CROWN CHAKRA (7th Chakra)

The first chakra energy centre located outside the body, and the final stop on our journey is the Crown Chakra.  It's not so much an ending point as it is a new beginning.  From here, you can either choose to journey higher up towards the 8th chakra or go back down through the body to the root chakra in order to manifest ideas into physical form.  The easiest way (though it is anything but easy!) to access this centre is through meditation, so we'll focus on transforming our practice into a moving meditation in order to turn inwards and rise up.

Crown Chakra
Sanskrit	Sahasrara (1,000 petal lotus)
Location	above the top of the head
Color	violet, gold or white
Element	consciousness
Symbol	thousand petal lotus
Purpose	awareness, unity with Divine
Verb	I KNOW
Demon	attachment
Yoga Postures (to support & open centre)	- Tadasana (mountain) - Ardha Padmasana (half lotus) - Salamba Sirsasana (headstand)

Savitri Pranayama (the Rhythmic Breath) to work with the Crown Chakra
*** this breath technique comes from the Gitananda yoga tradition
*** this breath technique uses breath retentions, so should not be practiced by those with hypertension, heart disease, asthma, ulcers or when pregnant.  If you are new to a pranayama practice, breath retentions can be intense, so please STOP if you feel any strain, irritation or cramping.

The best way to open, activate and work with the Crown Chakra is through meditation.  This breath is great to do as a meditation or to begin a meditation practice as it calms the mind and the nervous system.

This technique involves a four-part breath:

• inhale for a count of 6
• hold the breath (with the lungs full) for a count of 3
• exhale for a count of 6
• hold the breath (with the lungs empty) for a count of 3

Continue this pattern for at least 9 rounds.  For a 10-minute audio recording to make this breath into a meditation, you can visit my site by clicking here.

Feel free to connect with any further questions about any of these energy centres.

See you on our mats!

Roxanne