Energy work is an aspect of massage therapy that extends beyond the physical manipulation of muscles and tissues. It is possible to enhance the overall effectiveness of massage therapy treatment by incorporating energy work benefits. Offering clients this holistic healing experience aimed at restoring balance and harmony addresses both physical and energetic imbalances. Chakra balance therapy is not some mysterious spiritual woo-woo-it is actually a beautiful practice that can bring real shifts to your mental clarity, emotional peace, and even physical wellness.
Understanding Chakras
The word chakra comes from ancient Sanskrit, and it literally means “wheel” or “disk.” In the context of healing, chakras are considered spinning wheels of energy in the body. Each of these plays a vital role in your day-to-day wellbeing. When in balance, you feel emotionally stable, energized, and mentally sharp. But when misaligned? That is why caring for your energy-your chakras-is not just spiritual self-care.
According to medical aesthetician and spiritual healer Mashell Tabe, chakras are energy systems throughout your body. "There are three major functions they control: physical, psychological and spiritual," Tabe says. Though there’s said to be tens of thousands of chakras within the body, the major chakras form a straight line in your body, from the tip of your head (crown chakra) to your stomach and lower back (sacral and root chakra).
The word ‘chakra’ means ‘disc’ or ‘wheel’ in Sanskrit. These discs or wheels are energy centers for your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. When explained this way, it’s easier to understand why a blocked or unbalanced chakra would then lead to negative effects in the body. Tabe explains it this way: "The world you actively exist in is created by your thoughts and your beliefs around these thoughts.
Ayurvedic tradition recognizes seven main chakras, which are junctions between consciousness (mind) and matter (body) and which link the various aspects of what makes us human: our physical, energetic, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual selves. Even though some people have a hard time with the concept of chakras, it is a commonly used system.
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The chakra system is located in the core of our being, in a channel that encompasses the spine and includes the tailbone to the crown of the head, as well as the nerve bundles associated with each individual chakra. Energy flows up the sushumna nadi from the first chakra at the sacrum up the spine and out the seventh chakra at the crown of the head. This ascending current is the flow of energy that takes us from the physical level of being, through our mind and emotions, and connects us to the larger universe.
Kundalini energy also flows into the seventh chakra at the crown of the head and moves down the sushumna nadi to the first chakra. This descending or manifesting current of energy moves us from the world of mind and spirit and helps us manifest ideas into the physical world. Anytime you help manifest something in your life, you are using the manifesting flow. For example, at some point in time you thought, “I want to be a massage therapist.” You took that idea, researched and chose a school, rearranged your schedule, found financing, and then studied and participated in the program to make that initial thought a reality.
When working with chakras, think of health as being on a continuum. Depending on your diet, exercise, stress levels, emotional states, and many other factors, you are either moving toward greater health or away from it. It is similar with chakras. “Closed” or “imbalanced” qualities of the chakras are on one end of a health continuum and “open” or “balanced” qualities are on the other end.
The Seven Chakras
The traditional name for the first chakra is muladhara, which means the “root.” This chakra, at the base of the spine at the sacrum, is the foundation of the entire system. It relates to our basic needs and our sense of security and survival. When a baby is born, the first few weeks relate to the first chakra as the child adjusts to its environment. When you travel to an unknown place, you might have first chakra issues as you no longer have the same sense of security as when you are in your own environment. Located at the base of the spine, the root chakra is associated with stability, security, and grounding. Deep, focused massage techniques in the lower back and feet can help unblock this chakra, fostering a sense of stability and connection.
The pleasure chakra is called svadhisthana, which means “sweetness.” It is located a few fingers’ width inferior to the navel. After your basic needs are met, you can move out into the world to explore with the five senses. Through these senses, we bring nourishment and vitality to ourselves. Once a baby has settled after the first few weeks and months, he moves into second chakra mode, exploring the world around him. Positioned in the lower abdomen, the sacral chakra governs creativity, pleasure, and emotions. Gentle and nurturing massage techniques in the abdominal area can help release stagnant energy and encourage emotional balance.
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The power center is called manipura, which means “lustrous gem.” Located in the solar plexus superior to the navel, this is where we establish our identity and what we want to do with our life. If your actions in life do not match your intentions for your life, you feel it in your gut. However, if you can align your intentions with your actions, you establish a strong sense of identity. You will be confident and will interact with others in a different way. College students are dealing often with third chakra issues. With babies, the “terrible twos” relates to this chakra. In their second year, babies learn the word “no” and begin to recognize and act on their own desires. Found in the upper abdomen, the solar plexus chakra relates to personal power and self-confidence. Incorporating invigorating massage strokes around the stomach can help restore confidence and motivation.
The heart center is called anahata and is in the center of the chest. When translated, anahata means “the sound which issues without the striking of any two things together.” The heart chakra relates to everything one stereotypically associates with the heart: love, compassion, sympathy, empathy, and relationships. For a 2-year-old, it is hard to see outside their own point of view as they have not learned the concept of other. At around 3-4 years old, a child moves into the heart chakra and begins to grasp the concept of other. The heart chakra, located in the center of the chest, represents love, compassion, and connection. A gentle and heart-centered massage can help release emotional blockages and promote feelings of love and empathy.
The throat center is traditionally called visuddha, which means “free from impurities.” Located at the throat, this is our center of expression and communication. If you are not saying the things you need to say, you might feel “choked up.” As you learn to communicate effectively, this allows creativity to thrive. This is a useful center on which massage therapists should focus. Positioned at the throat, the throat chakra is linked to communication and self-expression. A soothing neck and shoulder massage can help unblock this chakra, allowing for clearer communication and self-assertion.
The third eye chakra is called ajna, which means “communication from above.” Found between the eyebrows, this chakra is the center of imagination, intuition, and perception. When you let go of thoughts that are holding you back and instead let your imagination roam free, you are connecting to your sixth chakra. Situated between the eyebrows, the third eye chakra governs intuition and insight. Gentle massage techniques around the forehead and temples can enhance clarity of thought and inner vision.
The crown center is called sahasrara, which means “thousand petaled.” Located at the crown of the head, the seventh chakra relates to wisdom and enlightenment. The seventh chakra, sometimes called the “master chakra,” brings purpose and meaning to you and the other chakras. If the third chakra is about what you want to do with life, the seventh chakra is why you want to do it. The crown center helps you connect to a higher purpose and something greater than yourself. At the crown of the head, the crown chakra represents spiritual connection and enlightenment. Incorporating relaxing scalp massage techniques can help open this chakra, fostering a sense of unity and higher consciousness.
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What to Expect in a Session
Chakra Balancing MassageDescriptionChakra Massage is a deeply relaxing 30 to 60 minute treatment aiming to energize and balance 7 energy points along body chakras while using a variety healing techniques in a single session. These non-invasive techniques employ the hands to clear, energize, and balance the human and environmental energy fields, thus affecting physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. At Camai Healing, we specialize in energy-based therapies that help your body and spirit find balance again. Our sessions are safe, soothing, and completely personalized to your needs.
During a chakra balancing massage session, a skilled therapist utilizes their hands, fingertips, or other tools to apply gentle pressure and manipulate the body's soft tissues. The therapist may focus on specific areas of the body associated with each chakra, such as the lower back and legs for the root chakra or the upper back and shoulders for the heart chakra. Through intentional touch and energy transfer, the therapist seeks to convey nurturing, universal healing energy to the person and facilitate the release of stuck or negative energies that may contribute to physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual distress.
Many of our health issues can stem from suppressed or deeply rooted emotions so it is ok to expect Somatic Emotional Release, that is part of the healing process. I am happy to leave the room upon your request to let you process or stay with you while you process, you will always be in a safe place here. Sessions begin with a consultation. Typically will need 3 to 4 sessions for complete balance.
When I first entered the treatment room for my Seasons of Chakra massage, I was curious to learn about the small details that would supposedly balance my chakra (or at least help me be more in touch with them). There were crystals embedded in the wall, for example, each one aligned with a different chakra. The treatment itself began with a mini sound bath (another thing that’s supposed to help chakra-balancing).
The massage itself was glorious, but it was the focus on different areas of the body/different chakras that was so interesting to me. Throughout the massage, I was thinking not only about how relaxing it felt, but how I felt emotionally, too. Unlike other treatments I’ve had in the past where I usually drift into a half-sleep, I was instead completely tuned into how I was holding tension in different areas of my body-were they tight, sore, filled with tension? What was behind this tension? Stress, anxiety? This sense of calm and focused intention to discover how I was feeling in my body, not only physically but emotionally, was the real benefit of this treatment for me.
With a basic understanding of the chakras, our focus can turn to the Chakra Balancing Massage. The first step in a Chakra Balancing Massage is deep-tissue massage on the back, in particular focusing on the three erector spinae muscles and the gluteus medius. Deep-tissue work is not necessarily deep; it is specific and slow. When doing deep-tissue work, one of the biggest benefits is the focus on connective tissue or fascia. Research suggests that the wiring of the energy flow in the body-whether we’re talking about the meridians in Chinese medicine or the srotas in ayurvedic philosophy-is the connective tissue. If fascia is the conduit through which energy flows, then we can focus on the erector spinae muscles with the intent to work with the chakra energy. Perform lengthening strokes on the spinalis, longissimus, and the iliocostalis muscles, as well as broadening strokes on the longissimus.
The second technique within the protocol is a chakra foot reflexology massage. The reflexology procedure focuses on two aspects of the chakras: the physical location of the chakra and the endocrine gland that is associated with each chakra by related function or close proximity. The first chakra is located at the sacrum so the first chakra reflex is found on the sacral reflex on the foot. The second chakra is on L3, the third chakra is on T8, the fourth chakra is on T4, the fifth chakra is on C4, the sixth chakra is between the eyebrows and can be found on the proximal portion of the sole of the big toe, and the seventh chakra reflex is found on the distal portion of the big toe. There are a few other points that connect to the chakras as well.
The third technique utilized in the Chakra Balancing Massage is chakra energy work. The focus of the energy work is a light touch over the chakras while concentrating on intention. When working with the chakras, the most important aspect is not your technique, but your intention and connection with the client. In order to enhance the effects, guide your client through a visualization technique as you perform the work on each chakra. The visualization will focus on two aspects to work with the left (logical, analytic) and right (intuitive, visual) sides of the brain. Have the client repeat the meditative word (see Chakra Characteristics on page 47) for the chakra (left brain) and visualize a spinning wheel of colored energy at the location of each chakra (right brain). For example, for the first chakra, have clients repeat the word grounding silently to themselves while visualizing a red spinning wheel of energy at the base of the spine.
When offering energy work, start by gently placing your hands over each chakra area and sense the energy flowing around the chakra. Trust your intuition and allow your hand to move in any direction you feel. The chakras can spin either clockwise or counterclockwise, so whichever direction you sense the energy flowing, encourage this motion. Energy work is best performed in silence. Silence allows for greater concentration on the subtle flow of energy. Listening with your hands is important. Energy work is more about feeling what is occurring, as opposed to doing something to somebody. Breathing is an essential aspect of the work. To begin, stand on the left side of your prone client. Place your right hand over the first chakra and your left hand over the fifth chakra. For best results, divide up the energy work throughout the session. For example, after the deep-tissue massage and while the guest is prone, perform the energy work on chakras 1, 4, and 5. Throughout the course of the Chakra Balancing Massage, feel free to incorporate other elements to enhance the experience, including essential oils, breath exercises, aromatic steam towels, and scalp massage. doTERRA offers Balance, a powerful grounding blend helps creates a calming, quieting environment as you consider all aspects of your life: relationships, work, fitness, health and emotional well-being.
Benefits of Chakra Balancing Massage
Chakra balancing massage offers a multitude of benefits that can positively impact our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
- Restoring Energetic Balance: Chakra imbalances can manifest as physical ailments, emotional distress, or spiritual disconnection. Chakra balancing massage helps restore energetic balance by clearing blockages and promoting the free flow of energy within the chakras. By addressing the root cause of imbalances, this practice supports overall health and vitality.
- Relieving Physical Discomfort: Physical discomfort often stems from energy blockages in the body. Chakra balancing massage targets these blockages, releasing tension and promoting relaxation in the affected areas. This can lead to relief from chronic pain, muscle stiffness, and other physical ailments, allowing the body to experience greater ease and well-being.
- Enhancing Emotional Well-being: Emotions are closely intertwined with our energy centers. Chakra imbalances can contribute to emotional instability, anxiety, and mood disorders. Through chakra balancing massage, the release of stagnant energy and the restoration of energetic balance can help alleviate emotional distress, promote emotional stability, and enhance overall emotional well-being.
- Facilitating Spiritual Growth: Chakra balancing massage not only addresses physical and emotional aspects but also nurtures our spiritual selves. By aligning and balancing the chakras, this practice creates a conducive environment for spiritual growth, awakening, and self-discovery. It can deepen our connection to our higher selves, promote a sense of purpose, and facilitate a greater understanding of our spiritual path.
- Promoting Relaxation and Stress Reduction: Massage therapy, in general, is well-known for its ability to promote relaxation and reduce stress. Chakra balancing massage takes this relaxation to a deeper level by incorporating energy work and intentional touch. The combined effects of massage techniques, essential oils, and energy healing create a nurturing and calming experience, helping to alleviate stress and promote a state of deep relaxation.
- Supporting Trauma Healing: Traumatic experiences can have a profound impact on our energy centers, leading to imbalances and emotional wounds. Chakra balancing massage can be a supportive modality in trauma healing, as it provides a safe and nurturing space for the release and healing of energetic imprints related to past trauma. Through gentle touch and energy work, this practice can contribute to the integration and healing of trauma on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level.
Integrating Energy Work into Massage Therapy
By incorporating chakra balancing techniques into massage therapy, practitioners can address energy blockages and restore harmony to the client’s energy system. To do this, massage therapists focus on specific areas of the body associated with each chakra, using techniques like gentle touch, visualization, or energy channeling.
Integrating Reiki into massage therapy sessions can amplify the therapeutic benefits. During the massage, the therapist can apply Reiki principles by holding their hands above the client’s body or lightly touching specific energy points. This infusion of healing energy can enhance the relaxation response, accelerate the body’s natural healing processes, and provide a deep sense of peace and tranquility.
Incorporating mindfulness and breathwork techniques into massage therapy sessions can help clients connect more deeply with their own energy and inner awareness. Encourage clients to focus on their breath, guiding them to take slow, deep breaths throughout the massage. This simple practice can help release tension, calm the nervous system, and enhance the flow of energy. Additionally, incorporating mindfulness techniques, such as body scanning or guided visualization, can help clients become more attuned to their bodies and the energetic shifts occurring during the massage.
Integrating energy work benefits into massage therapy enhances the overall healing experience for clients by addressing both physical and energetic aspects of well-being. Whether through chakra balancing, Reiki integration, or mindfulness and breathwork, these approaches allow massage therapists to offer a more holistic and transformative treatment. Clients have been known to leave their sessions not only with physical relief but also with a renewed sense of energy, balance, and inner peace.