The 7 Chakras

The Root

Expression: “I am”

Colour: Red

Element: Earth

Important because? It’s our sense of being grounded and supported; our tribal instincts and feeling of belonging. It’s linked to the base instinct to survive and through that the importance of exercise and a nutritional diet.

Endocrine Gland: Adrenals – our “fight or flight” response (heightened during times of excessive stress).

Positive Manifestations: Well-grounded and connected. Stability, acceptance and physical strength.

Negative Manifestations: Scattered energy, ungrounded, dislike of the physical body.

Suggested dance moves: Marching, high energy, feet pounding the ground. Solid and strong legs. Visualising roots from the balls of your feet down into the earth, drawing in the red, earth energy.

The Sacral

Expression: “I feel”

Colour: Orange

Element: Water

Important because? The centre of nurturing and a sense of responsibility for ourselves and others. Security, emotions, desire, passion, creativity and sexuality.

Endocrine Gland: Gonads (ovaries and testes) – secreting hormones involved with our sexuality and libido.

Positive Manifestations: Self-love and self-trust. Passion, creativity and enjoying the pleasures in life.

Negative Manifestations: Emotional instability, jealousy, sexual inhibitions.

Suggested dance moves: Fluid and flowing like water. Sensual hip swaying in figure-of-eight or hula-hoop movements. Really loosening up and embracing how our body wants to move, flowing deeper into the emotional energies.

The Solar Plexus

Expression: “I do”

Colour: Yellow

Element: Fire

Important because? Our powerhouse! The centre of our energy and logic, self-empowerment and confidence in ourselves and our abilities. The seat of our sense of purpose, reason and will power.

Endocrine Gland: Pancreatic glands – play a vital role in controlling metabolism and blood sugar levels. Impaired function often associated with digestive problems.

Positive Manifestations: Authority, charisma and a willingness to try. Enthusiasm and freedom of spirit.

Negative Manifestations: Self-doubt, confusion, worry, anxiety and fear. The hub for storing tension.

Suggested dance moves: This is a great time in the dance to release any anger and frustration, to free you up to fully embrace the higher chakras. The dancing here is fast and energetic. We can punch the air and do kick-boxing moves, roar and yell and totally let go of everything we no longer need. Visualise the power of the sun and bursting with glorious yellow energy.

The Heart

Expression: “I love”

Colour: Green

Element: Air

Important because? Love is everything. The Heart chakra is the hub and meeting point for all of the lower and higher chakras. The lower energies feed up to the heart and the higher energies feed down into it. It is where we hold self-love and love for others. The centre of truth and compassion and being selfless and non-judgmental.

Endocrine Gland: Thymus – develops our immune system and fights bacteria and viruses.

Positive Manifestations: Unconditional love for ourselves and others. Harmony, balance, friendship, compassion, empathy and forgiveness

Negative Manifestations: Emotional instability, feelings of loneliness and isolation. The place where we hold emotions relating to trauma, pain and shock.

Suggested dance moves: The dancing here is slightly lighter after the releasing performed at the Solar Plexus. We soar like a bird or float and twirl, perhaps up on our toes. We hold and send out feelings of love and light. Visualise amazing panoramic views, the colour green or pink and inwardly repeat affirmations of love, most importantly “I love ME!”

The Throat

Expression: “I speak”

Colour: Sky Blue

Element: Ether

Important because? The communication centre, allowing free expression and being comfortable speaking our truth. Also important for our ability to listen to and hear others. The Throat is the gateway to the higher chakras and to find our voice.

Endocrine Gland: Thyroid – controls metabolism and plays a key role in bone growth and the development of the brain and nervous system in children.

Positive Manifestations: Comfortable speaking out and listening to others.

Negative Manifestations: Not speaking as we feel; oblivious to what others are saying, not listening and not hearing. Weak communication skills.

Suggested dance moves: We’re slowing down the movement at this point, starting to unwind as we access the higher chakras. We can walk slowly, heel-toe around the room, perhaps with some chanting or with a mantra. “I speak, I hear, I listen”. Speak and hear our voices.

The Third-Eye

Expression: “I see”

Colour: Indigo

Element: Light

Important because? The seat of our wisdom, insight and intuition. Here we seek to expand our awareness and quieten the mind to access the higher realms of consciousness. Working on the third-eye helps to balance the left (logical) and right (intuitive) brain.

Endocrine Gland: Pituitary Gland – the “Master” gland which controls the activity of the other major glands and central nervous system. The pituitary also secretes endorphins, the feel-good hormone!

Positive Manifestations: Insight, intuition and imagination. Understanding, knowledge and wisdom. Self-evaluation and creation of a sacred inner space.

Negative Manifestations: Cynicism, lack of interest and integration with others, lack of concentration.

Suggested dance moves: Light, graceful moves. Elongating and stretching the body, nurturing ourselves. Gliding around the room feeling free, confident, strong and balanced.

 

The Crown

Expression: “I understand”

Colour: Gold, White or Violet

Important because? This is the place of acceptance; acceptance of ourselves, of others and of responsibility for our own life. It is the home of the pure spirit, without which nothing would exist. It is the life force linking body and soul.

Endocrine Gland: Pineal – secretes melatonin which effects mood and sleep cycles. It plays a large part in out emotional behaviours at the various life stages.

Positive Manifestations: Acceptance, inner peace, bliss, selflessness, enlightenment and divine wisdom.

Negative Manifestations: Depression, confusion, alienation and despair.

Suggested dance moves: With this dance we move in slow motion, as if weightless, like an astronaut. This takes discipline and can be difficult at first, but the careful, slow movements can become quite mesmerising and help us engage with our inner self. The music is stirring and poignant as we connect with the Pure Spirit.