Exploring the Chakras is interesting. Why is it interesting? Because it alludes to something subtle. It promises an understanding and a depth of perception that might give some secret knowledge on how to get along with life. It’s mystical and occult, which makes it fascinating. But, is there a practical application – a way to work with it so that it is of benefit? There is an abundance of writing out there about the Chakras, and yet there isn’t a definitive system that describes them satisfactorily. It seems that there are as many interpretations of the chakras as there are practitioners. I have to ask myself if offering a chakra workshop seems audacious.
I actually haven’t read the Vedas or the Upanishads, but a Google search says the chakras are in there. By no means am I an expert. I am simply a seeker just like you. I am curious, just like you. I realize that I’ve never had any in-depth dialogue about the chakras with anyone. There have been no mentors to discuss this with. My study of the chakras has been done alone and under cover. It’s funny to share now, but early in my investigation a satirical image of someone who speaks of chakras made an impression on me. They were flighty, flower-children, who taught yoga in beaded bracelets all along their arms, a stone necklace and hemp fabrics around their necks, shaking their bells or incense and a total pot-head. Think, Saturday Night Live yogi character. That image really affected me. I wanted to be taken seriously as a Yoga teacher and that image made me feel embarrassed by my interest. So, I studied in secret, making use of whatever I learned, applying it to my practice and not sharing it with others. As a yoga teacher, one word I for sure did not use in class was the word “chakras”. With such an abstract concept, who was I to tell people where it is and how it affects the body. But mostly, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to be seen as that SNL Yogi.
As I matured and shared bits and pieces with friends, I discovered that I’m not the only one who is into chakras. A LOT of people are interested. Why else would there be SO MANY books about it? The Saturday Night Live impression is one flavor…a sliver of a representation. And, yeah it can be a funny trope. However, it’s a strong image. I still notice that awkward impression that lingers when I talk about the “chakras”.
It wasn’t until last summer’s 200-hour Basic Yoga Teacher Training that I really opened up about what I know so far. One of the tasks as a yoga teacher trainer was to actually count the hours of live instructions to meet the “200 hours” Yoga Alliance requirement. A student was allowed to miss only x amount of hours to be eligible for the diploma. The way we designed our program, the “x hours missed” restriction was becoming an obstacle for some of the students. In response, trainers Nitika Achalam and Rukmini Ando and I took turns offering quick 30 minute segments we called, “How to deepen your practice.” I offered to talk about the chakras, and I didn’t prepare much because, what’s 30 minutes? The students were engaged that evening and that helped me to share more of what I knew, which was more than I had realized. I was able to describe features of each chakras just from memory and even suggest the asanas that can access them. The 30 minutes went by fast. Everyone came with their own knowledge and was happy to share. It was fun to geek out about chakras with people. …but we ran out of time – UGH! We had just scratched the surface!
So, that’s what I want to offer in this workshop. I’m going to share with you what I know so far about the Chakras (colors, location, sound, asana etc.) and give myself enough time for it. Having the workshop in two parts with a week in between, gives us all time to digest and think about the information, before continuing on with the group exploration.
I am excited to indulge in this interest, and I am curious to know how these energies occur to others. I have a personal relationship with the chakras, that has evolved over the years. In fact, in preparation, I am revisiting the chakra books I’ve read and reread and realizing that my understanding has shifted from the books’ perspectives. I must have mashed up all the information I’ve taken in and come up with a perspective of my own. It has become a system of understanding myself that I quietly utilize to sort out parts of my life.
There is an infinite amount of information out there on the chakras, enough so that it would be nearly impossible for one person to get it all. The information I hold wants to be shared, and an odd and silly bias is not going to hold me back anymore. It’s stimulating to be in discussion with those who are just as interested and mystified by the chakras as I am – even the SNL Yogi.
Join Mia for her upcoming 2-part workshop Intro to the Chakras, Saturday, February 4th & 11th from 11 am – 12:30 am PT.
Mia Velez entered the Integral Yoga Sangha in 2016 through the kitchen by helping to cook Thursday community lunches and silent retreat meals. In 2018 she certified as an Integral Yoga teacher to learn more of the IYI approach and be part of the lineage. Mia is a disciple of the Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu lineage and is highly influenced by her martial arts training. After completing her first 200 hour teacher training in 2008, she began to see undeniable parallel in Yoga and Kung Fu. When she began teaching Kung Fu in 2014, she incorporated Yoga insight and principles in her classes. Her goal in teaching is to connect with the students and to facilitate a safe space for exploration and self inquiry. Yoga and Kung Fu is integrated into her daily life as a mother, a preschool teacher, and an advocate for gender, race and class equality through multiple non-profits groups.
