7 Chakra Imbalance Symptoms: Energetic, Physical, And Emotional

Did you know that your chronic fatigue or sinus issues could be a physical manifestation of an energetic problem? Or that knee pain can come from feeling a lack of safety or security? Don’t roll your eyes, because it’s true! When you’ve got chakra imbalances it not only affects your energetic body, but your emotional and physical body as well. Keep reading to learn how these energy centers show imbalance and things you can do to help.

Understanding Chakra Imbalances

In order to understand chakra imbalance symptoms you need to understand the chakras and the qualities associated with each one. So let’s break down this fascinating energy system by looking at each energy center individually.

1. Root Chakra – Muladhara

The root chakra sits right at the base of your spine, on your coccyx, think of Muladhara as the base or root of your whole chakra system — it supplies prana to the rest of the body, mind and spirit. In Sanskrit then first chakra, Muladhara chakra, means “support” or “pillar”. It’s said that half of the root chakra is outside of the body, grounding you into the earth. This is where Kundalini energy begins and enters the body. 

• Sanskrit meaning: “Root Support” 
• Color: Red. Red has the densest vibration of all the colors, and is the most stimulating. It immediately pulls your attention; think of how you feel when you see a stop light, or blood. The root chakra signals warnings and dangers immediately, and we act accordingly. It is life force, courage, and vitality. 
• Key themes: Basic survival. Fight or flight, instinct, stability, material safety, trust, and security. The root chakra also impacts our passion, physical strength, and sexuality. 

2. Sacral Chakra – Svadhisthana

Located just above the sexual organs and beneath the navel, right above the root chakra, the sacral chakra is the center of your creative and joyful experiences. The root chakra gives you the stability to explore, and the sacral chakra is the joy and enthusiasm that drives you to do it. The svadhisthana chakra transforms the root chakra’s earth energy and uses it for creativity and pleasure. It is a feminine, flexible, vital energy connected to your feelings of bliss — but not just hedonism! Too much of a good thing can be irritating; even destructive. The sacral chakra also connects you to inner wisdom, stillness and personal development, as well. 

• Sanskrit meaning: “Your own seat,” or “One’s own place.” 
• Color: Orange. Orange is enthusiastic, joyful, and the color of vitality and strength. It is equally red and yellow (rooted and powerful). It is sensual and associated with Tantra, the practice of moving kundalini energy up the spinal column to attain enlightened states. 
• Key Themes: Water, procreation, sensuality, creative expression, compassion, pleasure, gut feelings, and wisdom. The sacral chakra is healing and compassionate. 

3. Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura

The third chakra, ManiPura chakra, or solar plexus, is the seat of the power that you walk with through the world and the primary source of your personal and professional success. It is your willpower and self-control, self respect, and respect for others. The solar plexus chakra is also associated with your ability to know yourself — your personality — and feel confident in how you walk through the world. The solar plexus chakra is located in the belly, just below the heart. 

• Sanskrit meaning: “Jewel city” 
• Color: Yellow. The strength of yellow shines bright like the uncovered sun, and illuminates the “I” — your sense of self. 
• Key Themes: Self-esteem, inner fire. Willpower, and a driving force. Like an engine that is humming. Leaving your mark on the world. Optimism, youth, intellect, and compassionate warmth.

4. Heart Chakra – Anahata

The heart chakra is the center of your being. It is the one chakra that connects the three lower physical-emotional main chakras to the three higher mental and spiritual main chakras, where they can be transformed and integrated into a higher vibration. It is where we vibrate with love, not only for our personal relationships, but for all beings.

• Sanskrit meaning: “Unhurt,” unstruck, immaculate, unspoiled.
• Color: Green. The color of life; naturally calming, healing, and supportive.
• Key Themes: Love. Openness, self-acceptance, self compassion, and the acceptance of others. Empathy resides in this chakra, and selfless love for all beings.

5. Throat Chakra – Vishuddha

The throat chakra asks us to vibrate higher; to synthesize, create, and express thoughts and feelings. It is conscious creation, as opposed to the orange creation that happens without consciousness.

The throat chakra is how we express who we are to the world. The Sanskrit word “Vishuddi” means “especially pure,” pointing to how this chakra vibrates highest when it’s unbound, honest, and without reservation.

• Sanskrit meaning: “Especially pure”
• Color: Blue. The blue, unclouded sky of pure existence. Blissful, clear, calm, and true, blue is where things slow down and you can listen to the still waters within for the truth.
• Key Themes: Communication, listening, expression of the self, how we understand and are understood. Independence, truth.

6. Third Eye Chakra – Ajna

The third eye chakra is our connection to the spiritual world. It vibrates with the esoteric, spiritual phenomena that can become available to you once all of the lower chakras are clear and activated. Ajna brings deeper understanding of things; insights and connections that are always there but not always sensed.

• Sanskrit meaning: “knowledge”
• Color: Indigo, also called royal blue, is the color of night — there is a depth of awakening and change in this color that connects us to space and time.
• Key Themes: Intuition, insight, “sixth sense,” psychic abilities, self knowledge, imagination.

7. Crown Chakra – Sahasrara

The crown chakra, also known as the crown lotus, or the thousand-petaled lotus, is the most subtle of the chakras. Located at the top of the head, where a crown would sit, near to the cerebral cortex. It is the culmination of awakening Kundalini energy in all the chakras, which rises up the spine to the crown chakra and causes spiritual awakening.

• Sanskrit meaning: “Thousand-Petaled”
• Color: Violet, the highest vibrating color, is one of magic, purification, and mystery that brings together the polarities of the world. This chakra is also associated with white and gold.
• Key Themes: Cosmic awareness, higher consciousness, faith, spiritual power, connectedness to all beings.

You can go so much deeper with this energy system in my 300-hr Yoga Teacher Training where you’ll be taught by world renowned expert Anodea Judith!!

Chakra Imbalance Symptoms

When it comes to imbalance you may not always be able to pinpoint a singular cause. Blockages or imbalance can be caused by any type of disturbance to the mind, the body, or the spirit. This could include a physical ailment, like a flu, or an emotionally traumatic event, like the death of a loved one. But, it can even be as simple as excessive life stress or just the growing pains of life.

Now you’re probably wondering how you can tell which energy center is out of balance and why? Here are some physical and emotional symptoms of chakra imbalance for the seven major chakras to help you troubleshoot:

1. Root Chakra – Muladhara

• Laziness, narcissism, and existential dread. 
• Negative energy, over-worrying, rage and resentment build. 
• You may find yourself clinging to those who project a sense of safety. 

Physical issues might include:

• Colon pain, constipation, sciatica, lower back pain, hemorrhoids, prostate issues, or menstrual cramps.
• Knee pain, degenerative arthritis. Feeling heavy, chronic fatigue, lethargic, or tired. 

2. Sacral Chakra – Svadhisthana

• Poor boundaries, especially sexual ones, are a big red flag of an imbalanced sacral chakra. 
• Lack of control around your sexual urges, or, extremely repressed about sex and your body. 
• Jealousy, fear, sexual dysfunction, obsessive or strong emotions and attachments, or feeling detached from one’s soul or self.

Physical symptoms might include: 

• Urinary problems, kidney dysfunctions, sexual and reproductive issues.
• Mood swings, addictions, rigidity or restrictive movement. 

3. Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura

• Fear transformed into pent up aggression, needing the last word, and competing with others in an unbalanced way. 
• Poor sleep and you often feel stressed and have nightmares. 
• Blaming others for your failures or bad luck, stubborn, dominant, and manipulative. 
• Criticism causes you to spiral into obsessive worry and anger.

Other physical symptoms include:

• If deficient: poor digestive fire or digestive problems, low energy/chronic fatigue, attraction to stimulants
• If excessive: aggression, hyperactivity, attraction to sedatives. 
• Liver dysfunction, eating disorders, stomach ulcers.

4. Heart Chakra – Anahata

• Loneliness and isolation, dysfunctional relationships (jealousy, criticizing, fear of rejection), and/or co-dependence and clinginess. 
• Intellectualizing problems and criticizing or cruelty.
• Fear of intimacy and withdrawing, overly self sacrificing/poor boundaries or narcissistic qualities. 

Physical issues associated with heart chakra:

• Lung disease, lowered immune system leading to colds and flus.
• High blood pressure and respiratory problems, heart palpitations, poor circulation, upper back and shoulder pain.

5. Throat Chakra – Vishuddha

• Fear of speaking out, shyness, feeling embarrassed or confused.
• Hard time putting feelings into words, poor rhythm, poor listening/dominating conversations. 
• Alternatively, lying, verbally abusing, and gossiping are signs of an overstimulated chakra.

Physical problems could include: 

• Thyroid issues, TMJ, laryngitis, teeth and gum problems, ear infections, sore throats and neck stiffness.

6. Third Eye Chakra – Ajna

• Lack of perspective, problematic priorities, lack of imagination. 
• Difficulty concentrating or retaining information, dualistic thinking or being stuck in one “truth.” 
• At its worst, a blocked Ajna chakra can lead to sociopathy and delusions.

Physical issues may include:

• Blurred vision, headaches, memory problems.

7. Crown Chakra – Sahasrara

• Detachment from reality, mental disorders, greed, and overwhelm are common. 
• When the other chakras have not been developed, bringing energy to this chakra can cause extreme problems: spiritual crisis, disinterest in living, fragmentation, addiction and/or cognitive delusions.

Physical Symptoms associated with the crown chakra:

• Learning disabilities and a disconnect from the body.

Balancing Chakras

Now that you’ve read through the chakra imbalance symptoms you’re probably like, “ugh, I’m totally not balanced in my (insert chakra here)”. So, how do you get those chakras balanced? First, remember, the chakras all work together, so just trying to correct one chakra imbalance might not be the best idea and it’s best to work with the system as a whole.

That said, here’s a list of what each chakra should look like when balanced and how you can bring yourself back to homeostasis whether you are excessive(too much energy) or deficient(not enough energy), or even a little bit of both.

1. Root Chakra – Muladhara

When your root chakra is in balance you feel a vital prana, strong will power, persistence, and endurance. You will feel a connection with earth and nature, and a sense of self-preservation. Things are in order, and you feel economic, mental, physical, and spiritual stability.

Take it a step further and do this entire root chakra series in the Uplifted membership.

2. Sacral Chakra – Svadhisthana

With a balanced Svadhisthana creativity is at full force. You have a healthy attitude about sexuality and your body, and feel accepting of others and compassionate to their flaws. There is curiosity and desire, and an independence in looking for these things. You are vibrant, optimistic, and playful.

This sacral chakra minicourse can help too!!

3. Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura

You know manipura is balanced when you are developing your talents and asserting yourself with balance and mercy. You know yourself well and trust yourself. You are confident and hold inner worth. You keep a good diet and exercise often, and feel strong, autonomous, and free.

Stoke the fire with the solar plexus chakra course in Uplifted!

4. Heart Chakra – Anahata

Others are welcomed in and accepted for who they are when your heart chakra is in balance. You have a balance in self-love and love for others. Empathy, wisdom, feelings of interconnectedness, friendliness, and emotional balance rule.

Look into this heart chakra Uplifted course as well.

5. Throat Chakra – Vishuddha

Balanced Vishuddha creates ease in communicating your needs, but also who you are. You have a strong voice, decisions and consequences are understood, and there is balance in when you listen and when you express yourself.

I have this amazing throat chakra course to help you find balance as well.

6. Third Eye Chakra – Ajna

A balanced Ajna chakra cultivates feelings of wisdom, inner guidance, peace, spiritual awakening and awareness. You might feel closer to Spirit, and closer to your Self. It’s easy to sort the significant from the insignificant, creating intuitive knowledge and understanding.

Learn more about how the third eye chakra and how to balance it in Uplifted.

7. Crown Chakra – Sahasrara

When you balance your crown chakra you transcend all dualism and are spiritually free. You feel joy and are in connection with all beings and the universe; there is no separation. Your chakras are spinning freely and prana is flowing through your body, and you feel deep wisdom and a connection with the Divine.

This crown chakra course has everything you need to know.

Prevention and Maintenance

When your energetic body is in balance and energy is free flowing through your system you can move through life with ease. You become who you were truly meant to be. Who wouldn’t want that? This is why it’s important to create balance. You can do this with your daily practice. 

Start by incorporating some yogic lifestyle practices into your daily routine. Journal and do mindfulness practices to keep your awareness open so you can sense when things are getting out of balance. Maintain a strong daily practice, using yoga, meditation, self reflection, chanting, maybe even a gratitude journal.

At the very least you can incorporate this meditation into your daily practice: The 7 Chakras Alignment Guided Meditation for Beginners | Chakra Balancing and Healing (30-min)

Final Thoughts

There are so many ways to balance your chakras, from chakra yoga to bija mantras. You can learn how to harness life-force energy to support you, your emotional well-being, and your goals. Once you know how to hack the chakra system, come into your personal power and create balance your WHOLE WORLD opens up in ways you could have never imagined.