We are more than just a physical body, we are made up of energy and have energy centres known as the chakras, which are situated in specific areas along our spinal column. The chakras connect the physical with the non-physical and affect the health of the whole body. They process information and work together vibrationally allowing energy to flow from one chakra to another. The chakras begin at the base of the spine and relate to our basic survival needs. They move upward to the top of the head to higher states of compassion and wisdom. At times a specific chakra may need more attention and have more influence, for example, when stress levels are high the first and second chakras will be dominant, shutting down the higher chakras.

If this seems a little way out there, please bare with me as I would like to unlock the bodymind connection and explain how all illness has its roots in energetic imbalance. By understanding the relationship between the parts of your body and the energetic chakras, you will have greater insight into what may be going on physically with regard to any illness.

Let us start by looking at the first 3 chakras:

1. Root Chakra or Mooladhara

The first chakra is located at the perineum, between the anus and the genitals. It relates to our basics instincts like survival, trust, security and self-protection. It links to your ancestry and having a sense of belonging to a family or community and feeling like you belong in the world. When this chakra is active and healthy, you will meet survival challenges optimistically and creatively and will have a sense of trust in the world and in others. You will feel grounded with a strong desire for life. You will be able to stand your ground.

If the chakra is inactive, you will struggle coping with difficulties and will rely on others to make decisions and solve your problems. You will also fear being able to provide financially or emotionally. There may also be fear of not fitting in and belonging and of not feeling safe and supported. On the extreme end you may even feel suicidal.

Physical connections include: Bones, joints, blood, immune system and skin. Issues arising from an imbalance in this chakra include back problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, Epstein Barr virus, rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme disease, allergies, rashes, psoriasis, joint pain and autoimmune disorders like lupus.

Your posture, the way you walk and how you hold your head reflects how you feel about your family, work and your ability to survive. Issues of support are found here.

If you are overwhelmed with family responsibilities and are putting your needs aside, you may experience illness in your bones. Feeling hopeless and helpless may show up in your blood, feeling alone and cast out will present in your immune system, and struggling to set boundaries will show up in your skin.

Issues in this area relate to trust and particularly trusting that the world is a safe place and will support you. Creativity and manifestation are also linked in here. If the soil is fertile and you are well rooted, your inner flower will be able to blossom freely.

Questions to ask yourself to find out if you have an imbalance in this area:

• Have you been feeling like you don’t belong and don’t feel secure?

• Do you feel ungrounded?

• Are you feeling stuck and unable to move forward?

• Do you have deep, unresolved family issues?

• Can you find a deeper place of trust and security within yourself and know that you have a place in the universe?

2. Base/Sacral Chakra or Swadhisthana

The second chakra is located at the base of the spine. It relates to issues around love and money. This area links to how you feel about intimacy, relationships, communication, birthing and parenting, money and business, trade and exchange. This area is also about exploring pleasure. Conflict over sexual issues can give rise to problems in the genital organs and can lead to guilt, shame, confusion or relationship breakdown.

Issues that arise here centre around having a poverty consciousness or feeling inadequate financially. You may compare yourself to others, which may result in lowered self esteem. This chakra also influences your reproductive organs so if you find yourself having menstrual issues, prostate problems for men, lower back pain, hip pain, menopause issues, bladder and elimination issues, then some work may be needed to strengthen this chakra.

When this area is open and functioning well, you will feel balanced and at ease with yourself and your sexuality. You will also be able to function responsibly in the world. If there is imbalance in this area, you may feel excess exhaustion, low sexual desire, low appetite, feel helpless and unable to cope.

Questions to ask yourself to find out if you have an imbalance in this area:

• Are you ignoring unresolved issues or traumas to do with your sexuality?

• Do you allow your desires and cravings to rule you?

• Are you being sexually used or abused?

• Are you fearful of survival, either financial or physical?

• Can you find a place of balance within yourself, that isn’t ruled by your desires?

3. Solar Plexus Chakra or Manipura

The third chakra is located in the spine behind the navel and is connected to your power centre of the solar plexus and the adrenals. Moving through survival and procreating, it is now time to become an individual. This is where the development of the ego, self -consciousness and personal power takes place. This is also the area where you assimilate information and digest your world, where you feel fear, rage and the need for control. Energetically this area is linked to the digestive system and issues relating to the stomach, nausea, heartburn, ulcers, constipation, loose bowels, colitis, eating disorders, obesity, liver and gallbladder problems, kidney problems and addictions. They are all issues of fear and control.

This chakra relates to how you see yourself, your self-esteem or self-confidence, feeling likeable, worthy and valuable.

When this chakra is undeveloped it may lead to a false sense of power and feelings of grandeur. It can also cause a fear of authority or power, fear of trusting people, fear of responsibility or of being intimidated. You may struggle with using your own initiative and may need to be told what to do in order to take action. A weak self-image can also lead to a need to dominate others. This area has incredible power and when used appropriately gives a sense of purpose and direction in life. This is the area of your intuition where you have that ‘gut feeling’. Finding balance in this chakra is about finding your own personal inner power and emotional strength. If this chakra is open it will enable you to feel confident and self-assured without needing to exert control over others.

Questions to ask yourself to find out if you have an imbalance in this area:

• Are you over-critical, dominating or controlling over others?

• Do you fear authority or not trust anyone?

• Do you struggle with issues of self-esteem?

• Can you connect to an inner place of personal power without needing to impose it on anyone else?

Next week I will cover the remaining chakras and how they relate to the physical body. I encourage you to tune into your body by getting still and checking in. Scan yourself from your toes up to your head and notice any areas that feel tense or tight or just not right. Start paying attention to the sensations that you feel as that is your body trying to communicate with you. By understanding the energetic and emotional links to discomfort in the body, you will be able to restore the balance and your health.

What areas in your body are trying to communicate with you?

With love,