Developing an awareness of your body and the subtle energy that flows through it will not only lead to a greater understanding of the chakra system, but to greater overall peace and empowerment. Few people take the time to pay attention to their bodies, beyond the basics of hunger, pleasure, etc.

Throughout your day pause to reflect on how your body feels. Straighten your spine, relax your shoulders and hips, and allow any feelings of flow or presence to arise.

Don’t visualize or force any imagery at this time. Simply pay attention to what is here, in your body.

Holding your hands in front of you, elbows bent, palms facing upward, is often a great way to experience the subtle body. You may feel a sense of presence or warmth in one or both hands; explore this, allowing the sensation to move and change as it will.

Close your eyes and focus on how your body feels. Do you feel or sense a very subtle stirring within?

With practice you will be able to move the sensation from your hands into your arms, chest, and anywhere else you choose. Also you will, with time, be able to feel the warm glow of presence originate from sources other than the palms of your hands.

This simple exercise is highly effective for tuning into your body’s energy meridians. At first don’t try to focus your attention on any specific chakra point or pathway; just allow whatever feelings and presence that occur to be and grow.

This should lead to an increased awareness of your chakra system, and of improved sensory perception like sight and hearing. Also you may become more intuitive as a result of these observation sessions.

Certainly people with eating disorders or smoking habits are very likely to strengthen their resolve to quit by paying sincere attention to the body. Likewise if you are overweight or unwilling to get physical exercise when you begin these sessions, it’s possible you will become spontaneously interested in getting more exercise.

Practice basic body awareness throughout the day whenever you want. Eventually your overall state of alertness will raise to the point where you are always tuned in to what your body is feeling and communicating to you.

Basic meditation actually brings numerous benefits. Reduced tension, improved focus and sensory perception, inner peace, happiness, empowerment, and much more can be achieved with simple meditative practice.

But for purposes of this article, meditation is a great way for increasing your awareness of the chakra points. By engaging in simple breath observation meditation you will begin to sense your body’s subtle energy system.

Over time, simple meditation will still your mind. As this happens you will naturally begin to sense each of your chakra centers.

Some people feel their chakra points as warm areas, while other people simply know they are there. Exactly how you become aware of your subtle energy will depend on your individual personality and the way you normally perceive the world around you.

And once you become more aware of your chakra system you can begin to focus on specific meditations for each chakra, if you desire. It’s not necessary to ever do this, but many people find it a useful practice for remaining in balance or for addressing specific energetic needs.

You can learn to meditate by visiting our basic meditation tutorial here.

A human being has many chakra points, but most schools of thought focus on anywhere from 7 to 12 main centers. It’s best to begin with the seven chakras that can be found along the spinal column.

Without worrying at first about a lot of detail, there is a great awareness exercise you can apply to help you discover your chakra points. Before beginning, you should sit, stand, or lie down in a comfortable position and allow your mind and body to relax as deeply as possible.

If you know one or more simple breathing exercises, meditations, or relaxation exercises, use this to help you attain a relaxed state. Once you are feeling peaceful and clear, play with the following awareness activity.

Focus first on your feet, and imagine warm energy rising quickly up into your legs and hips. Find the chakra center at the very base of your spine, between your anus and genitals. You’ll feel this area when you begin to focus on it. Allow your awareness to sit on this center - your base chakra - for several seconds and then imagine warm energy moving from here up through your pevlis.

Allow your focus to rest on the point just below your belly button. You’ll know it when you find it. This is your sacral chakra. Let your consciousness rest here for a moment and then push your attention further up your spine.

Now let your focus rest in the center of your solar plexus chakra, below your sternum. After a few moments let your attention move up to the center of your breastbone and relax it there on your heart chakra.

Next, imagine energy flowing up to the base of your throat. This, of course, is your throat chakra.

Next, find the point above and between your eyes, in the middle of your brow. This is the third eye chakra.

Focus your attention through this chakra for a minute or two, then allow your energy to flow out of the top of your head. The top and center of your skull is the crown chakra.

This very simple exercise is a great wat to begin developing sensitivity to your own chakra system. Further practice, and the study of arts such as meditation and Yoga, will enhance your awareness and lead you to greater understanding of the chakra points.