Finding Your Balance: A Short Guide to Chakra Bracelets and How to Use Them
If you’ve been practicing yoga for a while, you’ve probably have heard the word chakra used. Maybe your yoga teacher has mentioned it in relation to a specific pose or you’ve stumbled across chakra beads on an online yoga shop. If you’ve still got question about chakras and how they work, you’re not alone. Yoga newbies and experienced yoga practitioners alike have all wondered this at some point. If you’ve never found the right moment to ask the most knowledgeable yogi you know or have done some research but still have questions, that’s totally fine. We’re here to break it down for you.
First thing’s first, what is a chakra?
First described in the Vedas, an ancient Hindu scripture, there are over one hundred chakras, but the ones most often referenced in yoga are the seven chakras. These chakras run from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Each chakra corresponds directly to particular aspects of our emotional, physical, or spiritual health. When these chakras are aligned, the life energy flows freely through us and our body, mind, and soul are healthy and in harmony with each other. Emotional and physical problems can arise when a chakra is blocked or out of balance.
Right about now you might be thinking, but what does jewellery have to do with it?
There are a number of different ways we can work to keep these energies balanced. Chances are, you already do one of them: yoga! And another is—you guessed it—chakra bracelets.
So, how does a chakra bracelet work?
Gemstones have been used as a method of chakra balancing and healing for thousands of years. Vedic texts describe how the ritual laying of crystals on the body can be used to clear the chakras and rebalance spiritual energy.
With a chakra bracelet, you can bring the power of this ancient ritual into your everyday life.
Along with the inherent power of the gem, the bracelet also serves as a chakra balancing meditation tool. Akin to how you’d use a mala, you can focus your attention on each bead in turn as you meditate, drawing energy towards the chakra each bead represents.
Though there are many kinds of chakra bracelet, they typically come in two varieties. The first of these has seven different gemstone beads, each representing one of the seven chakras.
Another common design is meant to direct energy towards one chakra specifically. Since each chakra is associated with a specific colour, the beads of this type of bracelet will be made of a single gemstone to represent the targeted chakra. Certain gemstones possess properties which make them especially beneficial when used in a chakra bracelet or other chakra jewellery, so this should be what you look for.
If you’re interested in using a chakra bracelet but don’t know where to start, it’s helpful to familiarise yourself with each of the different chakras.
Root Chakra (Red Chakra) - Garnet for stability
Garnet is an incredibly durable gemstone, ideal for reinforcing the stability of the Root Chakra. The grounding power of this gem supports the unblocking of the root, bringing with it a sense of security and emotional stability.
Sacral Chakra (Orange Chakra) - Carnelian for Passion and Sensuality
For balancing the Sacral Chakra, Carnelian is a popular choice. Renowned for boosting passion and desire, this gemstone can help you foster and develop your sensuality, one of the major properties of the Sacral Chakra.
Solar Plexus Chakra (Yellow Chakra) - Ambronite for Strength and Confidence
Ambronite is typically used by those seeking motivation or a sense of purpose, both of which fall under the domain of the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stone fosters self-assuredness, empowering you to find your own path in life. Citrine has similar properties to Ambronite and can be used as an alternative.
Heart Chakra (Green Chakra) - Green African Jade for Love and Compassion
Jade gemstones have long been associated with the Heart Chakra. The vitality of this gemstone strengthens our connection to the love and power of the universe, enabling those who use it to truly follow their heart. An alternative you might find is Prehnite; this stone’s reputation for nurturing openness and compassion means it is similarly effective for balancing the Heart Chakra.
Throat Chakra (Blue Chakra) - Aquamarine for self-expression
Known for fortifying personal power, aquamarine’s properties assist in the balancing of the Throat Chakra. Aquamarine promotes freedom of self-expression, one of the key indicators of a healthy Throat Chakra.
Third Eye Chakra (Indigo Chakra) - Sodalite for insight and intuition
With a balanced Third Eye Chakra, your insight, intuition and imagination will be at their strongest. Sodalite’s properties compliment this perfectly. Traditionally regarded as the banisher of illusions, Sodalite stimulates a keener understanding of your own thoughts and feelings, as well as those of others. Another beneficial gemstone for balancing this chakra is Kyanite, due to its reputation for cultivating wisdom in those who use it.
Crown Chakra (Purple Chakra) - Amethyst for spiritual growth
The seventh and final chakra is all about divine spirituality. Amethyst is a popular choice for representing the crown. Used to cultivate spiritual growth, clear the mind, and dispel negative energy, Amethyst’s properties provide a helping hand to anyone seeking to balance their Crown Chakra.
Which Chakra Bracelet is right for you?
Before choosing your chakra bracelet, spend some time reflecting on the areas of your life in which you need support or what your goals you might have for personal growth
A single-gem bracelet may benefit you if you are experiencing a blockage in one chakra specifically.
Struggling with your self-confidence lately? You might want to wear a healing solar plexus chakra bracelet. If you want to improve your ability to express yourself, a throat chakra bracelet could be the right choice for you.
If you simply want to create a balanced and healthy flow of energy between all seven chakras, a bracelet with a gemstone bead for each chakra could be the choice for you.
Another alternative is to use a bracelet stack – comprising a bracelet with a gemstone bead for each chakra, and one or two single-gem bracelets as a boost for a particularly blocked chakra.
Other ways to balance your chakras
Think you might have a blocked chakra but aren’t sure which? Visit our post ‘What are chakras? Our easy guide to the 7 chakras and how to balance them’, for a comprehensive guide to the seven chakras, signs of blocking and how to balance them.
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Lucy Edge
is a yoga advocate and writer with three yoga books to her name, including the beloved travel memoir Yoga School Dropout. She writes regularly for the national press, has authored over 150 guides to types of yoga and yoga
poses, discovered nearly 250 proven health benefits of yoga through her painstaking classification of 300 clinical studies, and collected more than 500 personal testimonials to the real life benefits of yoga. She is also
the creator of our yoga shop – YogaClicks.Store – handpicking yoga brands that are beautifully made by yogis committed to environmental and social sustainability.
