Explore the chakras with Lara Barber at Full Circle Yoga every Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. from November 2nd through December 15th.
Join for one, some, or all 7 classes.
Explore our ancient yogic energy body through simple yoga poses, chanting, self reflection, and a growing understanding of yourself and others.
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Friday, November 2nd
THE ROOT: Muladhara Chakra
SEED SOUND: LAM
"I AM."
The word Muladhara is a combination of two Sanskrit words: "Mula," which means “root” and "Adhara," which means “support” or “base". As the foundation of our energy system, the root represents our connection to mother earth, our connection to our basic survival, vitality, and sense of ground.
When in balance, we feel firmly rooting in our lives and being, with a sense of freedom. If out of balance, one may be ungrounded, flighty, with no sense of honoring or knowing self. Or on another extreem, an unbalanced connection to the root may express in an inability to complete things or make progress.
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Friday, November 9th:
THE SACRAL: Svadhisthana Chakra
SEED SOUND: VAM
"I FEEL."
According to Hindu Tantrism, Svadhistana is a combination of two Sanskrit words: "svad or swa," which means “one's own” and "Adhisthana," which means “abode” or “seat". As the second center of our ancient energetic system, the sacral chakra represents our connection to our emotional body, our connection with the world through our 5 senses, sensuality/sexuality, our creativity, our relationship to pleasure, the element of water, and our ability to be flexible and go with the flow.
When this chakra is in balance we feel comfortable and in the right relationship with our sexuality and creative power, we honor our sexuality as sacred and contain this aspect of our life with healthy boundaries, expression, and reverence. One who has a balanced sacral chakra can remain playful and able to flow with life. Being bright and open, they possess a playful connection with others. If out of balance, one may seem rigid, disconnected from feelings, unable to go with the flow of life and have a strong block in their sexual expression. Or on another extreme, an unbalanced connection to Svadhisthana may express as emotional outbreaks, addiction to sex, limited capacity to enjoy life's pleasures, no passion or zest for life, and/or co-dependent relating tendencies.
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Friday, November 16th:
THE SOLAR PLEXUS: Manipura Chakra
SEED SOUND: RAM
"I DO."
Our third energetic center, with the Sanskrit name "Manipura", ("mani" meaning gem, and "puri' meaning city) is referred to as the "lustrous gem" because it shines like a warm sun when in balance. Being our source of will, and power, when this center is balanced we feel confident and secure in our autonomy. The solar plexus center, located about six inches above your belly button, is associated with the color yellow and the element of fire. Not only is this related to our energetic center of self-esteem, and it also relates to our transformational fire/heat energy that burns away impurities through intention and action directing us on our soul's unique path.
When this chakra is in balance one maintains a healthy sense of ego. Without being self-doubting with low self-esteem, or having an inflated ego with a desire to achieve external validation, one will remain centered and in right relationship with willpower and a deep connection to self. No longer seeming to be the victim to life circumstances, we realize at the third chakra level of development that we have the power to choose our life path and direction. We feel centered in who we are with a healthy sense of sovereignty. Steering the course of your own ship, with a balanced 3rd chakra, one will have energy and be focused in alignment with path and purpose.
If out of balance, a person who has an imbalance in this area of life will have low self-esteem, seek approval from outside sources, may seem powerless and unmotivated in life, and may struggle with an inability to take action. On another extreme, a person who seems overpowering, overindulgent, be dominant, or tend to manipulate others to get what they want, may also be expressing imbalances in the Manipura Chakra.
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Friday November 23rd:
THE HEART CENTER: Anahata Chakra
SEED SOUND: YAM
"I FEEL."
Our fourth primary Chakra, in Sanskrit called "Anahata" means "unstruck", "unbeaten," or "unhurt" and refers to the Vedic concept of unstruck sound, the sound of the celestial realm. Here resides the spiritual center of love, balance, and connection. Personally, I find it fascinating that the heart chakra is the center of love, and is located directly in the center of the chest, as well as the center of our 7 primary chakras (with 3 above, and 3 below). To me, this highlights how central the energy of love is to our wellbeing and health. In addition, referring to this "unstruck" realm of the "celestial" order of the sky, the energy of love seems to be an everyday ordinary miracle that keeps life in order and, just as the sun and moon dance together in order, so can the energy of love and compassion dance amongst the lover and the beloved. Associated with the element of air, the color green, and the resting home of self-compassion, self-love, compassion, openness, and the love for others, to me, Anahata Chakra is an important place to generate healing for ourselves and the world. Our sweet sensitive hearts call out amongst humans in need of attention and care, it seems to me, like an important place to take an honest inventory by noticing your thoughts, emotions, and actions to identify any blockages in your heart center.
When this chakra is in balance we feel open and available to share love with those around us. No longer acting from core beliefs of isolation and disconnection, we feel harmonious and receptive to give and receive the energy of love with ease, joy, and glory. We also manifest strong self-compassion and learn to foster and support a loving relationship with ones-self as our primary and most important relationship. Here, we generate a deeper sense of trust in ourselves which outwardly softens the edges and barriers to the heart resulting in more compassion and love for others.
If out of balance, a person may be distant from others, may not feel very welcome in social settings, feeling like they do not belong, and may have social anxiety. Due to a lack of understanding and self-compassion, they may be very harsh or critical on themselves. At the other end of the spectrum, one may feel overly attached in relationships, being clingy or desperate, with a "hole" in their heart that must be filled by another. Perhaps one with an excess or deficiency in the heart chakra could manifest in playing the role of the victim or prosecutor in intimate relating, or may hold grudges and feel bitter and angry towards others often.
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Friday, November 30th:
THE THROAT: Vishuddah Chakra
SEED SOUND: HAM
"I SPEAK."
Moving upward to the 5th primary chakra we discover the power of vibrational sound, communication, our unique expression, and wisdom. The Sanskrit name "Vishuddah" translates into meaning "especially pure" and refers to the potency of speaking, listening, and expressing yourself from a higher form of consciousness. Located at the throat and neck, our throat center is the first on the ladder of the more spiritual chakras,
and bridges the body and the mind. Living in alignment, "especially pure", unclouded in the throat chakra, reminds us of the beautiful power of inviting our vibrational actions to line up with our vibrational words.
When this chakra is in balance we are honest and open in our communication and relationships. We may also find ease in our confidence and a clear direct assertiveness and discernment when decisiveness is needed. Having a balanced throat chakra may manifest as a deep sense of dignity and respect for ourselves while also maintaining an openness when others bring their opinions.
If out of balance, as you may have guessed, a person may feel shy, or have an inability to express themselves openly. Due to shame or guilty patterns, one may hold secrets and feel like they must hide from others. Deficiency in the throat could also manifest as difficulty in being honest with ourselves and others, one may find themselves in restrictive relationships were their full expression is not welcome, there may be a fear of public speaking, and an inability to express emotions. On another extreem, an excessive throat imbalance could result in speaking too quickly or too impulsively, aggressive expression of opinions, or one may be socially overbearing or overly opinionated.
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Friday, December 7th:
THE THIRD EYE: Ajna Chakra
SEED SOUND: OM
"I SEE."
Climbing upward to the spiritual 6th primary chakra, also known as Ajna Chakra, meaning "to command", we make contact with ourselves beyond what can be seen by the naked eye. The higher you reach, the more gentle the power and the subtlety of our liberated freedom becomes. Our third eye (also known as the brow chakra) is the energetic center for perception, intuition, ability to see forward and backward in time, & connects u
s to our power of manifestation, imagination, and thought. Being the space of mindful watching, this chakra empowers us to take responsibility for our life, remembering that we can cultivate conscious "command of our life", remembering that we have the capacity to own and create our reality. Sometime considered a psychic center, some people expereince clairvoyance when they clear and work with this chakra. According to yogic philosophy, when the thrid eye is balanced and in harmony with our other chakras, we reach the doorway to spiritual enlightnement. A notable fact is that the brow chakra is the point where the central energy channel, called the sushumna, and the two lateral channels (representing sun and moon energies) called the ida and pingala, converge in the center of the forehead. Our 6th chakra is a powerful place to consciously connect with our growing capacity for insight, perception, seeing, vision, magic, miracles, manifestation, moving beyond the realm of time, & cultivating our intuition.
When this chakra is in balance, we unlock the power to see things from a meta overarching perspective. We have a more clear bird's eye view of our path and have easy access spiritually to Mystical States moving beyond the material realm. We also feel a sense of calm and clarity, we are self aware, have foresight, & possess an ability to distinguish truth from illusion. Furthermore, we distinguish reality from fantasy and we are no longer fixated on our limitations, and can see the bigger picture of life. Our life can become more fluid, vibrant, and creative while following the spontaneous flow, listening to the guidance of our intuition.
If out of balance, and specifically if this center of our being has deficiency, it may manifest as a sense of living without a direction, being ungrounded, with no particular aim. One may seem confused often and have a quality of being dreamy, fuzzy, and lost. On another extreme, if this particular chakra is excessive, it may manifest as being narrow-minded, arrogant, one pointed, or maybe a feeling of being narrow-minded and not open to the spiritual aspects of life. An imbalance at the brow center could also contribute to mood disorders, depression, mental illness, and paranoia.
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Friday December 14th:
THE CROWN: Sahasrara
SEED SOUND: SILENCE
"I UNDERSTAND."
Our final 7th primary chakra in called "Sahasrara" in Sanskrit meaning "thousand petaled" refers to the metaphor of a lotus flower blooming at the top of our head connecting us with divine consciousness. According to yoga philosophy, Sahasrara is the seat of the soul and the access point towards full spiritual enlightenment Reminding us that we have access to the eternal, it is here at the crown chakra, that we give, receive, & exchange with universal energy. Moving beyond the mind & beyond the body, we recognize and embark upon our path of remembering our true spiritual essence. Our crown chakra is also associated with the ability to have the perception of the bigger picture and to cultivate self-awareness. Being connected to the spiritual, having a connection with the 7th Chakra ignites a deeper understanding of the support of the unseen realms and that we can cultivate a deep sense of peace beyond the worldly affairs of everyday life. Granting a deeper meaning to life, meditation, mindfulness, awareness, and spiritual presence offer us a sense of living beyond the basic understanding into a more expansive experience of life offering more inner peace and clarity. While we may have imbalances in the lower chakras, connecting to and opening the crown chakra allows energy to flow more freely through the entire energetic system.
When this chakra is in balance, we possess a rejuvenated sense of appreciating being alive on this planet. Identifying beyond the low self, one with an open flowing crown will also experience this same relationship with life; open, flowing, spontaneous, free, aligned, fluid, and playful. Having a more grandiose or meta perspective of life as well as the Higher Self, you will be more present in life, seeing and remembering the bigger picture of your spiritual life and evolution. With a deep connection to spirit, one will live from this holy space towards a place of enlightened peace. Having released blockages on the 7th chakra will allow a person to define their reality as being pleasant and expansive.
If our of balance, on the deficient end of the spectrum, one may find themselves without purpose in life and alienated from others. Being withdrawn with a strong sense of disconnection a person could potentially find themselves with a lack of understanding or compassion for others, apathy, loneliness, and an overall sense of lifelessness. At the opposite end of the spectrum with excess energy at the crown chakra, may manifest as imbalances in the mind like perhaps being more prone to mental fog, confusion, mental illness, or have neurological or endocrine disorders. Inflating or having a false sense of self can also result in manifesting symptoms of egotism, greed, or materialism. Being concerned with the material plane can offset our deeper direction and path in life as a spiritual being waking up on the earth.
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