The 7 Chakras for Beginners

The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through. Blocked energy in our 7 Chakras can often lead to illness so it's important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely.

Here's our quick summary of the 7 Chakras:

1. Root Chakra - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.

Location: Base of spine in tailbone area.

Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money, and food.

More on Root Chakra healing

2. Sacral Chakra - Our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences.

Location: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches in.

Emotional issues: Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, sexuality.

More on Sacral Chakra healing

3. Solar Plexus Chakra - Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives.

Location: Upper abdomen in the stomach area.

Emotional issues: Self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem.

More on Solar Plexus Chakra healing

4. Heart Chakra - Our ability to love.

Location: Center of chest just above heart.

Emotional issues: Love, joy, inner peace.

More on Heart Chakra healing

5. Throat Chakra - Our ability to communicate.

Location: Throat.

Emotional issues: Communication, self-expression of feelings, the truth.

More on Throat Chakra healing

6. Third Eye Chakra - Our ability to focus on and see the big picture.

Location: Forehead between the eyes. (Also called the Brow Chakra)

Emotional issues: Intuition, imagination, wisdom, ability to think and make decisions.

More on Third Eye Chakra healing

7. Crown Chakra - The highest Chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.

Location: The very top of the head.

Emotional issues: Inner and outer beauty, our connection to spirituality, pure bliss.

More on Crown Chakra healing

Article from: MindBodyGreen

Yoga For Everyday Athletes

Whether you're a new runner, total gym rat, or summer-only tennis fanatic, a yoga instructor can tell. That's because workouts that emphasize running, lifting, and swinging movements leave the telltale signs of tight hamstrings, quads, and shoulders—the trifecta of treacherous spots in fit females.

Left alone, they can lead to muscular imbalances, injuries, and stalled results. Here's what can help: yoga for athletes, a practice specifically designed for active people. "Yoga gives you the power to better understand your body," says Emilie Smith, a yoga-for-athletes instructor in New York City. "You learn where you're strong or weak, tight or flexible." By correcting those problems, you can raise your game. That's why so many pro athletes and Olympians are devotees. Plus, it strengthens your core and builds a lean, sculpted physique. (Not a bad bonus.)

This sequence, created by Smith, has three phases: dynamic poses that warm up your muscles and loosen your joints; passive holds, which relax the body as you stretch your muscles deeper; and a restorative pose, a critical element that Smith says helps you recover and prepare for your next workout.

Add this to your regular weekly routine—keeping in mind that it should complement, not compete with, your workouts. "If you're recovering from a killer workout or injury, move through each pose extra gently," says Smith. "But if you're in a down period or an off-season, you can take a more energetic approach to build strength."


Watch yoga instructor Emilie Smith demonstrate the sequence:

Article by Jen Ator from Women's Health