FOR a serious practitioner of yoga, the knowledge of the 'Chakra' system in the body is of paramount importance.

The literary meaning of the word chakra is spinning wheel and in yoga it refers to psychic vortexes of energy aligned along the spine.

The presence of these dynamos of power in the body has been validated scientifically with modern instruments that measure bio-thermal and electrical activities in the body and photographic equipment that capture auras.

The seven major 'chakras' are Muladhar, the root chakra on the pelvic plexus; Swadhisthan, the sacral chakra on the hypogastric plexus; Manipur, the navel chakra on the epigastric plexus; Anahat, the heart chakra on the cardiac or solar plexus; Vishuddhi, the throat chakra on the carotid plexus; Adnya, the brow chakra on the medulla plexus; and Sahasrar, the crown chakra on the cerebral plexus.

Aligned along the various plexuses and placed above the ductless glands these energy centres gather and distribute energy in the body.

Ideally the chakras spin and draw in the universal life force energy called Pran to keep the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health of the body in balance.

But as we live in stressful unnatural conditions regulated by social mores, family upbringing, limited mindset and preconditioned bigoted views, the efficiency of the charkas is effected.

When these spinning wheels in the body get congested the flow of energy also slows down leading to blockages that become areas of discomfort in the body leading to disease.

So the physical manifestation of the disease is the last stage of the ailment which has been present in the mental or emotional body for much longer.

For example, constantly feeling the weight of responsibility at work or at home and letting it effect you may very well lead to continued stress in the shoulder muscles developing into the condition of spondilitis.

Similarly, high pressure at workplace, anxiety about deadlines, meeting ever expanding targets at work can, if unchecked, lead to ulcers, indigestion or chronic stomach problems.

The practice of yoga helps in diffusing such situations by making the practitioner tap the inner source of strength.

Though you may not be able to change the external conditions, you change the way you react to the circumstances.

A complete yoga programme will include exercises for balancing and activation of the charkas. Rather than treating only the physical body for a disease, a yoga teacher helps the practitioner to heal holistically. As the chakras are awakened and activated, you will realise that the spring of joy and happiness is within you.