Quick Answer
Chakra Yoga Training is an advanced specialization for yoga teachers. While standard teacher training (200-hour) touches on the subtle body, specialized chakra training teaches you how to diagnose energetic imbalances in students and sequence classes to correct them. It involves learning which asanas stimulate or sedate specific chakras (e.g., backbends for the Heart, standing poses for the Root) and how to weave pranayama, mantra, and meditation into a cohesive "Energy Medicine" practice.
Table of Contents
- Why Teach the Subtle Body?
- Sequencing for the Root (Muladhara)
- Sequencing for the Sacral (Svadhisthana)
- Sequencing for the Solar Plexus (Manipura)
- Sequencing for the Heart (Anahata)
- The Upper Chakras: Meditation & Sound
- Energetic Cueing: Speaking to the Soul
- Practice: Sample Class Theme
- Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
- Ground Down: For anxiety (Root/Vata imbalance), use long holds and standing poses.
- Flow: For rigidity (Sacral/Kapha), use fluid, watery movement (Vinyasa).
- Fire: For low self-esteem (Solar Plexus), use core work and twists.
- Open: For grief (Heart), use chest openers but support them with props (Restorative).
- Tone: Use Bija Mantras (Lam, Vam, Ram) to vibrate the centers physically.
Yoga students often come to class seeking relief from physical pain, but they stay because of the emotional release. As a teacher, understanding the Chakra system allows you to facilitate that release intentionally. Instead of just teaching "Warrior 2," you teach "grounding and stability." Instead of just "Camel Pose," you teach "vulnerability and heart opening."
Chakra Yoga moves beyond biomechanics into bio-energetics. It requires the teacher to hold a safe container for the deep psychological work that arises when we manipulate the body's energy centers. This guide outlines the principles of sequencing for the subtle body.
Why Teach the Subtle Body?
Students today are stressed, ungrounded, and disconnected. A purely physical class might sweat out toxins, but it won't address the root cause of their anxiety.
Teaching the chakras gives students a map for their own healing. It empowers them to say, "I feel ungrounded, so I need to work on my Root," rather than just saying, "I feel bad."
Sequencing for the Root (Muladhara)
Theme: Safety, Trust, Belonging.
Poses: Mountain (Tadasana), Warrior 1 & 2, Malasana (Squat), Tree Pose.
Cueing: "Feel your feet rooting into the earth." "Trust your legs to hold you." "You are safe here."
Pranayama: Equal Breathing (Sama Vritti) for stability.
Sequencing for the Sacral (Svadhisthana)
Theme: Fluidity, Creativity, Pleasure.
Poses: Hip circles, Pigeon, Lizard, Goddess, Cobra.
Cueing: "Move like water." "Let go of rigid lines." "Find what feels good, not what looks good."
Pranayama: Circular breathing.
Sequencing for the Solar Plexus (Manipura)
Theme: Power, Will, Transformation.
Poses: Boat (Navasana), Plank, Twists, Warrior 3.
Cueing: "Ignite your inner fire." "Find your center." "You can do hard things."
Pranayama: Kapalabhati (Breath of Fire).
Sequencing for the Heart (Anahata)
Theme: Love, Compassion, Forgiveness.
Poses: Camel, Wheel, Bridge, Wild Thing, Eagle Arms (to open back of heart).
Cueing: "Lead with your heart." "Inhale love, exhale judgment." "Soften the armor."
Pranayama: Three-part breath (filling the chest).
The Upper Chakras: Meditation & Sound
The upper centers (Throat, Third Eye, Crown) are best accessed through subtler practices.
Throat: Neck rolls, Lion's Breath, Chanting (OM/Hum).
Third Eye: Child's Pose (forehead to mat), Balancing poses (Drishti), Nadi Shodhana.
Crown: Headstand (Sirsasana), Savasana, Silent Meditation.
Energetic Cueing: Speaking to the Soul
Don't just cue the muscle; cue the feeling.
Physical: "Squeeze your glutes."
Energetic: "Draw earth energy up through your legs into your pelvis."
Physical: "Lift your chest."
Energetic: "Shine your heart light forward."
Practice: Sample Class Theme
Theme: "From Roots to Wings"
75-Minute Sequence
- Grounding (10m): Child's Pose, Cat/Cow. (Root).
- Warm Up (15m): Sun Salutations with hip circles. (Sacral).
- Fire (15m): Plank holds, high lunges, twists. (Solar).
- Opening (15m): Backbends (Camel/Bridge). (Heart).
- Cool Down (10m): Shoulder stand or Legs Up Wall. (Throat/Third Eye).
- Savasana (10m): Guided visualization of white light. (Crown).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I teach this without being a Reiki master?
Yes. Chakra yoga works with the body's own energy system. You don't need to channel external energy; you are moving the student's internal energy.
What if a student cries?
Hold space. Do not try to "fix" it. Offer a tissue. Say, "It's safe to let go." Suggest Child's Pose. Crying is a release of the Heart/Sacral chakras.
Should I use music?
Yes. Drums for Root/Sacral. Flutes for Heart. Bells/Silence for Crown. Music helps entrain the brainwaves.
Teacher's Toolkit
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Shop Sound BowlsYour Journey Continues
Teaching Chakra Yoga is a profound responsibility. You are guiding students not just into their bodies, but into their souls. By sequencing with intention, you create a transformative experience that ripples out far beyond the mat.