Chakra is a Sanskrit word that can be traced back to the Vedas, the oldest text in ancient India produced between 1500 and 500 BC. However, some scholars think they were mentioned even earlier.
Part of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, chakras are believed to be spinning disks of energy. There are said to be seven chakras running along the spine to the top of the head, and that these are linked to our nerve centers, glands and major organs.
This means that when they are all open and functioning properly, we feel at peak physical and mental health. I they become blocked with negative energy, we can suffer physically and mentally.
For instance, those who are struggling to express how they really feel may end up with a blocked ‘Vishuddha’, or throat chakra, and then get a sore throat, cough or even start losing their voice.
The above was all explained to me as I began my first ever chakra balancing session at the newly opened Miracles Abu Dhabi wellness centre.
A form of energy healing, chakra balancing is designed to balance out your energies, and rid your body of any unhealthy emotions or feelings.
Lying on my back on the floor of the rather ethereal salt room, healer Jane Elizabeth Muff told me she always conducts her rituals here, as Himalayan salt has a natural ability to relax, detoxify, lower stress and improve sleep and skin complexion.
The gentle pink glow was definitely calming, and the salt flake-covered floor was surprizingly comfortable.
Passing a kind of crystal pendulum over my body, Jane quickly concluded that five of my chakras were blocked, including my root and navel.
To my amazement, she correctly guessed that I had been feeling anxious and stressed, and that my stomach wasn’t the best.
We talked through what was causing my stress, and then I closed my eyes so she could begin unblocking my chakras.
As she moved over each point, I felt a pleasant warmth spread through my body, and by the end I definitely felt lighter and less worried. It was similar to how I feel after a really lovely yoga class.
The benefits of chakra balancing
“Chakra balancing reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure and eases pain. It even stops panic attacks,” Jane explains.
“People often come to me when they are severely stressed. I use my intuition to work out what the cause of their unhappiness is and work with them to overcome it. I want people to realize that they don’t have to put up with feeling unhappy. There is something you can do about it.”
She says that many also use chakra balancing as a ‘complementary’ therapy, alongside regular treatment.
“People who have bad backs use it while going to a chiropractor, and it’s really good for people who have cancer, because it promotes a positive mindset,” she continues.
“I’ve helped some people come off their depression or anxiety medication through energy healing. But it’s not just about what happens during the sessions. I recommend doing positive affirmations in the morning, reducing social media, showing gratitude and writing a personal biography. I show people how to write their life story as they want it to be manifested, how to turn negative thoughts into positive ones, and how to connect with the universe.”
Is there any science behind it?
No scientist has yet found a way to prove that chakras exist, and the theory doesn’t fit with the modern scientific understanding of how the human body uses and stores energy.
However, studies suggest that energy healing can bring many benefits. For instance, a 2020 study featured in the International Journal of Social Welfare Promotion and Management concluded that every participant who took part in various chakra-based meditation programs felt less anxious and in better health.
Experts also agree that meditation lowers blood pressure and eases stress, and relaxation techniques are proven to boost overall wellbeing. Both these elements are involved in chakra balancing.
What other kinds of energy healing are there?
Energy healing comes in numerous different forms and under various different names. Reiki, sound healing, spiritual healing and Emotional Freedom Techniques are just a few practiced across the globe.
Spiritual coach Maria Leonard, based at Illuminations wellbeing centre in Dubai, has come up with her own method of energy healing over 20 years of studying and practicing.
“My technique is called ‘Life Scripting’ and it involves a combination of conscious connected breathing and energy activations,” she says.
“It results in a healthier mindset and perspective and it encourages individuals to go about their day-to-day life with more clarity, excitement and focus.”
Guntra Bush is one of Maria’s clients. She has been going to energy healing and meditation sessions for over 10 years.
“I normally go for an energy healing session about once a year, whenever I feel like I really need it,” notes the marketing and communications professional
“For instance, I chose to have one recently just before I started a new job. It helps me to ground myself and release negative thoughts. It’s like a fresh start or reset and I always emerge feeling super positive and ready to take on whatever challenges I have ahead. It can sometimes give me a new perspective as well or show me which path to take. I always feel so much lighter knowing that I have got rid of all those emotions and feelings that no longer serve me.”
• One-hour chakra balancing sessions @miraclesabudhabi and @miraclesdubai start from Dh500, and group sessions with meditation start from Dh50 in Abu Dhabi and Dh80 in Dubai. One-on-one energy healings with @iammarialeonard start from Dh400 for 30 mins in person, or Dh370 online.
