As we move into March — the season of shifting light, fresh starts, and rainbows in the sky — it feels like the perfect time to explore the chakras. We’re also wrapping up our weekly chakra series in classes, but you can find a recap for each on my Instagram!
The chakras are often represented as a vertical rainbow through the body. But where did this system come from? And why do we focus on seven? What does this have to do with yoga?
Let’s take a thoughtful look at the history — and then walk the rainbow from root to crown.
🕉️ The Origins of the Chakra System
The word chakra comes from Sanskrit and translates to “wheel” or “disc.” In yogic philosophy, chakras are described as subtle energy centers within the body.
However, the system most of us know today — the seven chakras arranged in a rainbow spectrum — was not outlined exactly that way in the earliest texts.
Early Vedic Foundations
The earliest Vedic literature (like the Rig Veda) spoke more broadly about prana — life force energy — rather than a fixed chakra model.
Later Tantric Developments
Between roughly the 8th and 15th centuries, Tantric traditions began describing subtle body systems in more detail. These texts referenced energy channels (nadis) and various energetic centers — but not always seven.
Some Tantric systems described:
- Five chakras
- Six chakras
- Other subtle configurations
The familiar seven-chakra model became standardized much later, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Indian philosophy was interpreted alongside Western esoteric traditions.
So when we work with seven chakras today, we’re using a simplified and symbolic framework — one that has become widely adopted because it’s accessible and meaningful.
It’s not rigid anatomy. It’s a map for reflection and understanding ourselves better.
🔢 What About 49, 112, or 114 Chakras?
Some yogic and contemporary spiritual traditions describe far more than seven energetic points.
You may hear references to:
- 49 minor chakras
- 112 chakras within the body
- 114 chakras total (112 within, 2 beyond the physical body)
These numbers appear in certain later yogic interpretations and modern teachings. Often, these larger numbers refer not only to primary chakras but also to:
- Secondary or minor energy centers
- Intersection points of nadis
- Subtle energetic hubs throughout the body
Additionally, Ayurveda describes 107 or 108 marma points — vital energy points in the body that influence physical and subtle health. These are related to, but not identical with, chakras.
It’s important to understand:
The subtle body in yogic philosophy is complex and multi-layered. The seven-chakra system is not the entire map — it is simply the most widely used framework for practice and teaching. Think of it like a simplified diagram of a much more intricate energetic anatomy.
🌍 Other Subtle Body Traditions
The chakra system is not the only energetic map of the body.
🕊️ Tibetan Subtle Body Systems
Tibetan Buddhist traditions (particularly Vajrayana) describe their own energetic structures, including:
- Channels (tsa)
- Winds (lung)
- Drops (tigle)
These systems often focus on meditative transformation rather than personality themes, and many outline five or six primary centers instead of seven.
🌿 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Traditional Chinese Medicine developed independently in China and works with:
- Qi (life force energy)
- Meridians
- Organ systems
- Yin/Yang balance
- The Five Element theory
Traditional Chinese Medicine maps qi (life force) through 12 primary meridians and 8 extraordinary vessels, forming a complex energetic network distinct from the chakra system.
🧘♀️ So Why Does Yin Yoga Feel Similar?
Across cultures, humans have searched for ways to understand the flow of life force within the body. Whether described as prana in yoga, qi in Chinese medicine, or subtle winds in Tibetan traditions, many systems recognize that physical, emotional, and spiritual health are deeply interconnected. While these traditions developed independently, they often echo one another — offering complementary lenses rather than identical maps.
Modern yin yoga blends:
- Traditional yoga postures (from India)
- TCM meridian theory
- Taoist energetic philosophy
Yin yoga uses yoga shapes but maps them onto meridians rather than just chakras. This crossover is often why people (myself included) sometimes blur the lines between chakras and Chinese medicine and other systems.
These systems developed separately — but they share a common theme:
Energy flows best when it isn’t stagnant.
Just like light refracts differently through different prisms, rather than seeing one system as correct and the others as wrong, we can appreciate them as different cultural lenses exploring the same human experience.
🌈 Why Seven? The Rainbow Within
The seven-chakra system aligns beautifully with the visible spectrum of light:
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet
Much like a rainbow appears when light refracts through water, the chakra system can be seen as the spectrum of human experience refracted through consciousness — from survival at the base to spiritual awareness at the crown.
With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, we often look for rainbows in the sky. But yoga gently reminds us:
The real rainbow runs through us.
Let’s walk through it.
❤️ Root Chakra — Muladhara
Color: Red
Element: Earth
Affirmation: I am safe. I am supported.
The root chakra is our foundation. It governs safety, stability, and our most basic needs.
When balanced: grounded, steady, secure.
When imbalanced: anxious, restless, unrooted.
Grounding practices, routine, nature, and feeling supported in your physical body nourish this center.
This is the base of the rainbow.
🧡 Sacral Chakra — Svadhisthana
Color: Orange
Element: Water
Affirmation: I allow myself to feel and flow.
The sacral chakra governs creativity, pleasure, and emotional expression.
When balanced: fluid, expressive, open.
When imbalanced: creative blocks, emotional numbness, guilt around joy.
Hip openers, dance, and honoring your feelings activate this center.
This is the flow of the rainbow.
💛 Solar Plexus Chakra — Manipura
Color: Yellow
Element: Fire
Affirmation: I trust myself and my power.
The solar plexus chakra governs confidence, willpower, and personal authority.
When balanced: clear, capable, decisive.
When imbalanced: self-doubt, people-pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries.
Core engagement and aligned action strengthen this fire.
This is the spark of the rainbow.
💚 Heart Chakra — Anahata
Color: Green
Element: Air
Affirmation: I give and receive love with ease.
The heart chakra bridges the lower and upper centers — connecting physical experience with emotional awareness.
When balanced: compassionate, open, connected.
When imbalanced: guardedness, self-criticism, emotional fatigue.
Heart openers, forgiveness, and self-compassion cultivate balance here.
This is the center of the rainbow.
💙 Throat Chakra — Vishuddha
Color: Blue
Element: Ether / Space
Affirmation: I speak my truth with clarity, compassion, and confidence.
The throat chakra governs communication and authenticity.
When balanced: clear, honest expression.
When imbalanced: holding things in, feeling unheard, over-explaining to keep the peace.
Softening the jaw, releasing neck tension, journaling, and boundary-setting support this center.
This is the voice of the rainbow.
🔮 Third Eye Chakra — Ajna
Color: Indigo or Purple
Element: Light
Affirmation: I trust my intuition.
The third eye governs perception and insight.
When balanced: intuitive, focused, clear-minded.
When imbalanced: overthinking, mental fog, disconnection from inner guidance.
Meditation and focused concentration (dharana) strengthen this space.
This is the vision of the rainbow.
👑 Crown Chakra — Sahasrara
Color: Violet or Clear
Element: Consciousness
Affirmation: I am connected.
The crown chakra represents spiritual awareness and connection beyond the individual self.
When balanced: peaceful, expansive, trusting.
When imbalanced: disconnection, existential doubt.
Meditation, surrender, and gratitude nourish this center.
This is the light of the rainbow.
🌈 The Pot of Gold
In Irish folklore, the pot of gold sits at the end of the rainbow.
In yoga philosophy, the “gold” isn’t something external — it’s awareness.
The chakra system isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about noticing:
Where you feel grounded.
Where you feel blocked.
Where you feel open.
Where you feel powerful.
And gently bringing attention to what needs care.
Balance doesn’t mean every color shines equally every day. It means you observe with compassion.
This March, as rainbows appear in decorations and skies, remember the one that lives within you.
🌈✨