balance

A beautiful face and body cannot attain its greatest potential, if the mind and spirit aren’t also nurtured, relaxed and fulfilled. In India, Ayurvedic physicians, yoga and martial arts instructors, gurus and teachers all stress the importance of a life lived in balance: one where mind, body and spirit work together in healthful harmony. This can be achieved with a number of practices that stress “mindfulness”, such as meditation, yoga, pranayama, various physical/mental exercises and therapies that work to balance the chakras.

yoga

It isn’t known exactly when the ancient art of yoga began, but there is archaeological evidence of various yogic postures dating back to around 3,000 BC. Many believe that it was Lord Shiva, the Hindu god, who created yoga, but the first written texts outlining its basic philosophy and practices probably date to the 2nd century BC. Called the Yoga Sutras, they were written by a certain Patanjali, and are believed to combine previous teachings into an organized system that continues to this day.

Patanjali states that yoga is a methodical practice, the ultimate aim of which is the attainment of perfection. Through the control of both physical and psychical elements, disciplined activity, spiritual exercises and the conquest of desire, one can attain salvation. He outlined an eight-limbed path (ashtanga) to reach this ultimate stage: yama or abstention, not doing bad things to other people; niyama or observance, things you should do to yourself; asana or postures; pranayama or breath-control and breathing exercises; pratyahara or withdrawal of the senses, controlling them and being aware of them; dharana or fixed attention (concentration); dhyana or contemplation (meditation); and samadhi, the final stage of super-consciousness (equivalent to the Buddhist concept of Nirvana).

Today, there are many different styles of yoga, but in general, yoga involves repetition of postures (asanas), followed by resting poses, breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation. Hatha yoga, a term often heard, is not actually a style of yoga but a path that ultimately leads to the path of self-control (raja). In addition to the main styles of yoga listed overleaf, there are many other forms that are more recent additions to the practice such as Bikram Yoga and Power Yoga.

India offers some extraordinary places for yoga practice. Here, a teacher and two clients enjoy the early morning light atop a rampart of the deserted city of Bhangarh in the Aravalli hills not too far from Jaipur. It is one of the mind-expanding trips organized by the Amanbagh resort.

An inspirational illustration depicting some of the different yoga asanas on the perimeter, and a lotus-posed devotee showing the positioning of the seven chakras.

Iyengar Yoga:

The yoga teacher BKS Iyengar, born in 1918, started this style of yoga in Pune. The Iyengar concept includes work to achieve correct and accurate alignment and practicing with an astute consciousness of how to build a stronger asana. The aim is to make sure every pose is completely in line. Props such as straps, blocks of wood or blankets may be used.

Ananda Yoga:

This classical style focuses on gentle postures designed to move the energy up to the brain and prepare the body for meditation. It is not at all aerobic: it looks inwards, but nonetheless places emphasis on proper body alignment and controlled breathing practice.

Ashtanga Yoga:

Formulated by Sri K Pattabhi Jois, a yoga master based in Mysore, this system involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures. It concentrates on the flow from one pose to the next, on the breath (ujjaipranayam) and on strong, physical poses. During an ashtanga session, an intense internal heat and a powerful, purifying sweat is produced, so that both body and mind are exercised to their full potential.

Sivananda Yoga:

This is a traditional type of yoga that focuses on connecting the body to the solar plexus where it is believed an enormous amount of energy is stored. Comprising repetition of asanas followed by resting poses, it also focuses on breath, dietary restrictions, chanting and meditation.

The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi, an inspired resort in northern Thailand, offers a wide variety of yoga, meditation and spiritual exercise classes. All are designed to promote stamina, peace of mind, energy and vitality. The open-sided airy yoga sala or pavilion sports soaring roofs supported by teak pillars — it’s a beautiful spot for some serious contemplation.

Shiva, the lord of yoga, is depicted in three stylized Thai paintings in different meditative positions. Thailand has embraced yoga in many of its spas and healing centers.

Kundalini Yoga:

The aim of this form of yoga is to awaken and reach one’s spiritual potential. Using the metaphor of a serpent coiled at the body’s bottom chakra, practice unwinds the serpent and helps it to rise upwards in an attempt to reach the top chakra, which is the highest possible. It concentrates on postures, chanting, meditation and breathing exercises.

Viniyoga:

Viniyoga is a term used to describe the yoga taught by Sri T Krishnamacharya, a descendant of the 9th-century yogi Nathamuni. His son is the current viniyoga lineage holder. Viniyoga aims to make yoga relevant to every situation and every individual person, and concentrates on postures, breath, meditation and prayer.

The benefits of yoga are many: Taken from the Sanskrit, yoga means “union” or “joining”, so the ultimate aim of yoga is to join with the Almighty. This may not be within the reach of many, so, on a more prosaic level, yoga confers many less ambitious benefits. Physically, practitioners report increased flexibility, better lubrication of joints, massaging of internal organs, toned muscles and detoxification of the entire body. These are joined by mental, spiritual and emotional benefits as well. Devotees often report transformations in their lives once yoga is practiced regularly. Stress, anxiety, ill health, unhappiness and anger are replaced by peacefulness, vibrant health, service, and love towards all creation.

Many Indian spas, hotels, resorts, retreats ashrams and healing centers offer yoga. People also often attend yoga schools or sala, and there are literally hundreds of inspired settings in India (and outside India) in which to practice this ancient art (see photo on page 100).

A painting depicts the Hindu sapta rishis or seven sages who are extolled in the Vedas and other Hindu literature. They are regarded as the patriarchs of the Vedic religion, so have perfected many of the teachings in the Vedas. The sage at center bottom is in urdhva-padmasana or elevated lotus position.

A relatively low-key, but top-notch, yoga school in Mysore is the Mandala Yoga Sala housed in a 100-year old house on Dewan street in the Laxmipuram area. Set up by Harish Bheemaiah, the school is renowned for its excellent tuition by acharya (teacher) Mr V Sheshadri and his son. Sheshadri was a student of Yogaratna Sri B N S Iyengar (not to be confused with B K S Iyengar) and has achieved recognition at both international and national levels. He helps students push beyond their limits with a unique style of adjustment (he often sits or stands on them!).

Urdva danurasana or “intense back bend”.

Uttanasana or “forward bend”.

Kukkutasana or “rooster pose”.

An adjustment to uthita trikonasana.

Virabhadrasana 1 or “warrior 1”.

Urdva mukha shvanasana or “upward facing dog”.

Adho mukha shvanasana or “downward facing dog”.

Punatanasana or “east extension posture”, an asana that helps strengthen shoulders and wrist joints.

Adho mukha svanasana or “downward facing dog”, one of the postures in the Sun Salutation series.

Matsyasana or “fish posture”, helpful for neck and spine.

Shreyas Retreat, just outside Bangalore, combines five-star facilities with an ethos that can best be described as boarding school basic. As the owner explains, it is about “living an ashram-style life with daily yoga, meditation sessions, organic vegetarian food, no alcohol, community service and farming”. For those who want to immerse themselves in India’s ancient wellness traditions, it offers innovative tuition and plenty of peace and quiet, but does not skimp on creature comforts. It markets itself as a place that helps guests to find their “inner core.”

Sarvangasana or “supported shoulder stand”, a posture that helps with thyroid disorders.

Trikonasana or “triangle pose”: Maintained to strengthen knees and calf and thigh muscles, this posture is good for the spine.

Aided by Shreyas instructor Bharat Kumar Patra, our model and yoga teacher Yana Odnopozov demonstrates some of the different asanas in the yoga repertoire. Asanas should be “steady and comfortable” according to Patanjali and Yana looks nothing if not poised in these photographs.

This is a variation of padmasana or “lotus pose”; usually performed sitting upright, here the practitioner leans back.

The headstand, known as sirsasana, is a major pose in yoga. Hands and arms can be used in a number of different ways to support this pose which stretches the spine and builds neck muscle.

The crane pose or bakasana is a yoga posture that stretches the knees, hamstrings and lower back. It is one of the easiest balance arm postures in the yoga repertoire.

This posture is known as halasana or “plough pose” (hala in Sanskrit translates as plough). As the plough makes the hard ground soft, the veins are stretched here to reduce stiffness in the body. Another variation of padmasana.

Parsva bakasana or “side crane pose” gives an intense stretch in the lower back and requires good upper body strength. The lower arms bones (ulna and radius) act as supporting beams and the legs are bent at the knee. This is a variation of the side crane posture, as the participant has stretched out both her legs to one side.

Pulling arms and legs stretches the abdomen; hamstring stretch; twisting from the waist to free up muscles in the upper arms; pulling the client towards dhanurasana or the “bow pose” to stretch shoulders and elongate the spine.

The skilled Amanbagh therapist pulls, turns, manipulates and stretches the client’s body to simulate certain yoga postures and stretches. All the while, she works along the energy lines, using acupressure, reflexology and internal organ massage. The aim is to clear blockages of prana and give the client a full body workover to improve overall health and create a feeling of wellbeing.

amulya uphar Lazy Man’s Yoga

Similar to Thai massage, but based on the stretching facilitated by yoga postures, Amulya Uphar is a unique technique offered at Rajasthan’s Amanbagh. Translating as “Priceless Gift” from the Hindi, it is an oil-free treatment that takes place on a mattress on the floor, with the client wearing a loose kurta pyjama suit. The therapist works on the client’s meridian lines and acupressure points, manipulating the body into different positions to open up energy channels that in turn stimulate sluggish blood circulation, movement of lymph and the flow of chi.

First of all, clients are prepared for the body work with a foot wash with a hot towel to remove negative energy and a gentle touch on the solar plexus and crown chakra to let them know they are in safe hands. Lying on their back on a mattress on the floor, they are requested to breathe normally before the massage begins. This always starts with the feet as it is here that the body weight rests: Using thumbs and the palms on the meridian lines, reflex points are awakened on the soles, then the masseuse moves up the legs to stomach and hands, shoulders and head. After this, the client turns over and the therapist works on the legs, back, neck and head.

Amulya Uphar is quite a physically demanding experience, with the therapist sometimes sitting on the client, and often pulling him or her into somewhat contorted positions. The cobra pose, for example, has the therapist kneeling on the pressure points of the client’s thighs while holding both hands and pulling them backwards. At certain points the client may be requested to breathe in or out in order to facilitate the opening up of the body, but the therapist — by listening to the body — knows how far it can be coaxed, stretched or twisted.

Amulya Uphar can be an amazingly de-stressing experience, with many clients reporting deep relaxation, relief of tension and increased suppleness afterwards. As with Watsu, a similar practice offered in water, it works best if clients give themselves up entirely to the therapist by relaxing completely.

Such yogic stretching is offered at other venues in India and overseas: Essentially, the body is being assisted into yoga asanas and stretches without having to make any effort itself. It has all the benefits of yoga, but much less of the hard work!

Another “bow pose” angle.

Stretching arms to work on the triceps.

pranayama Therapeutic Breathing Exercises

Taken from the word prana meaning “vital energy” or “life force” and ayama that means “control” or “extension/expansion”, pranayama comprises a series of breathing exercises that calm the mind, improve the condition of the abdominal and chest area, and eliminate toxins from the body. Originally expounded by Patanjali (see page 100), it is all about the expansion of the vital force through regulated breathing processes.

Regular pranayama practitioners report that they are calm and balanced, their minds are focused and they have increased vitality and longevity. According to Patanjali, pranayama awakens the brain and the cerebrospinal nerve centers enabling them to reach their highest potential. Be this true or not, research suggests that it is beneficial in treating a range of stress-related disorders and it relieves symptoms of asthma.

All the exercises follow a sequence of inhalation (puraka), holding (kumbhaka) and exhalation (rechaka). The main focus is on correcting bad breathing habits and concentrating on the here and now. Inhalations should be deep, complete and focused, filling the lungs completely, while exhalations are slow, deep and uniform. Ideally, the latter should take twice as long as the former, and at the end of a rechaka the lungs should be emptied to the maximum extent, their tissues contracting as much as possible. In the case of kumbhaka, there is no question of speed or movement: it is simply stopping all breath by holding all the respiratory apparatus tight and still.

There are a number of pranayama exercises and all should be practiced in a sitting posture. Choose from the half a dozen sitting postures laid down by Patanjali: the simplest, least strenuous one is swastikasana, but more advanced yoga practitioners may prefer the lotus position or padmasana, the traditional recommendation for pranayama.

Sessions usually start with a prayer or a simple om. Practitioners are encouraged to sit in a relaxed posture, with spine straight and shoulders relaxed. After a couple of such introductory exhalations, the hands are rubbed together to stimulate the circulation, and a gentle self-massage is given to the face and back of the neck.

Before the breathing session begins in earnest, it is recommended that the process known as kapala bhati takes place. Kapal is a Sanskrit word for “forehead”, while bhati means “lighting” or “glowing”. It is a kirya or cleansing process that is practiced in a meditative posture with spine and neck erect, and eyes closed. A session of rapid breathing, with active and forceful exhalation followed by passive inhalation, it has no kumbhaka or holding of breath stage. All the nerves reverberate during this exercise, you may even sweat profusely and, on the exhalation, most people experience a flapping movement in the abdomen.

Shreyas Retreat runs regular pranayama sessions in conjunction with yoga. They always start with the practice of palming. During this, hands are rubbed together to stimulate circulation and a gentle self-massage is given to the face and back of the neck.

Nadhi sodhana or “alternate nostril breating”, a very particular pranayama practice, calms the mind, balances the mental state and stimulates both sides of the brain as both nostrils flow freely.

As kapala bhati is an extremely dynamic experience, it should only be done for about a minute, as this is enough time to give a massaging effect to the inner organs as well as balance and strengthen the nervous system. It also helps set up the lungs and entire respiratory tract for the breathing exercises to follow.

Vhastrika is often the first exercise: Translating as “bellows breath”, it is a breathing technique used by yogis to build energy, tone the respiratory muscles and induce a feeling of alertness and mental clarity. As suggested by the name, the breath imitates the action of a bellows. Essentially a method of controlled hyper-ventilation, it comprises a series of inhalation/holding/exhalation sequences that focus on the thoracic and chest region. Active inhalation with chest out and shoulders rising slightly is followed by holding, then active exhalation to bring the chest back in. These sequences help promote proper diaphragmatic breathing, oxygenate the blood and purge the lungs of residual carbon dioxide.

Vhastrika which translates as “bellows breath” follows a sequence of inhalation/holding/ exhalation that is effectively a controlled form of hyper-ventilation. As such, it should not be repeated too many times.

Alternate nostril breathing or nadhi sodhana is another technique. Nadhi is the word for “psychic passage”, a specific pathway through which prana flows, and sodhana is “purification”, so this sequence is designed to facilitate smooth flow of prana. It should not be practiced if the nasal passages are blocked; in fact, in any pranayama series, if the breath feels forced, stop immediately.

In nadhi sodhana, the flow of breath is controlled by either the thumb or the ring finger of the right hand in what is known as the nasika mudra (see photo of hand position on page 115). First of all, the right nostril is blocked with the thumb, and air is slowly exhaled through the left nostril. When the lungs are completely empty, the practitioner inhales slowly through the left nostril, then closes the nostril with the ring finger. He or she then exhales completely out of the right nostril, inhales through the right nostril, and blocks again with the thumb. It is a good idea to mentally count five seconds for each inhalation and six seconds for every exhalation. The whole process should be repeated a few times for maximum benefit.

Another technique is uddiyana bandha (uddiyana means a “jump upward”, bandha is a “lock”). Basically, it means the contraction of particular muscles in the body that are locked or held tightly in a certain position. There are four main bandhas associated with pranayama; the other three are jalandhara bandha (bending the neck forward and setting the chin below the throat), mula bandha (contraction of the anal sphincters and the pelvic floor) and jilva bandha (holding the tongue on the roof of the mouth).

In uddiyana bandha, the thoracic diaphragm is moved to an extreme upward position, held, then released. Practitioners sit in the lotus position with hands in the chin mudra (index finger touching the thumb and other three fingers relaxed), and focus on the lower abdominal section of the body. The sequence is as follows: Breathe out completely, contract the lowest chakra at the bottom of the spine, suck in the abdomen, lock in the chin with the chest, and hold the breath. Keep steady for as long as is comfortable, then release from the chin and abdomen, and exhale. Uddiyana bandha can take quite a time to master and novices should never exceed their individual capacity.

In general, pranayama modifies normal breathing processes considerably, thereby creating substantial internal pressures and stretches. Added to this, is the need to keep the whole body focused from top to bottom, thereby releasing any held tension and stress. Pranayama classes are offered at many venues throughout India and elsewhere and many find it a wonderful exercise before a meditation session.

Shavasana or “corpse posture” is traditionally the final posture in a hatha yoga session. Designed to engender deep relaxation, it is a good finale for pranayama too.

meditation

Rooted in many of the world’s great religions, meditation has been used as a healing therapy for centuries. Today, it is experiencing a renaissance in popularity with many doctors prescribing meditation as a way to lower blood pressure, improve performance, relieve insomnia and promote relaxation. It is safe and simple; it needs no complicated machinery or drugs; and it can balance on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level at the same time.

Meditation and Hinduism

Meditation originated in India with yoga, one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. First mentioned in the Puranas, the Vedas and the Upanishads (Hindu holy scriptures), it was later outlined by Patanjali (see page 100). Its aim is to still the mind, body and soul, alleviate suffering and promote healing. How this is done varies: Japa yoga advocates the repetition of a mantra, hatha yoga is aimed at raising spiritual energy, raja yoga works with breath, surat shabd yoga uses sound and light to meditate, and bhakti yoga or the “yoga of love and devotion” aims to concentrate practitioners’ focus on a particular devotional subject.

Viewed as a method of attaining physiological and spiritual mastery, meditation is central to Hinduism. The seven rishis or great sages were master meditators and today’s sadhus or wandering mystics employ meditation, along with asceticism, renunciation, celibacy and yoga with the ultimate aim of attaining enlightenment. However, one does not need to be a Hindu to practice Hindu meditation. Many Hindu meditative techniques are secular in nature — and everyone is welcome to try them.

A popular choice for those serious to learn more about Hinduism and meditation is a visit to an Indian ashram. Neither a temple nor a monastery, an ashram is a more like a retreat. The idea is to lead a simple life, develop a positive attitude and come away with an understanding of selfless service. A 15-day visit usually includes a sadhana course where yoga (see pages 100–111), meditation, pranayama (see page 114–117), relaxation and concentration techniques are “taught” in peaceful, often remote surrounds. Many people report that such a withdrawal from normal everyday life is a rich and rewarding experience.

Meditation has long been practiced both in a secular fashion and as a Buddhist or Hindu practice. Here we see a detail of the hands and feet of the Buddha; 14th century, Sukothai Period, housed in the Prasat Museum, Bangkok.

An evening meditation session atop one of the roofs at Amanbagh. Using fire, it comprises ritual and chanting, to give thanks for the day.

Novice monks in “resting pose” during meditation.

Meditation and Buddhism

Meditation is also central to Buddhism. Indeed, in around 500 BC, the Indian prince Siddharta Gautama rejected the material world and attained enlightenment through meditation beneath a bodhi tree. Theravada Buddhism advocates various meditative practices, but the two best known are Samadhi or “Concentrative Meditation” and Vipassana or “Mindfulness Meditation”. Both are considered part of the eightfold path Buddhists must follow in order to achieve Nirvana.

At its most simple, concentrative meditation focuses attention on the breath, an image or a sound (mantra) in order to still the mind and allow a greater awareness and clarity to emerge. By focusing on the continuous rhythm of inhalation and exhalation, the mind becomes absorbed in the rhythm, breathing becomes slower and deeper, and the practitioner becomes more tranquil and aware. Mindfulness meditation, on the other hand, seeks to open up the mind’s awareness. The practitioner sits quietly, simply witnessing whatever goes through the mind, thereby obtaining a more calm, clear and non-reactive state of mind.

Again, both types of meditation are open to non-Buddhists. Of particular note are the 10-day residential courses offered by the Vipassana Research Institute and patronized by clients from all over the world. Pioneered by S N Goenka, an Indian who learnt the technique in Burma, the courses are non-sectarian, as is Buddhism itself. Entirely free and funded by donations from previous attendees, they are silent meditative retreats aimed at enabling people to “see things as they really are”.

Many spas and retreats offer meditation sessions these days. Here a client focuses on the inner mind during a session at Prana Spa, Bali.

Many hotels, resorts and retreats offer meditation sessions in India. These may be group or solitary one-to-one “lessons” and are usually given early in the morning or at dusk. On left, we see a client in a meditative pose in a pavilion at the Ayurvedic retreat of Kalari Kovilakom; on right, a bamboo grove at Ananda, in the Himalayas, provides seclusion for a pair of devotees. A statue of the nandi or bull, the Lord Shiva’s primary vehicle, forms a focus here.

Meditation in Spas, Resorts and Retreats

Of course, other religions including Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Sikkhism advocate the use of meditation in one form or another as well. However, visitors to India are most likely to encounter Hindu and Buddhist meditation methods in a destination spa or retreat. Increasingly, such establishments include yoga, pranayama and meditation sessions to complement the other therapies on offer. Visiting “masters” often run specialized courses, while residential teachers are also on hand.

As Ayurvedic doctors have to study meditation as part of their medical degree, Ayurvedic retreats routinely include meditation sessions in their treatment schedules. For example, at Kalari Kovilakom guests are encouraged to start the day with a walking meditation known as chandramanam: As the unique property is criss-crossed with many secluded pathways, it is the perfect place to practice this technique. Walking purposefully, being aware of body and breath, all the while chanting a mantra, prayer or sankalpa (affirmation), guests are encouraged to open up to infinite possibilities. Similarly, afternoons are spent in yoga nidra sessions whereby a special meditative technique brings about deep relaxation.

The ancient tradition of meditating in remote caves is illustrated by this Brahmin in Ranigumpha cave in Orissa. The cave dates from the 2nd century BC.

Another property that offers a unique meditation session is Amanbagh in the Rajasthani countryside near Jaipur. Designed to focus the mind through the continuous rhythm of mantra chanting and offering to fire, the Amanbagh’s fire meditation is both a tribute to Indian culture and a celebration of the unique locale of the property. Fire is considered the purest of the five elements in Hinduism: it is used at auspicious occasions, such as weddings and homecomings, and is associated with the solar plexus area.

As the sun is setting behind the Aravali hills, a fire is lit beneath a marigold bedecked meditation pavilion situated on the property’s roof. First comes the vedi or the decoration of the fire, then guests are blessed with a tika dot on the forehead. An aarti of incense begins the proceedings, then edible offerings are given up to the fire: rice, jaggery, sesame seeds and oatmeal.

Once the preliminaries are over, a meditation guide starts what is known as the gayatri mantra. Comprising 24 sounds that give homage to the mother of the tripartite Hindu deity, the guide encourages guests to chant only five: om, bhur, bhu, vah and swah. Hindu philosophy advocates the use of sound, preferably in a low voice and a rhythmic manner, to facilitate concentration. In fact, many meditation techniques employ the repetitive chanting of simple sounds to clear the mind, open the heart and remove extraneous thoughts from the brain — and Amanbagh’s mind-expanding ritual is no exception.

In addition to these traditional techniques, there is a plethora of what may be termed New Age meditation techniques. TM (Transcendental Meditation), Deeksha, Global Meditation through sahaja yoga, movement meditations such as 5 Rhythms, Active or Dynamic meditation, Tantric meditation and more... all are offered at a variety of venues in India. If you are serious about improving your health and wellbeing through this ancient practice, the sky — literally — is your limit in India.

Statues of the Buddha in the ruins of Mrauk-U, Arakan, Myanmar.

Fire is used extensively in Hindu worship. In early Hindu mythology, Agni, the Hindu God of Fire is depicted as one of the most important of the Vedic gods. His role in sacrifices and rituals was unparalleled: as fire consumes everything, he was seen as a mediator between heaven and earth. Here a Jain priest conducts an agni puja (fire prayer).

chakra therapy

A figure in the lotus pose is illustrated with the seven chakra positions. Running from the base of the spine to the top of the head, they are seen as the body’s energy centers.

The term chakra, a Sanskrit word that literally means “wheel of light”, refers to the seven basic energy centers in the body. In Indian philosophy, the chakras correlate to major nerve ganglia branching out from the spinal column, levels of consciousness, archetypal elements, developmental stages of life, colors, sounds, body functions and more. Some people reportedly see the chakras, describing them as spinning wheels of light and color located along the backbone, going from the base of the spine to the crown of the head.

Each of the seven chakras has a physical, an emotional, a creative and a spiritual component (see chart overleaf). Colin Hall, the spa manager at the Ananda, likens the spine to an elevator shaft of energy and the chakras as the various floors in the building of our body from which to view and experience life. When we rise from one floor to another within our consciousness, our perspective changes and expands.

“Based upon the area of consciousness that it influences, each chakra has its own purpose in the body,” he explains. “In simple terms, we have a chakra for each issue that we commonly think about.” He goes on to say that our thoughts have a direct relationship with our state of health. For example, love and faith based thoughts result in a smooth energy flow through the chakras and thus the physical body. Worry, obsession and fear based thoughts affect the chakra that relates to the issues we are thinking about, thus causing a blockage or restriction in the flow of energy to that part of the body.

Chakra therapists note that each chakra is found next to or near a hormonal gland in the body, so the chakras have the ability to push life energy or prana through the body to ensure vitality. These energy centers receive and radiate energy constantly, acting as storehouses and transmitters of universal energy as well. They say that it is necessary to balance the chakras from time to time to effectively regulate this flow.

According to yoga masters, disharmony on a physical, mental or spiritual level may be corrected by certain postures that concentrate the breath on the abdominal area. Pranayama is especially active on the chakras, while the Ayurvedic therapy of pouring medicated oils on to the chakras (chakradhara) also effectively regulates the proper flow prana. “It is particularly useful for people who have improper lifestyle habits,” explains Ayurvedic physician, Dr Sreenarayanan, also of Ananda. “Their chakras are blocked as a result of stress, tension, bad diet, lack of exercise and so on. The therapy acts on the immune system, releasing energy flows, reducing anxiety and allowing the mind to become still and quiet.”

Furthermore, chakras may be balanced by placing the hands gently over them, a few inches above the physical body. In this process, the recipient may be receptive to a flowing or warm sensation believed to be the transmission of universal energy. Known as Reiki in the West, practitioners say it helps harmonize the body’s biological and emotional systems. As universal energy is received, the “doors” for self-healing are opened — and people use it for pain management and stress-relief as well as for more spiritual goals.

A chakradhara session at Ananda, in the Himalayas, concentrates on the fifth chakra, the one that is related to creativity and communication. Chakradhara is often recommended after a period of panchakarma (see pages 46–49), for patients with high cholesterol or diabetes and for those who suffer from anxiety and stress.

Some of the wold’s principal oyster beds lie along the coasts of India, so references to mother-of-pearl and pearls are abundant in the Indian epics. They are potent when applied to the skin — as a powder or whole — especially on the chakras.

A Reiki master lays his hands above a client at Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi. Both calming and spiritual, Reiki involves the laying of hands on, or above, the body’s chakras to balance and heal.

THE SEVEN CHAKRAS

Chakra Seven:

Thought, universal identity, oriented to self-knowledge

The crown chakra relates to consciousness as pure awareness. It is our connection to the greater world beyond, and, when developed, brings knowledge, wisdom, understanding, spiritual connection and bliss.

Chakra Six:

Light, archetypal identity, oriented to self-reflection

The brow chakra or third eye center is related to the act of seeing, both physically and intuitively. As such, it opens our psychic faculties and gives us greater understanding of “the big picture”.

Chakra Five:

Sound, creative identity, oriented to self-expression

The throat chakra is related to communication and creativity. By experiencing the world symbolically through vibration (ie the vibration of sound representing language), a healthy fifth chakra results in expressiveness and erudition.

Chakra Four:

Air, social identity, oriented to self-acceptance

The heart chakra is the middle chakra in the system of seven. It is related to love and is the integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity. A healthy fourth chakra allows us to love deeply, feel compassion and experience a profound sense of peace and centeredness.

Chakra Three:

Fire, ego identity, oriented to self-definition

Located in the solar plexus, this chakra is known as the power chakra. It rules our personal power, will and autonomy, as well as our metabolism. When healthy, it brings energy, effectiveness, spontaneity and non-dominating power.

Chakra Two:

Water, emotional identity, oriented to self-gratification

Located in the abdomen, lower back and sexual organs, the second chakra connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation and movement. Ideally, this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling, sexual fulfillment and the ability to accept change.

Chakra One:

Earth, physical identity, oriented to self-preservation

Located at the base of the spine, this chakra forms our foundation. It is related to our survival instincts, our sense of grounding and to the physical plane. When healthy, this chakra brings health, prosperity, security and dynamic presence.