The Chakra Guide: Ajna

AJNA CHAKRA

The third eye expands our awareness of self, it’s relationship to others & our environment so that we can fully trust in what we can’t experience with our senses. We may not be able to see, hear, touch, smell, or taste it,  so we must be fully vulnerable to the higher intelligence of our intuition.

PRANAYAMAS: Alternate nostril breathing activates the third eye chakra by unifying the duality we create between our left side body and right side body. We allow the control of our breath to create  balance and calm our nervous system.

• To prepare for analom vilom, alternate nostril breathing
• Come to a comfortable seat. You can place a blanket, pillow, or block under your seat to support a straight spine
• Place your right middle finger on your third eye, on the space in between the eyebrows, use the ring finger and pinky finger to close off the left nostril. Take a slow long inhale through the left nostril pausing at the top of the inhale.
• Release the left nostril and close the right nostril with your thumb, exhale out of the left nostril. Inhale through the left nostril, pause, release the right nostril and close off the left nostril, exhale.
• You’ve now completed one full round. Take 9 rounds, closing your eyes and noticing the shifts of energy, emotions and physical sensations.

Journal your experience over the next month to notice shifts in your thoughts, control of your breath, and differences in your physical body.

ASANA SEQUENCE/ PHOTOS: Poses that involve engaging pressure along third eye center helps to nourish the fluid spiraling movement. In any given moment when you feel overmwhelmed, stressed, or have a strong emotional response to a stimulus, close your eyes and touch the 3rd eye center. Notice how immediately your attention and your senses are drawn into this moment and your self. That connection to your truth, allows you to detach yourself from thoughts that harm your well being.

Practice the following sequence:

• Childs pose
• Rabbit pose
• Forward fold with bent knees (touching forehead to legs)
• Flat back
• Plank
• Dolphin pose with block under forehead
• Jump or step through to seated forward fold with blanket/ blocks on legs to rest forehead
• Sivasana (stone on third eye)

STONES & ESSENTIAL OILS: We choose to practice asana and eat healthy for our physical and mental well being. In the same way stones and oils can be used to nourish our chakras. Amethyst stones can be cleansed and worn to support the third eye chakra. Whether it’s jewelry you wear throughout the day or a stone placed on your third eye during sivasana, the intention and energy of that stone will encourage a healthy spiraling energy. Using lavender oil can support optimal functions of the third eye; bringing clarity to mind,, trusting your inner voice, and deepening our connection to the universe.