Subtle anatomy
The field behind the seven wheels
Prana moves through channels and sheaths; chakras sit inside that wider anatomy.
Prana and breath
Prana is life energy — not merely oxygen, but the felt aliveness that rises and falls with breath, attention, and emotion. Practices on this site begin with simple breathing so prana can redistribute without strain.
Nadis: Sushumna, Ida, Pingala
Classical hatha describes thousands of nadis (channels). Three are central: sushumna along the spine; ida and pingala weaving left and right, often linked with lunar and solar tone. Many maps place the chakras where these channels meet sushumna. We use the names as orientation, not as wiring diagrams inside flesh.
Granthis — three gentle knots
Granthis (knots) at lower, middle, and upper spine — associated with Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra — name places where habit energy tightens. Texts describe them as stages on a long path. We approach them with patience, not aggressive “piercing.”
Koshas — five sheaths
The Taittirīya Upaniṣad lists five layers: annamaya (food/body), pranamaya (energy), manomaya (mind), vijnanamaya (discernment), and anandamaya (bliss). Chakras are often mapped through pranamaya and manomaya, touching deeper sheaths as practice matures.
Aura
Many traditions speak of an energetic field around the body reflecting inner state. We do not offer color-based aura reading or diagnosis — only the invitation to notice whether you feel contracted or spacious, and to act with care.
Secondary chakras
Smaller centers appear in palms, soles, joints, and other locations in some lineages. They matter for hand placement in meditation and for body-based healing arts, but this section focuses on the seven main hubs.
Nerves and endocrine glands
Modern teachers sometimes correlate chakras with nerve plexuses or glands. These parallels are approximate and debated. Hold them lightly — the traditional map is experiential and symbolic first.