Chakra, pronounced “chu-kra,” not “sha-kra” commonly translates to “circular wheel-like disc.” However, the common terms we often hear, like chakra blockages, balancing, opening, or healing, can be misleading. Traditional Yoga texts suggest that chakras don’t need opening because they aren’t closed, nor do they need healing because they aren’t unhealthy or balancing because they aren’t unbalanced. Instead, chakras are subtle internal points of focus for the mind.
In modern times, chakras have been reinvented and commodified. Contrary to popular belief, chakras aren’t rainbows of seven fixed colors; their colors can change based on context and the texts used for visualization. For example, the Muladhara chakra can appear as yellow, golden, red, or crimson, meaning the seven bright rainbow colours are a bit of a new age misinterpretation.
Unfortunately, chakras have become another part of Yoga that’s often appropriated. We see chakra-colored jewelry, essential oils, foods, and clothes marketed everywhere. But simply shrouding ourselves with these commercial items won’t awaken the mind or consciousness or foster internal awareness.
In Kundalini Yoga, it’s commonly taught that we ascend through the chakras to reach the highest awakened state. Yet, traditional teachings tell us that Kundalini can also descend and may peacefully rest in the heart, not constantly seek the highest chakra.
This really mirrors our common approach to Yoga by fixating on the poses and trying to constantly ascend through them when the good stuff is often not found on a constant upper trajectory of seeking more, but by less.
Ancient teachings record the existence of anywhere from 4 to 14 chakras, not just seven, and the context of these teachings matters. If this subject interests you, it’s beneficial to approach it with curiosity rather than compliance, and to study Upanishadic and Tantric texts.
We are all guilty of appropriating Yoga in various ways, so it’s always good to rethink our biases and blind spots.
It may not seem like a big deal but if we are selling the concept or making money from these ideas it becomes even more problematic than just perpetuating it. Ultimately it is colonialisation of yoga and as white westerners practicing and participating the work is ours to do.
Infact I have a whole chapter on ‘Appreciate or Appropriate?’ in my digital course for yoga teachers, Finding The Yoga in Yin.
Changing our minds and detaching from ingrained beliefs is challenging and we usually meet it with resistance- but is also a key aspect of other yoga teachings, such as the Five Kleshas.
