Living Yoga Tree Prayer: Chakra Balancing and Positive Affirmations

Chakra balancing affirmations. Rooted earth wisdom and gentle illumination.

Years ago I painted a chalkboard and put positive affirmations on it for my grandchildren to help them learn to love, honor, and accept themselves wholly in a positive and fun way. I drew pictures to go along with each affirmation to help them learn a symbol to accompany the words that were written...before they could read.

I have repainted it and updated it with a symbol of a tree (a favorite symbol of mine). This is not just fun artwork. It is a functional and helpful tool to assist my grands and if I am being honest...it is a great reminder for me, too.

It is an imaginative map for learning the chakras - the energy centers in our bodies that run along the spine from tailbone to crown. Each with a healing rainbow color. A tool that helps us regulate our nervous system and returns us to our inner most selves.

And from there the whole tree rises upward through feeling, choice, love, truth, intuition, and finally: I am light. I am connected.

The progression is beautiful.

Ground - sacral - solar plexus - heart - voice- -vision - spirit.

The spiral feels like a breath, energy, continuity, and returning to your truest self. The trunk itself almost looks like it is dancing and it is a flowing breath of lines or river currents moving upward through the body.

I return to what is true. Simple. Embodied. Wise. Repeatable.

"Be yourself everyone else is taken." Warmth and humanity amidst the sacredness. Affirmations written in the night sky. The little white and gold dots in a spiral at the top branches feel like stars, pollen, or blessings dispersing outward. A guided meditation journey moving upward through the chakras and nervous system.

Years from now my grandchildren and yoga students may not remember all of the poses or the affirmations, but seeds have been planted. They weren't simply practicing yoga -- they were embodying qualities of the heart, mind, and spirit.

The roots of the tree begin at

the bottom

with:

The root chakra is located

at the base of your spine

and is

grounding and the element is

earth.

The color is red/pink.

Affirmations:

"I am safe.

I belong."

Energy Spirals up

to the

Sacral chakra

color is orange/pink.

Located in the lower abdomen

just below the belly button.

It governs the emotions, flow,

 and creativity.

The element is water.

Affirmations:

"I feel.

I create."

Solar plexus chakra.

The element is the sun.

The color is yellow.

Personal Power.

Affirmations:

"I can.

I choose."

The heart chakra the seat of our soul.

The color is green.

The element is air.

Affirmations:

"I love.

I am loved."

The throat chakra is blue.

The element is ether.

Thoughts, expression, and

 our ability to listen deeply.

 Affirmations:

"I speak my truth.

My voice matters."

The third eye

the point between the eyebrows.

Indigo/deep blue/violet.

Intuition,

inner wisdom,

and

inner knowledge.

Affirmations:

"I see clearly.

I trust my inner voice."

Crown Chakra

violet or white

the element is thought

and higher

 consciousness.

Connection to the Divine,

mother father God/Source.

Affirmations:

"I am light.

I am connected."

I am passing on beautiful moments of movement, wonder, confidence, and the joy of inhabiting one's own body. My home is a sanctuary inside and outside. A place to stretch toward the sky, giggle when they tumble, and they can always begin again. I am planting seeds...not expectations.

Seeds of compassion. Seeds of presence. Seeds of stillness. Seeds of curiosity. Seeds of gratitude. Seeds of unconditional love. Seeds of connection to all. Seeds of forgiveness. Some will sprout this week. Others may lie quietly in the soil of their hearts for years before life provides the rain they need.

One day, one of my grandchildren or students may find themselves anxious before a difficult conversation and hear, "I speak my truth." Another may face uncertainty and remember, "I am safe." Another may comfort a friend because she learned that love begins within.

I may never know when those seeds blossom. That is the beautiful mystery of tending a garden--whether it is a garden of flowers or a garden of children I surrender and trust they will blossom in divine timing.

I am not raising perfect yogis. I am planting seeds of wholeness. With every pose, every breath, every affirmation, and every shared moment of wonder, I trust the roots are growing wide, deep, and strong beneath the surface.

One breath. One child. One seed at a time.

Today our yoga room became a rainbow of energy. We balanced on little feet and strong hands as they pushed into wheel pose, open-hearted backbends, triangle, warrior, cat cow, tree, and did cartwheels. Between poses we looked to the chalkboard, where each chakra offered us a gentle reminder of who we already are.

I am safe. I create. I am strong. I am love. I speak my truth.

I trust my inner wisdom. I am connected.

The children may remember the bridges, the cartwheels, and the giggles. I hope they also carry something less visible -- the feelings that they were enough exactly as they were.

In this room and yard, yoga wasn't about perfect poses. It was about growing strong bodies, open hearts, and gentle spirits..."Be yourself everyone else is taken."

Inhale peace.

Exhale gratitude.