Those who practice meditation and follow beliefs rooted in the seven chakras teach that opening these chakras can balance mind and body as well as restore harmony to life. Each chakra is linked to a part of the body as well as different areas of consciousness; opening the chakras with methods such as meditation and the repetitions of sounds can help balance the characteristics associated with each of these chakras. Opening a chakra requires a specific process for each of the seven different chakras.
Opening a chakra is thought to have an emotional, physical, and mental effect on the body, depending on the chakra and what is associated with it. For instance, the second or sacral chakra is closely related to an individual's emotional state. If the chakra is closed, the individual will have trouble expressing him or herself, and can often appear cold and distant to others. When this chakra has been opened, the individual will have an easier time communicating and sharing feelings; he or she will generally become more personable and be able to better enjoy the company of others.
Everyday activities can help an individual in the process of opening a chakra when done regularly. For example, the root chakra is the basis of all other chakras, as it is responsible for an individual's connection to the environment and others, and allows energy to flow freely when balanced correctly. Getting in touch with the immediate environment helps with opening this chakra; walking barefoot, imagining the connection between the self and the earth as a physical thing, and even dancing can help focus this chakra.
Meditation can also help in opening a chakra. For each chakra, there is a certain position that the individual should sit in and a sound that should be repeated in order to connect with that chakra. Perhaps the most commonly heard of the chants is the sound om. This is the sound that can help open the third eye chakra when repeated in meditation. The hands are positioned low in front of the chest, with the fingers in what is roughly a diamond shape. While concentrating on the middle of the forehead and repeating the word, this is thought to help channel the energy through that point and open the chakra.
If the chakra is opened too much, however, it is said to be overactive. The heart chakra is linked to the way in which an individual cares for others. A closed chakra can result in being distant and not allowing the self to truly grow close to another. If this chakra is opened too far, however, an individual may become overbearing and risk suffocating those he or she cares about. Chakras are about balance and maintaining a healthy position, and opening a chakra should be done to maintain or create this balance.