When we think about chakras, most of us focus on the seven major ones running along the front of our body—from the Root Chakra at the base to the Crown Chakra at the top of our head. But did you know there’s a whole other side to your energetic body? That’s right! I’m talking about the Back Chakras—the often-overlooked energy centers that run parallel to the main chakras along the spine.
Think of these Back Chakras as the “shadow side” of your energetic system. They are crucial for maintaining balance, resilience, and strength in both your body and spirit. Today, let’s explore the unique role of the Back Chakras, how they influence your overall well-being, and what you can do to activate and balance them.
Ready to discover this hidden powerhouse within? Let’s dive in!
What you will learn >
The Back Chakras: What Are They?
The Back Chakras mirror the seven main chakras but are located along the spine on the backside of the body. While the front-facing chakras are all about expression, interaction, and outward energy, the Back Chakras are your support system—they are about resilience, protection, and inner strength.
Picture this: if your front chakras are the engine driving you forward, your Back Chakras are the protective shield and fuel tank, keeping you steady and secure as you navigate life’s ups and downs.
Each Back Chakra corresponds to its front-facing counterpart but has its unique functions and energies. When balanced, these chakras provide a sense of deep support, courage, and inner fortitude. When blocked or imbalanced, however, they can manifest as physical pain, emotional burdens, or a feeling of being stuck in life.
The Role of Back Chakras: Why Should We Care?
You might be wondering, “Why focus on Back Chakras when I’m already working on balancing the main ones?” Great question!
The Back Chakras serve several essential roles:
- Energy Reserve and Resilience: Think of them as the batteries for your chakra system. They provide backup energy when you’re depleted and offer resilience in challenging times.
- Emotional and Energetic Support: These chakras hold the energy of past experiences, both positive and negative. They help us process and integrate these experiences into wisdom and strength.
- Protection and Shielding: The Back Chakras act as a shield, protecting you from negative influences and maintaining a strong energetic boundary.
Simply put, while the front chakras deal with how we express and engage with the world, the Back Chakras are about how we hold ourselves up, how we support our own journey, and how we protect our sacred energy.
Exploring Each Back Chakra: Functions and Signs of Imbalance
Let’s take a closer look at each Back Chakra, starting from the base of the spine and moving upwards, to understand their unique functions and how they influence our lives.
1. Back Root Chakra (Muladhara)
The Back Root Chakra is located at the base of your spine, around the tailbone, on the back side of your body. While the front Root Chakra is about grounding and survival, the Back Root Chakra represents your strength and endurance—the ability to stand strong in the face of adversity.
- Function: Provides foundational support and a sense of stability. It’s the energy of “having your back” in life—literally and figuratively.
- Signs of Imbalance: Lower back pain, sciatica, a sense of instability, feeling unsupported or fearful about the future.
Recent studies show that psychological stress and feelings of insecurity can manifest as chronic lower back pain (Deyo, 2002). This connection underscores the importance of balancing the Back Root Chakra to maintain both physical and emotional resilience.
2. Back Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
Moving up the spine, the Back Sacral Chakra is located in the lower back area. While the front Sacral Chakra governs creativity and emotional expression, the Back Sacral Chakra deals with emotional resilience and processing—how we handle past emotional wounds and traumas.
- Function: Acts as an emotional reservoir, helping you to process emotions from the past and turn them into personal power.
- Signs of Imbalance: Lower back tension, stiffness, emotional numbness, difficulty letting go of past emotional pain.
Research in psychoneuroimmunology suggests that unresolved emotions can be stored in the body and contribute to physical symptoms, like chronic pain or tension in the lower back (Pert, 1999). Balancing the Back Sacral Chakra helps release these stored emotions and promotes emotional well-being.
3. Back Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
The Back Solar Plexus Chakra is located in the middle of the back, behind the diaphragm. While the front Solar Plexus Chakra is about personal power and confidence, the Back Solar Plexus Chakra focuses on inner strength and self-acceptance—your ability to stand tall and firm in who you are, even when the world tries to knock you down.
- Function: Provides inner fortitude and the ability to stay strong in your convictions, even in the face of criticism or doubt.
- Signs of Imbalance: Upper back pain, lack of confidence, fear of criticism, inability to stand up for oneself.
Studies in psychology show that self-acceptance and resilience are key factors in maintaining mental health and overcoming adversity (Neff, 2011). Strengthening the Back Solar Plexus Chakra can enhance these traits, helping you feel more empowered and less susceptible to external negativity.
4. Back Heart Chakra (Anahata)
The Back Heart Chakra is located in the middle of the back, between the shoulder blades. Unlike the front Heart Chakra, which is all about giving and receiving love, the Back Heart Chakra is about self-love, self-care, and emotional protection.
- Function: Acts as an emotional shield, allowing you to protect your heart without closing it off entirely. It helps you set boundaries while remaining open to love.
- Signs of Imbalance: Upper back pain, shoulder tension, difficulty forgiving oneself, overprotection of emotions.
Studies on self-compassion and emotional health show that cultivating self-love and forgiveness is crucial for emotional well-being (Neff, 2011). Balancing the Back Heart Chakra can help create a safe space for emotional healing and self-acceptance.
5. Back Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
The Back Throat Chakra is located at the base of the neck on the back side. While the front Throat Chakra deals with communication and expression, the Back Throat Chakra is about authenticity and inner truth—staying true to yourself, even when it’s not easy.
- Function: Encourages authentic self-expression and protects against self-censorship or the suppression of one’s truth.
- Signs of Imbalance: Neck pain, stiffness, fear of expressing true feelings, a tendency to stay silent.
Communication studies suggest that expressing one’s truth authentically is linked to higher self-esteem and overall life satisfaction (Rosenberg & Owen, 2001). Balancing the Back Throat Chakra can support this authentic expression.
6. Back Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
The Back Third Eye Chakra is located at the back of the head, behind the Third Eye. While the front Third Eye Chakra is about intuition and perception, the Back Third Eye Chakra governs mental clarity and discernment—the ability to see through illusions and stay focused on what’s real.
- Function: Provides mental focus and protects against confusion or clouded judgment. It enhances clarity and the ability to stay grounded in reality.
- Signs of Imbalance: Headaches, neck tension, mental fog, difficulty concentrating, indecisiveness.
Neuroscience research shows that practices like mindfulness meditation can improve cognitive clarity and reduce mental fog (Zeidan et al., 2010). Balancing the Back Third Eye Chakra can further enhance these benefits.
7. Back Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
Finally, we have the Back Crown Chakra, located at the back of the head, at the crown. While the front Crown Chakra is about spiritual connection and enlightenment, the Back Crown Chakra provides spiritual support and grounding—anchoring spiritual experiences into everyday life.
- Function: Acts as a spiritual anchor, helping you stay grounded while reaching for higher consciousness.
- Signs of Imbalance: Dizziness, feelings of disconnection, spiritual overwhelm, or a sense of being “lost.”
Studies on grounding and spirituality show that maintaining a balance between spiritual experiences and grounded practices is essential for mental and emotional health (Koenig, 2012). The Back Crown Chakra helps you find that balance.
How to Activate and Balance the Back Chakras
Now that we’ve explored the unique role of each Back Chakra, let’s talk about how to keep them healthy, balanced, and strong. Here are some powerful techniques:
- Back Chakra Meditation: Visualize a protective shield of light along your spine, energizing each Back Chakra from the Root to the Crown. Imagine this light growing stronger with each breath, fortifying your inner resilience and strength.
- Yoga Poses: Back-bending poses like Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana), and Camel Pose (Ustrasana) help activate and balance the Back Chakras. These poses open up the spine and release stored tension.
- Crystals for Back Chakras: Black Tourmaline, Hematite, and Smoky Quartz are excellent for grounding and protecting the Back Chakras. Place these crystals along your spine during meditation or wear them as jewelry for added protection.
- Breathwork: Practice deep breathing exercises that focus on expanding the back of the body. Visualize your breath moving up and down the spine, nourishing each Back Chakra with energy and light.
- Affirmations: Use affirmations that focus on strength, resilience, and inner support. Examples include:
- “I am supported by the universe in all my endeavors.”
- “I stand strong in my truth and trust my inner wisdom.”
- “I release past wounds and embrace my inner power.”
Embracing the Power of the Back Chakras
The Back Chakras may not get as much attention as their front-facing counterparts, but they are equally important for your spiritual and energetic well-being. They provide the support, resilience, and protection needed to navigate life with grace and strength. By working with your Back Chakras, you build a strong energetic foundation that allows you to face challenges with courage, maintain healthy boundaries, and stay true to yourself.
Remember, balance in the chakra system means not just focusing on expression and interaction but also on support and protection. By embracing the power of your Back Chakras, you create a holistic approach to your spiritual journey that encompasses both the yin and yang, the active and the receptive, the external and the internal.
Namaste. 🙏
Sources:
- Deyo, R. A. (2002). Low-back pain. The New England Journal of Medicine.
- Pert, C. (1999). Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel. Scribner.
- Neff, K. D. (2011). Self-compassion, self-esteem, and well-being. Social and Personality Psychology Compass.
- Rosenberg, M., & Owen, S. (2001). The Self-Concept: Social Product and Social Force. University of Virginia Press.
- Zeidan, F., Johnson, S. K., Diamond, B. J., David, Z., & Goolkasian, P. (2010). Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: Evidence of brief mental training. Consciousness and Cognition.
- Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry.
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