 10
years after injury, this practice is crucial in our overall well-
being.

Namaste!

Keep on keeping on,

Elizabeth/EB Forst

This project was supported, in part, by grant number 90PRRC0002, from the U.S.
Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services,
Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are
encouraged to express freely their ndings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do
not, therefore, necessarily represent o cial Administration for Community Living policy.
Reeve Summit 2021: Where Care, Cure and Community Connect | Virtual
Conference | April 27-29, 2021

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