Present in the body of every human being, the chakras are the focal points for our energy. We may or may not be aware of them, but our chakras have an effect on our lives, whether for good (as when they are in alignment) or when they hold us back from getting the most out of our lives (such as when they are out of alignment or blocked).

Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means energy, and while its roots are Hindu, energy is not partial to a religion. Energy is in fact universal and every single person on this Earth has these energies. The chakra is really the vortex that this energy flows through and manifest physically. The chakras are the channels by which universal energy can flow in and out of our aura.

Making sure that our chakras are aligned and balanced make it possible for us to open our minds and get a better understanding of what our true spiritual nature is. Keep in mind that most people are not balanced and their chakras are not aligned. That is why chakra meditation is so important. To begin chakra meditation it is important you know where the chakras are located and what they do.

Situated in important areas of your body like the heart and the top of the head, the chakras influence the organs which surround them and they also play a part in proper energy flow. The number of chakras in your body is seven.

The first chakra is the Root Chakra and it is located at the base of the spine. This chakra is related to the body and our individual ability to master our body. So your general health, constitution and security are all tied to the Root Chakra. This is also the chakra that helps us realize how we are connected to the world around us. The color for this chakra is red.

In the lower abdomen is out second chakra, the Navel Chakra. Representing our physical drives toward love, pleasure and sex, as well as giving and receiving, this chakra is where you will feel generosity, harmony and selflessness, as well as some acts of creativity. The color of this chakra is orange.

Next we have our Solar Plexus Chakra which is found just below our chest. This chakra is where our will and our sense of change or transformation is located. Our concentration and control of our own personal energies stem from this chakra. Self control and our discipline of our ego is also found here. The color for this chakra is yellow.

Your fourth chakra is the Heart Chakra, which can be found at the center of your chest. This chakra is representative of your feelings of compassion, love and understanding. Love which goes beyond the physical aspect is part of this chakra. Green is the color of this chakra.

The next chakra is the Throat Chakra which can be found in the throat between the chin and the top part of the sternum. This chakra is tied to our ability to communicate. This chakra helps us realize that kindness, honesty, wisdom, truth and knowledge can all be conveyed with thoughtful speech. The color of this chakra is sky blue.

Also known as the third eye, the sixth chakra is called the Brow Chakra and is located in the forehead, between the eyebrows. This chakra is responsible for insight, imagination and intuition. This is the chakra which lets you look inward to examine your own soul. Peace of mind and an experience of the divine is also located here. This chakra's color is indigo.

The final chakra is the Crown Chakra, obviously based on the name it is found at the top of the head. So it should go with out saying then that anything that deals with the mind and spirit is controlled here. It is the Crown Chakra that is tied to our individual journey into understanding our own consciousness and our place in time and space. Anything dealing with the Higher Self is rooted in the Crown Chakra. The color for the Crown Chakra is violet.

If you know the function and the location of each of your chakras, you will be able to practice chakra meditation more effectively. You can use meditations which work on individual chakras, or ones which align them as a whole.