Each chakra with its Sanskrit name, location on the body, element, color, seed mantra and petal count — plus the poses, breaths and mudra the site pairs with it.
A chakra (Sanskrit: "wheel") is one of the energy centres that yogic tradition places along the spine, from the base to the crown. The classical seven-chakra system comes from medieval Hatha and Tantric texts; the rainbow colours are a modern (20th-century) convention. This chart lists the seven as they are taught in most yoga classes today, with the breath, poses and hand mudra this site pairs with each one.
| # | Chakras | Location | Element | Color | Seed mantra (bija) | Petals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 |  | Crown Chakra Sahasrara | crown of the head | consciousness (beyond the elements) | violet / white | ॐ silence (or OM) | 1,000 |
| 6 |  | Third Eye Chakra Ajna | between the eyebrows | light / mind (beyond the five elements) | indigo | ॐ OM | 2 |
| 5 |  | Throat Chakra Vishuddha | throat | space (ether) | blue | हं HAM | 16 |
| 4 |  | Heart Chakra Anahata | centre of the chest | air | green | यं YAM | 12 |
| 3 |  | Solar Plexus Chakra Manipura | navel, solar plexus | fire | yellow | रं RAM | 10 |
| 2 |  | Sacral Chakra Svadhisthana | lower abdomen, below the navel | water | orange | वं VAM | 6 |
| 1 |  | Root Chakra Muladhara | base of the spine, perineum | earth | red | लं LAM | 4 |
root to crown: 1 → 7
Mūlādhāra · root support
Practice focus: Feet, legs and the floor under you — standing and grounding work.
Svādhiṣṭhāna · one's own dwelling
Practice focus: Hips and pelvis — hip openers and flowing movement.
Maṇipūra · city of jewels
Practice focus: Core and abdomen — twists, boat pose and heating breath.
Anāhata · unstruck (sound)
Practice focus: Chest and upper back — backbends and chest openers.
Viśuddha · especially pure
Practice focus: Neck and throat — shoulder stand, fish pose, humming and chanted breath.
Ājñā · command, perceive
Practice focus: Forehead to the floor and steady gaze — forward folds, child's pose, alternate-nostril breathing.
Sahasrāra · thousand-petalled
Practice focus: Crown on or toward the floor and seated stillness — headstand for the experienced, meditation seat for everyone.
From root to crown: Root Chakra (Muladhara), Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana), Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura), Heart Chakra (Anahata), Throat Chakra (Vishuddha), Third Eye Chakra (Ajna), Crown Chakra (Sahasrara).
The Root Chakra (Muladhara) is located at the base of the spine, perineum. Its element is earth, its color is red and its seed mantra is LAM.
The Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana) is located at the lower abdomen, below the navel. Its element is water, its color is orange and its seed mantra is VAM.
The Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) is located at the navel, solar plexus. Its element is fire, its color is yellow and its seed mantra is RAM.
The Heart Chakra (Anahata) is located at the centre of the chest. Its element is air, its color is green and its seed mantra is YAM.
Root red, sacral orange, solar plexus yellow, heart green, throat blue, third eye indigo, crown violet or white — a modern rainbow convention, not a scriptural one.