What is a chakra?
Chakra means “wheel”. In Yogic and Tantric traditions, chakras are centres of the subtle body, visualised as wheels or lotuses where energy channels, called nāḍīs, meet. They are places of meditation and transformation, approached through sound, imagery, breath and concentration.
They are often described as spinning vortexes of subtle energy that influence physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The most common model identifies seven main chakras running from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, each associated with a unique color, element, and life theme such as safety, creativity, or self-expression.
Explore the seven centres
Select a centre to see its Sanskrit name, location, element or symbol, and themes used in contemporary Yoga. Click a selected centre again to return to the whole map.
From root to crown
Seven centres · one connected practice
Choose a centre to discover its Sanskrit name, symbolic meaning and place in contemporary Yoga.
Explore the elements, the meaning of the lotus symbols and the qualities each centre brings into practice.
A symbolic guide to a widely used seven-centre model. Locations are approximate, with space added for clarity. The rainbow palette and reflection themes follow contemporary teaching; chakra traditions use different maps and associations.
From root to crown
This is the familiar seven-centre approach used in many modern classes. The elemental associations have older roots; the psychological themes below reflect contemporary teaching.
- 01Mūlādhāra · Root
- Earth at the base of the spine. Grounding, stability and the foundations of life; often used today to explore safety and belonging.
- 02Svādhiṣṭhāna · Sacral
- Water in the pelvic region. Fluidity and the capacity to feel; contemporary themes include pleasure, creativity and relationship.
- 03Maṇipūra · Navel / solar plexus
- Fire at the navel. Transformation and radiance; often explored through agency, confidence and the will to act.
- 04Anāhata · Heart
- Air at the centre of the chest. Its name refers to the “unstruck” sound; modern practice emphasises compassion, love and connection.
- 05Viśuddha · Throat
- Space at the throat. Traditionally associated with purification and sound; contemporary teaching explores truthful expression and listening.
- 06Ājñā · Brow
- The centre of command, between the eyebrows. A focus for concentration and inner vision; often connected with discernment and intuition.
- 07Sahasrāra · Crown
- The thousand-petalled lotus. Represents spiritual fulfilment and consciousness beyond ordinary distinctions; some traditions place it above the chakra sequence itself.
Nāḍīs, sun and moon, and Kundalini
Many Hatha and Tantric teachings describe a central channel, Suṣumṇā, with Iḍā and Piṅgalā associated with lunar and solar qualities. Kundalini is spiritual potential, often pictured as a coiled serpent, whose awakening is described in relation to the central channel.
This is the background to practices using mantra, visualisation and meditation along the body’s axis. Advanced methods involving forceful breath, retention or locks belong with experienced guidance. A beginner can explore the symbolism without trying to manufacture an awakening.
Work with a symbol, not a diagnosis
A heart-centred practice might use the image of a lotus opening, a mantra and a meditation on compassion. A root-centred practice might combine grounded standing postures with the earth element. The theme gives a sequence a purpose beyond the shapes themselves.
I like the possibility this offers: movement, sound and imagination working together. There is no need to label every difficult feeling a blockage. You can choose a quality to cultivate and give it a clear place in your practice.