Indians call them "CHAKRA", Chinese call them "轮 (Meridian)" and medically they are loci in the body where major nerves unify and electro-magnetic impulse is optimum. Chakras are conceptualized to be vortices according to traditional medicine, are believed to exist in the surface of the subtle-body of living beings. They are considered loci of life energy or prana, also called Qi (Chinese; ki in Japanese), Koach-ha-guf (Hebrew) & bios (Greek). There are seven to eight major and several minor chakras in the body. They govern our physiological, psychological and metaphysical properties. The chakras located on the lower part of our body are our instinctual side; the highest ones are our mental side. Chinese medicine advocates the similar system which is deeply integrated into their lifestyle.
The chakras can have various levels of activity. When they're "open," they're considered operative in a normal fashion. Ideally, all chakras would contribute to our being. Our instincts would work together with our feelings and thinking. In most of the children, chakras are open until the puberty. After which they start to close and in most of the adults, they are closed.
Before proceeding further we need to know something about the Spinal Column, as all the Chakras are connected with it. The body may be divided into three main parts: head, trunk and the limbs, and the centre of the body is between the head and the legs. The spinal column extends from the first vertebra, atlas bone, to the end of the trunk. The spine is formed of a series of 33 bones called vertebrae; according to the position these occupy, it is divided into five regions which corresponds to the five chakras (Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata and Vishuddha). And the other two are in the brain (Ajna and Sahasrara), as shown in the table below (along with the corresponding nerve plexus).
Imbalances in chakra leads to many kinds of diseases mentally and physically which was thoroughly studied by our ancestors. Each chakra is also associated with an endocrine gland in the body. The table below shows the associated gland, role played by each chakra and the results of imbalances in the chakra.
When someone knowingly or unknowingly say "Sit straight", they might don't know the benefits of it but making spine strong and supple by practicing some body postures (which I am gonna explain in the succeeding posts) can help remove many diseases. And each chakra is associated with a color and symbol (details not given).
Chakras can be opened and the energy can be made flow unhindered by two methods. One is by physical postures and exercises and other by meditating upon it. If we integrate physical exercises with meditation, we have the potential to initiate great healing.
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