Eastern philosophy and medicine, originating in ancient India and
China, have traditionally regarded body structures and the life
processes occurring within as inseparable. Their terminology resides
halfway between structure and function and identifies certain entities
in the human body, representing the flow of life energy and, in some
sense, conduits for that flow that do not correspond to anatomical
structures recognized by Western science and medicine. The chakras are
the energy centers in a person’s biological field and are responsible
for his or her physiological and psychological condition as well as
certain groups of organs. All vital functions of the human body are
determined by energy that spins in the chakras. These can be defined as
“whirlpools referred,” and in Indian, they are considered ”energy
bursts” or “wheels.”
The process of energy transformation happens exactly in these centers.
Vital energy, along with blood, circulates around the meridians in the
chakras and fuels all organs and systems in the human body. When the
circulation in these meridians stagnates, the human body becomes
susceptible to various disorders. An excellent preventative method,
designed explicitly to battle such stagnation is Chi Gun, an ancient
Chinese method for self-healing which activates the energy centers. Chi
Gun teaches people to release the energy themselves by massaging
specific areas corresponding to the different chakras.
There are 49 chakras mentioned in the Vedic Canons, seven of which
are basic; 21 are in the second circle, and 21 in the third circle.
According to the Vedis, there are multiple energy channels leading to
different locations from the chakras. Three of these channels are
basic. The first one, called “shushumna,” is hollow and is concentrated
in the spine. The other two energy pathways, “ida” and “pingala”, are
located on either side of the spine. These two channels are the most
active in most people, while “shushumna” remains stagnant.
The seven basic chakras spin at high speeds in the body of healthy
individuals but slow down in times of sickness or with advancing age.
When the body is in a harmonious balance, the chakras remain partially
open. Closed chakras are unable to receive energy, leading to various
disorders.
The first basic chakra, “Muladhara,” is located at the base of the
spine in the tailbone area. Life energy, which is at the core of a
strong and healthy immune system, is stored in this chakra. It is
impossible for a person to become sick, old or even to die, before
exhausting his or her reserves of this vital energy. The very will for
life is controlled by Muladhara. It is also in charge of the bones and
joints, the teeth, the nails, the urinogenital system and the large
intestine. The first symptoms of a malfunctioning Muladhara are
unreasonable fear, faintness, lack of security or faith in the future,
leg and foot problems, and intestinal disorders.
The interrupted activity of the Muladhara chakra causes lack of
energy, digestive problems, diseases of the bones and spine, and
nervous tension among others.
The second chakra, “Svadhistana,” is located at the level of the
sacrum, three or four fingers below the belly button. This chakra
regulates the pelvis, the kidneys and sexual functions. We also feel
other peoples’ emotions through this chakra. Symptoms of a
malfunctioning “Svadhistana” are kidney problems, cystitis and
arthritis.
The third chakra, “Manipura,” is found in the solar plexus area.
This chakra is the center for storing and distributing energy produced
by digestion and breathing. It is responsible for vision, the
gastrointestinal system, the liver, the gall bladder, the pancreas and
nervous system. Symptoms of a stagnant “Manipura” are as follows:
increased and constant worrying, as well as stomach, liver and nervous
disorders.
The fourth chakra, “Anahata,” also called the heart chakra, is
located in the chest area. We generate and receive love through this
chakra. It is in charge of the heart, the lungs, the bronchi, the hands
and the arms. Symptoms of stagnation include depression and
cardiovascular imbalances.
The fifth chakra, “Vishudha,” is located at the throat level and
is the center of analytical skills and logic. This chakra sustains the
skin, organs of hearing, along with the trachea and lungs. Symptoms
include a lack of emotional stability, discomfort in the cervical
spine, soar throats, difficulties communicating, and esophagus and
thyroid ailments.
The sixth chakra, “Adjna,” is located between the eyebrows and is
called the “third eye.” Here is the throne for the human brain. “Adjna”
circulates energy to the head and pituitary gland and is also
responsible for determining our harmonious development. If a person’s
“third eye” ceases to function properly, one might notice a decrease in
intellectual ability, headaches and migraines, earaches, olfactory
illnesses, and psychological disorders.
The seventh chakra, “Sahasrara,” is found at the very top of the
head and represents the apex where an individual’s energy vibrates with
the highest frequency. It is considered a spiritual center and the
entrance to the body for cosmic energy. A stagnant “Sahasrara” can
result in a decrease in or lack of inner wisdom, as well as a lack of
basic intuition.
With this basic knowledge of the first seven chakras, we can
address the question: “How do we use this information to locate the
causes of our troubles and problems, and with the help of Eastern
Medicine, learn to control the functions of the chakras ourselves?”.
From the perspective of Eastern Medicine, our health depends on
the distribution of our energy-consciousness informational field. A
shortage of energy inevitably causes ailments. According to Tibetan
Medicine, the only difference between youth and old age, and between a
sick and healthy individual, is the difference in the rotating speed of
the whirlpool energy centers of the chakras. If these different speeds
are balanced, old people will rejuvenate and sick people will heal.
Therefore, the best way to preserve and keep our health, youth and
vitality is to restore and maintain a balanced movement of the energy
centers.
The easiest way to keep the chakras balanced is through a set of
physical exercises. Yannis called these not simply exercises, but
rituals. These rituals allow the human body to mold its energy centers
to an ideal level of function. The seven rituals, one for each chakra,
must be performed together every morning and when not possible, in the
evening. Skipping rituals unbalances energy distribution, and so for
the best results, no more than one day per week should be missed. The
daily chakra rituals are necessary not only for revitalizing the body,
but also for achieving success in every facet of life. “Once you learn
how to transform your energy, you will also become happier,” concluded
Yannis.
For learning these rituals (which have transformed many peoples’
lives throughout the world), seeing them in action is much more
effective than trying to follow written descriptions or diagrams. A
DVD, available from Helix 7, Inc. (www.FeelingOfHappiness.com),
includes actual demonstrations of these rituals.
Another method of keeping the chakras balanced and in their
optimal half-open state is meditation. Meditative methods are universal
to the human experience; they have accumulated over the ages through
many different cultures and have proven their value in attaining peace,
clarity, equanimity and in transcending despair. People who meditate on
a regular basis are usually calmer, more secure, more joyful and more
productive human beings. They are more effective in their everyday
lives because they use their mental and physical potential, abilities
and skills to their fullest extent. All too often, we humans fail to
realize the great latent powers which are, as yet, unawakened in our
bodies. We must learn how to revive and utilize them. This can only be
achieved through meditation. Eastern men of wisdom, who believed
meditation to be a vital necessity, stumbled on this discovery more
than 1000 years ago. They learned to influence their inner organs and
control their metabolism with the power of their minds. Meditation is
to the mind what exercise is to the body; mental strength can be built
up just like physical strength. Just as in athletics, it is important
for an individual to train his or her body, it is important for an
individual to train his or her mind through meditation.
The best time for meditation is early morning, preferably at dawn.
Do not meditate when you are sad, aggravated, desperate or sick,
because these intense emotional and physiological distractions make an
enlightened state of mind impossible. For an effective meditation
session, it is preferable to arrange for the undistracted silence of a
quiet, clean room with flowers, or the soothing sounds of Mother Nature
- near a lake, river, waterfall, woods or fields. Many different mental
practices, having their origin in historical traditions, fall under the
general heading of "meditation." These paths of mental development can
involve emotional and intellectual facets and may also be coordinated
with specific movements. Meditation can be structured or unstructured,
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer writes in his book Real Magic, “The process of
meditation is nothing more than quietly going within and discovering
that higher component of yourself … Learning to meditate is learning
how to live rather than talking about it…”
