Opening the Seven Main Chakras

The word Chakra stems from the word Cakra, which is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel. The seven main Chakras, according to Hindu traditions, are energy fields that are aligned with the spine, from the bottom or base of the spine to the top of the head. Each chakra is associated with a certain color and elements of the earth, such as fire and water and influences the behavior of the body and consciousness.

When opening chakras, it is a good idea to open the chakras in order. For example, the root chakra is the first chakra and is associated with the color red.

Practice mindfulness by focusing in on the here and now. Try not to think of the past or the future, but think of the present. Generally, the root chakra should be open or in balance before attempting to open other chakras.

The root chakra "grounds" us to the earth energies. It basically brings us back to earth whenever we find our minds wondering. The root chakra influences our spine, kidneys, legs, and immune system. A dysfunction in this chakra will result in back problems, depression and immune system disorders. It is located between the anus and the sex organs.

Chakras can also be opened by practicing chakra meditation called Mudras or special hand positions and chanting. To use this method to open the root chakra, touch the tips of your thumbs to the tips of your index fingers. Since the root chakra is located at the base of your spine, concentrate on that area, which is between the genitals and the anus and chant out loud the sound LAM. Do this for seven to 10 breaths and chant several times with each breath. The Mudras will send energy to that particular chakra and the sound will resonate through the body. Use the same breathing techniques in opening any or all of the chakras.

The second chakra is referred to as the Sacral Chakra or Spleen Chakra and is located in the abdomen, sexual organs and lower back. Its color is orange. The sacral chakra is associated with the element of water and influences the emotions and sexuality. It is the energy that helps us deal with control issues, creativity, sexuality issues and our connections to lovers and friends. If the sacral chakra is out of balance, we may experience being overly emotional or overly sexual as well as the opposite emotions.

To open the sacral chakra, sit in a comfortable position and put your hands, palms up in your lap. The left hand should be underneath the right and the back of your right fingers touching the left palm. The thumbs should be slightly touching also. Chant the sound VAM.

A well balanced sacral chakra will allow us to feel confident. Our feelings flow freely without extreme emotionality.

The third chakra is the Solar Plexus Chakra or the Navel Chakra and is associated with the element of fire. It is located at the Solar Plexus, near the navel. Its color is yellow. It is the energy center regulating our personal power and self-will. When balanced, this chakra helps us to become energized and exercise our power without being overly dominating. To open the solar plexus chakra, put your hands together with the palms together and fingers extended outward near the center of your stomach, fingers pointing out with thumbs crossed. Focus on your spine in the area slightly above your navel. Chant the sound of RAM.

The fourth chakra is the Heart Chakra and is associated with the element of air. Its color is green and it is located at the center of your spine, between the breasts close to the heart.
The heart chakra influences love, ego and self-acceptance. When the heart chakra is balanced, it gives us the ability to love deeply and integrates the opposites in the psyche such as mind-body and unification of the ego. To open the heart chakra, sit cross legged or what is known as "Indian style" and touch the tips of your fingers to the thumb. Place your left hand on your left knee, (with index fingers and thumb touching) and place your right hand at the lower part of your breast bone. Focus on the chakra at the spine level with your heart. Chant the sound of YAM.

The fifth chakra is the Throat Chakra associated with sound. Its color is light blue and it is located in the throat. It is associated with communication and creativity. To open the throat chakra, cross your fingers on the inside of your hands, like forming an O. Let the tips of your thumbs touch and pull them up slightly above the hands. Focus on the throat and chant the sound of HAM.

The sixth chakra is the Brow Chakra or the Third Eye Chakra. It is associated with light, introspection, self-awareness and lets us be open to our psyche and the intuitive part of our mind. It is the third eye that allows us to be intuitive. Its color is indigo and is located at the middle of the forehead. To open the brow chakra, focus on the location of the brow chakra, between the eyes and place your hands just below the lower part of your breasts. Your middle fingers are pointing up and touching while the other fingers are bent and touching and the thumbs point towards you while touching. Chant the sound of OM or -AUM.

The seventh chakra is the Crown Chakra. It is associated with thought and self-knowledge and awareness of the universe. The crown chakra relates to pure awareness and is located at the top of the head. When balanced the crown chakra allows us to obtain wisdom as well as gaining a spiritual connection to the universe. Its color is white although some times it is seen as light purple as well. To open the crown chakra, place your hands before your stomach and point your ring fingers up and touching. Intertwine the other fingers with the left thumb under the right. Chant the sound NG.
By: Conrad Raw

Natural Remedies To Increase Stamina Levels And Energy

Energy and stamina are essential to human beings in recharging when it is constantly drained. Eight-hour sleep and eight glasses of water a day can help you restore your stamina and energy. To increase the stamina and energy level, you can do it through exercising for at least 30 minutes a day for women and at least one hour for men in a day. Natural remedies to increase stamina levels and energy are tips listed below to ensure that it help you gain more levels of stamina and energy.

Do Diaphragmatic breathing. Qi (Chi) is another Chinese term for energy. It is one of the significant ways to make is deep breathing. There are reasons why our breathing do not goes down to our lungs, are because of a snug waistline, poor posture, stress and habits. Belly breathing is an easiest way to augment our energy and develop our stamina. It is also known as diaphragmatic breathing. Belly breathing may help to increase your energy and stamina and it is used as flattering therapy for nervousness disorders.

Have a good quality sleep at night. The most important hours that you take, a good sleep is about ten in the evening until six in the morning. The human body works 24 hours a day especially our digestion so there is a need for us to rest in a regular basis. Growth hormone is a restorative hormone in which eighty percent of growth hormone is veiled during sleep at about 11 pm and 1 am and it is also much needed for strong skin, optimum immune functions and lean muscles.

Get rid of energy drainers in your diet. Natural remedies to increase stamina levels and energy are having getting rid of excess sugar and too much intake of caffeine. Instead, try to take one teaspoon of a greens powder and mix it with juice, and do it as a daily habit. Alkaline diet emphasizes the use of fresh fruits vegetables roots and tubers nuts and legumes. Drinking water regularly can also improve your stamina level and energy. Try to eat nuts and almonds as a habit to heighten your energy and stamina.

Have at least 20 minutes just for yourself everyday. Better make yourself relaxed and even thinking is not allowed, just read books, meditate, listen to music, and attempt to have a new yoga sham. Relaxations are one of the natural remedies to increase stamina levels and energy.

Take a stress multivitamins as other natural remedies to increase stamina levels and energy. With stressful people needs more vitamins B complex. Stress multivitamins has many B vitamins than a typical multivitamins. Standard multivitamin such as B-50 B are available as a supplement. Urine can turn into a bright yellow if you intake B-2 in B complex.By: Jeramey Thompson

Liver Problems - What are the Symptoms?

Liver problems can range from mild liver congestion to a serious liver disease. Depending on the problem, many people are unaware they have a liver problem and may only have vague symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is chronic tiredness. These people generally feel lethargic and sluggish during the day, especially in the morning.
Due to the fact that the liver is one of the hardest working organs in the body and has many roles, there are a number of problems that can occur with the liver. The three main categories these problems fall into are:
1. Disease of the liver cells
2. Problems producing or secreting bile
3. Problems with detoxification
How do you know if you have a liver problem?
Tests are available through standard pathology labs that measure liver enzymes, total protein, albumin and bilirubin. Although these tests are called liver 'function' tests, they indicate whether the liver is damaged rather than how it is functioning. In other words, they are used to detect liver diseases, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis as well as liver cells being damaged from viruses, bacteria, alcohol, drugs and so on. These tests are not useful in detecting mild problems with liver congestion and sluggish detoxification. This is best done by observing your symptoms. However, it is important to consult your practitioner and have the tests performed anyway, just to rule out the possibility of liver disease.
An ultrasound can detect if there is a blockage in the bile duct. This is most commonly caused by the presence of gallstones in the biliary duct. It is estimated that around 10-20% of people over 40 years of age have gallstones and their presence is linked to a high fat, low fibre diet. The presence of gallstones in the bile duct typically causes nausea and pain. Bile flow can also be impaired through the liver, however this can be difficult to detect with standard testing.
General symptoms that can indicate a liver problem

Feel tired and unrefreshed when you wake up

Energy levels fluctuate throughout the day, with your tiredness becoming worse around mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon

Difficulty losing weight

Frequent headaches

Bad breath, digestive problems, bloating, gas, indigestion

Allergies and intolerances to foods that are worsening as time goes on

Reactions to many chemicals including cleaning products, petrol, paint, perfumes, bleaches, et

Problems digesting fatty/creamy/oily foods. They can make you feel unwell, nauseous or cause heart burn and reflux

A yellowish tinge to the skin, eyes and palms of the hand

Reactions to drugs, in particular headache tablets, antibiotics and anti-histamines

An intolerance to alcohol. Either you get drunk very quickly or you have bad hangovers that are out of proportion to the amount of alcohol you have drunk

Caffeine gives you a strong buzz and can keep you awake for hours

When you eat asparagus, you have a funny smell in your urine

Skin problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, general rashes, itchy skin

Hot flushes that feel as if they rise up from the torso towards the head

You frequently wake up around 1-3am in the morning

Please note: The information in this article is not intended to take the place of a personal relationship with a qualified health practitioner nor is it intended as medical advice.

By Alison Cassar

The Benefits of Aloe Vera Products For Anti Aging: How To Use Aloe Vera To Help Prevent Anti Aging

Discover the secrets to anti aging and how to feel younger! Delay the signs of aging! Help reduce your wrinkles and fine lines! You aren't ready, don't fancy or can't afford costly cosmetic surgery! You can't compete with the youngsters anymore and feel a bit jaded, not much energy! Be the right weight for your body, whether that be losing or gaining a few pounds or more!

Take a look at The Benefits of Aloe Vera Products!

Completely natural, made from 100% pure Aloe Vera! You will be amazed at what this plant can do for you!!

Do you know what Aloe Vera is? Have you heard of it? Well, it looks like a cactus but is actually a member of the lily/onion family. The Barbadensis Miller, which is the main variety for making products, is one of over 200 varieties of this wonderful plant. It grows in Semi Arid conditions and needs to be at least 4 - 6 years old before being harvested.

Only the pure, inner leaf gel should be used as the outer skin contains alloin which can cause stomach upsets. It needs to be stabilised to ensure that the benefits of the Aloe Vera remain consistent in the products.

Did you know that you can drink Aloe Vera? It isn't sold for it's taste, but what product usually is if it's good for you? The drink will tackle everything from the inside: balancing your immune system, relieving symptoms of many health issues from IBS to Crohns disease, Asthma to Eczema, Arthritis to Cystitis! It can help to increase your energy levels, improve the appearance of your skin, hair and nails, also help you sleep better, helping the anti-aging process so you feel and look younger. It contains 75 active ingredients and 20 of the 21 Amino Acids that our bodies require. A standard 60 ml dose also contains 2 of your five-a-day. What a fantastic way of feeling younger!

Many other products can be made using Aloe Vera. They are all natural, without herbicides, pesticides, insecticides and GM Free! What could be better for you? It was once referred to as "The Burns Plant". because of it's fantastic effect on relieving burns and aiding skin to repair quicker than using products containing chemicals. It is now referred to as "The Miracle Plant" because more uses for this plant are being discovered all the time.

You can change from your usual products such as deodorant, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and conditioner without any extra cost, knowing that you will not be subjecting yourself to: Aluminium Salts and Fluoride.

What about Beauty Products? Did you know that Aloe Vera is an adaptogen? This means that you do not have to keep changing your beauty regime as your skin changes because the aloe does it all for you!! It plumps up the skin cells, reaching down to the dermis layer of your skin as it contains a product called lignin and this allows that to happen giving your skin a much younger look and aiding the anti aging process.

Of course, you need to ensure that you are using the best possible Aloe Vera Products available.

By Alison Wainwright