I still remember the moment the chakras came alive for me—not just as an abstract concept, but as a felt experience in my body. It was in London during one of my early yoga trainings, and I had the privilege of learning from Anodea Judith, one of the great teachers on chakra theory and energy systems. As Anodea beautifully states, "The body is the vehicle, consciousness the driver. Yoga is the path, and the chakras are the map."
Anodea’s teachings opened a new world for me. I realised the chakras weren’t just symbolic—they were deeply connected to both our physical bodies and emotional states. It was through this discovery that I began to see how aligning these energy centres could greatly affect not only how I felt but how I moved and connected with myself.
Since that time, the chakras have been central to my personal practice and how I guide others. Today, I’d love to share more about how these energy centres influence our bodies and how we can work with them in somatic yoga to find deeper balance and connection.
Read on to the blog:
What Are the Chakras?
The chakras are seven key energy centres that run along the spine from the base to the crown of the head. Each chakra governs different aspects of our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. When these energy centres are balanced, we experience harmony within ourselves and our environment. But when they are blocked or imbalanced, we may feel disconnected, anxious, or physically unwell.
Tias Little, (one of my favourite teachers who has greatly inspired and influenced my own teaching) believes that the chakras are not just floating points of energy—they are deeply embedded in our tissues, muscles, and fascia. They’re “repositories of memory and emotion,” and through gentle, mindful movement, we can access and release these stored experiences.
Here’s how each chakra connects to both the subtle body and the physical body, along with somatic practices to help you experience them directly:
Root Chakra (Muladhara)
Subtle Body: Grounding, security, survival instincts.
Physical Body: Feet, legs, pelvic floor, and spine.
Somatic Yoga Practice: Inspired by Tias’ grounding techniques, begin with slow, deliberate footwork—feeling the texture of the mat beneath your feet. Or try gentle rocking motions while lying on your back which can awaken a sense of stability in the pelvis and spine. Visualise your connection to the earth as you move.
Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
Subtle Body: Creativity, pleasure, and emotional flow.
Physical Body: Hips, lower abdomen, reproductive organs.
Somatic Yoga Practice: Focus on a feeling of pelvic fluidity through subtle hip circles and gentle spinal undulations. Try reclining hip openers like Supta Baddha Konasana (reclining bound angle pose), paired with deep, wave-like breaths to soften the belly and pelvis, inviting emotional release.
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
Subtle Body: Personal power, confidence, willpower.
Physical Body: Core muscles, digestive organs, and diaphragm.
Somatic Yoga Practice: Bring your attention to the felt sensation of your core as you move rather than gripping or holding. Connect to the movement of your diaphragm as you breath - using breath to expand and contract the belly gently. Twisting poses like Supine Twist help to activate this centre without overexertion.
Heart Chakra (Anahata)
Subtle Body: Love, compassion, connection.
Physical Body: Chest, lungs, shoulders, and upper back.
Somatic Yoga Practice: Heart-opening postures allow us to explore vulnerability and compassion, softening the tension that we often hold in the chest and shoulders. Try gentle heart-opening through subtle backbends, like supported Bridge Pose with a block or bolster under the sacrum.
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
Subtle Body: Communication, truth, and self-expression.
Physical Body: Throat, neck, jaw, and shoulders.
Somatic Yoga Practice: Breathwork and vocal toning activate the throat chakra, freeing our ability to express ourselves authentically. Practice jaw and neck releases—gently move the head side to side, and explore humming or toning sounds (like “mmm” or “ahhh”) to vibrate the throat. You can try vocal toning like adding "OM' as you move through some of the poses to activate the throat chakra and ease tension in the cervical spine.
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
Subtle Body: Intuition, inner wisdom, and clarity.
Physical Body: Forehead, eyes, brain, and nervous system.
Somatic Yoga Practice: Focus on deep listening and visualisation. Try seated meditations with your eyes closed, bringing awareness to the space between your eyebrows and from there back into the middle of your brain as you breathe. Gentle, rhythmic movements like Child’s Pose with forehead resting on the mat or a block help stimulate this centre while calming the nervous system.
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
Subtle Body: Spiritual connection, universal consciousness.
Physical Body: Top of the head, nervous system.
Somatic Yoga Practice: Incorporate stillness and spaciousness into your practice. Try simply laying in Savasana with attention at the crown of the head, visualising light or energy radiating upward. Awareness of your breathing and the pauses at top of the inhale and bottom of the exhale create a sense of connection to something greater than the self.
Why This Matters in Somatic Yoga
Working with the chakras in somatic yoga isn’t just about achieving physical postures; it’s about tuning into the subtle messages your body sends. When we soften our approach and cultivate inner awareness, we give ourselves permission to heal on a deeper level—physically, emotionally, and energetically.
Through these practices, you can release stored tension, awaken dormant energy, and cultivate a sense of wholeness in your body and mind.
When we work with the chakras in somatic yoga, we’re not just stretching or strengthening—we’re cultivating a deeper relationship with our inner selves. The chakras serve as a powerful map, guiding us to areas in the body where energy may be stagnant or overactive. By tuning into the subtle sensations of the body, we can unlock stuck energy, release emotional blockages, and invite greater balance into our lives.
In the words of Tias Little, “The chakras are not just energy centres; they are also repositories of memory and emotion that live in the tissues of the body.” This means that when we engage in mindful, somatic movement, we’re not only addressing physical tension—we’re also gently working with the emotional imprints stored in the body. You'll notice in my classes that I often include Grounding practices that focus on the root chakra help us feel more secure and connected to the earth, especially during times of stress- which is just life in the current world we live in!
By working with the chakras in this embodied way, we create an inner dialogue between body and mind. This practice can lead to profound shifts—not just in how we move, but in how we live, fostering greater awareness, resilience, and connection.
Whether you’re looking to feel more grounded, find your voice, or simply connect more deeply with your body, the chakras offer a powerful map for exploration and healing.
I’d love to guide you through this journey of aligning, balancing, and reconnecting with yourself. Whether through gentle yoga, or sound healing, these practices offer powerful tools for transformation.
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