Balance Yoga chakra chart with seven colored brushstrokes representing understanding, intuition, expression, love, power, feeling, and stability

Chakras Without the Mysticism: Anatomy, Movement, and Yoga

August 12, 2026•2 min read

At Balance Yoga, I use the chakras as an organized framework for exploring connections between the body, breath, nervous system, emotions, and self-awareness.

The chakras come from an ancient system that connects specific areas of the body with physical function, attention, emotion, and human experience. Interestingly, several of these traditional locations overlap with important nerve networks, organs, and physiological systems that modern anatomy now recognizes.

Chakra-focused yoga at Balance Yoga is not taught as religion, worship, or an invitation into anything dark or mystical. You do not need to hold any spiritual belief to participate. My teaching remains grounded in the body, the nervous system, and science-backed yoga practices.

For example, the third chakra is associated with the area above the navel and below the ribs. Anatomically, this region contains the celiac plexus, also called the solar plexus, an extensive network of autonomic nerves connected with many of the abdominal organs.

Traditional chakra teachings also associate this area with qualities such as confidence, motivation, inner strength, and the element of fire. Science does not tell us that confidence is physically stored in the abdomen. However, we do know that breathing, posture, muscular tension, nervous system activity, and emotional experience continually influence one another.

Think about the familiar feeling of having “butterflies in your stomach” when you're nervous, excited, or anticipating something important. The emotion isn't literally stored in your stomach, yet you can physically feel your nervous system responding in that area. Your heart may beat faster, your breathing may change, your abdominal muscles may tighten, and your digestive system may respond.

That doesn't scientifically prove the existence of a chakra. But it does give us a very relatable example of something ancient traditions recognized long before we understood the nervous system the way we do today: what we experience emotionally can also be experienced physically in the body.

This is how I approach the chakras in class: through movement, breath, anatomy, and thoughtful self-awareness.

Angie Ryan

Angie Ryan In 2009, my life took an unexpected turn when a running injury left me seeking relief from nine different doctors. Frustrated not finding relief from pain & facing the possibility of using a wheelchair, a friend introduced me to my first yoga class. Skeptical, I initially perceived yoga as too passive to provide any help I tried my first yoga class. Little did I know, it would become the catalyst for profound healing. Contrary to my initial assumptions, yoga presented itself as an unexpected and enjoyable challenge that ultimately healed my feet, offering solace where traditional medicine had fallen short. Over two years of dedicated practice, I transitioned from a student to a teacher, acquiring certifications in yoga, breathwork, proper body mechanics & 2 different yoga walls. My quest for understanding led me to an in-depth exploration of foot anatomy & body mechanics, seeking the answers to how yoga had transformed my own health. Years later, delving into a year-long training in the B.K.S. Iyengar teaching lineage, I honed the art of using yoga to alleviate pain. Today, I proudly hold certifications as a Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 and YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider). My joy lies in introducing yoga to beginners! Currently, I teach a diverse range of classes, including Beginners Yoga, Chair Yoga, Wall Yoga, Feet-Up Trainer Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Meditation, and Pranayama. My passion extends to helping individuals overcome pain through yoga and educating students on moving with grace & utilizing proper body mechanics. The mantra "Crooked bodies Cause Pain!" resonates in my classes as I guide students away from common misalignments that contribute to bodily discomfort. My aspiration is to share the knowledge I've gained with compassion for those new to yoga or experiencing pain. I hope that every individual studying with me discovers a profound love for yoga and experiences its transformative power as I have.

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