Meditation provides a much-needed succor to the battered mind and soul. This fact is known for centuries to ancient civilizations, like Hindu. However, the Western world has only just realized the potency of meditation as a means towards a healthy physical and meta-physical existence. Chakra Meditation is one of the Meditation methods that is most popular the world over purely because of its simplicity and effectiveness in bringing about a change in anyone?s life.

The Seven Energy Centers and Chakra Meditation.

To put it in simple terms, Chakra Meditation is a method of energizing and bringing into balance the seven energy centers (or Chakras) in order to create an alignment which is conducive to energy flow. The seven Chakras are.

*Root Chakra, also famous as the Base Chakra, is located at the bottom of human spine. It is associated to the ?Earth' constituent, which governs our general health, safety, and richness in life.

*Orange Chakra governing your emotions and sexuality is located at the center of abdomen and related to the element ?Water?.

*Power Chakra, also called the Solar Plexus, is situated just above the naval region. It is related to the ?Fire? element, which governs our will power, metabolism, and autonomy.

*Heart Chakra governing your general relationships, and feelings of love and compassion is located at the center of the chest and related to the element ?Air?.

*Throat Chakra governing your sense of creativity, resonance and communication skills is located at the base of the throat and related to the element ?Sound?.

*The Third Eye Chakra, or Brow Chakra is located between the eyebrows and represents the element "Light". This Chakra controls perception, imagination and related functions.

*The Crown Chakra is located at the top of the head and represents the element "Thought". This is the Chakra which is responsible for wisdom, knowledge and our very consciousness.

You can calm the mind by focusing on these seven important energy centers and synchronizing them. This in turn will result in lower stress and greater contentment. Chakra Meditation can also help to heal any malady which is connected to these seven Chakras.

Chakra Meditation Techniques

Chakra Meditation involves three techniques in this order.

*Grounding Technique, which aims at making the body feel connected with Earth. You just need to visualize a root growing from your body and entering into the Earth. This requires intense focus and mental presence during the act of visualization.

*Centering Technique refers to the process whereby, your body gets prepared to receive the benefits of Chakra Meditation. The actual step involves taking 3-5 deep breaths. And visualization involves the assumption of feeling of relaxation of every body part from toe to head by tightening and relaxing each body part starting from toe, and moving in the northwards direction, till the head. The final act is the visualization of the act of centering a pot on a pottery wheel.

*Relaxation Technique, which is the final step in Chakra Meditation. There is no hard and fast rule to relax your body. Everyone has his or her own method of relaxation.

Here is one of the most common methods of performing Chakra Meditation.

*Sit or lie down comfortably.

*Close your eyes and loosen your clothing. The idea is to be in a natural state without any kind of artificial compulsion on the body and mind.

*Take deep, but natural breaths to help you relax ? just let your body breath naturally and try not to think about it.

*Feel every part of your body from toe to the crown in that direction. Feel the earth you are lying on or the sofa you are seated on, feel the clothes you are wearing. Feel completely present with yourself and relaxed.

*Nearly all the negative thoughts and feelings should not be shunned. Let them be! With time and ordinary practice, these feelings will vanish instinctively. Relatively, when no such negative feeling upsets you that is the time when you should think that you have perfected the knack of Chakra Meditation.

*Feel every subtle inner detail and let your awareness travel freely from one body part to the other.

This exercise can be done at any time of the day and for any duration of time. However, the longer the better!