Hormones and Yoga

We’re continuing our series on yoga and the systems of the body, a series I’ve been calling “Your Body on Yoga.” We’ve discussed many systems already, focusing on how yoga is so good for us. We’re getting close to the end of the series with just two more systems to go. This week we explore the endocrine system and how it relates to the chakras. Let’s get started!

The endocrine system is made up of many different glands in the body that release various hormones to regulate the systems of the body. We’ve already looked at all of these systems individually, but not as one overall system related to hormonal balance. This is a big topic in our modern world since hormones are constantly being disrupted by toxins in our food, water and environment. 

In Vedic philosophy and Ayurvedic medical practice, the chakra system was used to describe the function of the endocrine glands long before scientists even had terms like “endocrine” and “hormone.” The chakras have always been understood as subtle energy, meaning that they cannot be seen with the eyes but that their energy could be experienced through their effect on the body.

Here are the connections between the endocrine glands and their related chakras:

Root chakra at the base of the spine (muladhara chakra) is related to the adrenal glands which release the fight or flight hormone adrenaline.

Pelvic/sacral chakra (svadisthana chakra) is related to the ovaries and testicles which release the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. 

Navel/solar plexus chakra (manipura chakra) is related to the pancreas which release insulin and glucagon. This is the chakra of the digestive system.

Heart chakra (anahata chakra) is related to the thymus, a small gland located just behind the sternum. It is responsible for T cell production necessary for a healthy lymphatic system. When it is weak a person is more susceptible to autoimmune disorders.

Throat chakra (vishuddha chakra) is related to the thyroid and parathyroid which release hormones to control metabolism, physical growth and nervous system activity.

Third eye chakra (ajna chakra) is related to the pineal gland which secretes melatonin to regulate sleep.

The crown chakra (sahasrara chakra) is related to the master gland pituitary. It secretes a variety of hormones to bring the whole endocrine system into harmony.

Note: Some yoga teachings relate the glands and chakras a little differently. Specifically, the sex organs can be associated with the root chakra while the adrenals are associated with the pelvic chakra. Additionally, the pituitary gland can be associated with the third eye while the pineal gland can be assigned to the crown chakra. 

Here is a practical application from Yoga:
For someone who is dealing with anxiety and worry, Yoga can offer guidance by recognizing the relationship between the adrenal glands—the physical mechanism for releasing hormones that ramp up the fight or flight response—and the root chakra which can ground this energy. When the root chakra is in balance a person feels stable, calm, rooted and steady. Try these practices to balance the root chakra:

Sitting or lying down on the floor and feeling all the places where the body is touching the earth. Chant the mantra LAM (LUHM), the seed syllable for the root chakra.

Breathe in through the nose and feel the air filling the lungs and belly. Breathe out through the nose while visualizing the breath moving down the center of the body to the base of the spine, down the legs and into the earth. Practice for at least 5-10 minutes.

Helpful yoga poses: Mountain pose, Tree pose, Goddess pose, Triangle pose, All seated poses especially meditation postures, Squatting, Knees to chest, Corpse pose