The following asanas help awaken each chakra, starting from the base, themuladhara; going up to the highest chakra, the sahasrara.
Upavista Konasana (seated wide-angle pose)
Sit against a wall and keep your shoulders and spine upright. Place your palms on the floor behind your hips and open your legs wide into a split.
Chakra activation: This pose stimulates energy of the organs of the reproductive system and the ovaries.
Salabhasana (locust pose)
Lie on your stomach with legs extended out. Place your hands below your thighs. Lift both legs up, off the floor, as high as possible without bending your knees.
Chakra activation: This stimulates energy flow into the stomach, liver, small intestine and bladder.
Ardha Matsyendrasana (Spinal twist)
Sit on your heels with your back tall. Lift the right knee off the floor and place it on the floor outside the left thigh. Raise the left arm and bring it over the right side of the right knee; reach your arm around to hold your ankle. Turn your head to look over your right shoulder and wrap your right hand around your waist.
Chakra activation: This pose stimulates energy flow into the liver, spleen, bowels, kidney and gall bladder.
Bhujangasana (The cobra)
Lie on your stomach with legs extended out. Place your palms downwards, directly below your shoulders. Keeping your shoulders relaxed and elbows slightly bent, lift your spine off the floor.
Chakra activation: This pose stimulates energy flow into the back, chest and lungs.
Sarvangasana (shoulder stand)
Lie on your back and raise both legs bringing them up at a 90-degree angle. Place your hands below your hips and lift the body off the floor. Continue this movement until your body is resting on your shoulders. Point your toes and straighten your back as much as possible.
Chakra activation: This pose stimulates energy flow into the neck and throat region.
Padmasana (lotus pose)
Sit cross-legged on the floor. Place your right foot on your left thigh and your left foot on your right thigh. Place your hands on your thighs in Chin Mudra (first finger and thumb should touch each other). Close your eyes and focus on the point in between your eyebrows (the spiritual eye).
Chakra activation: This is a meditation pose that awakens cosmic energy and develops intuitive powers.
Sirsasana (headstand)
Sit back and keep your elbows on the floor and clasp your hands. Place the back of your head on your firmly clasped hands. Now straighten your legs so that your body takes form of an inverted “V”. Slowly walk your feet towards your elbows and take your feet up towards the ceiling.
Chakra activation: This pose directs flow of energy to the crown of the head.
This is where the seventh or highest chakra is located.