At the highest point of your head lies a center of wisdom, connection, and peace: the crown chakra. The crown chakra—sahasrara—is often seen as the gateway to your deepest self. Discover what this energy point can mean for you, your balance, and your experience of peace and spirituality.
What is the crown chakra (sahasrara)?
The crown chakra, or sahasrara, is known as the seventh and highest chakra in traditional Indian energy pathway teachings. "Sahasrara" literally means "thousand-petaled lotus"—an image symbolizing ultimate insight, spirituality, and connection to the greater whole.
According to this tradition, there are seven main chakras (energy centers) within the body, each with its own color, sound, and meaning. The crown chakra is located at the top of the head. It is often depicted as a radiant white or violet light, and according to its followers, it connects us with universal consciousness or the divine. The seventh chakra is the most spiritual chakra. As its location suggests, it connects us with our higher self.
Did you know: In mandalas, the sahasrara chakra is sometimes depicted with exactly 1,000 lotus petals, symbolizing infinite wisdom. But the number is primarily symbolic—no one has ever actually counted them.
What does the crown chakra represent?
Sahasrara, like other chakras, isn't about measurable particles or physical organs, but about the connection between body, mind, and something greater than yourself. In the philosophy behind yoga and meditation, it primarily represents:
- Consciousness and wisdom
- The feeling of connection with everything around you
- Peace and surrender
- Personal and spiritual growth
Many women who practice yoga, breathing, and self-care intuitively sense that there's more to life than just thinking. The crown chakra represents inner peace or clarity. It's not something you can "heal" or "activate" with the push of a button, but it can guide exercises and intentions on the mat.
How do you know if your crown chakra is in balance?
This might require a moment of feeling rather than thinking. According to yoga tradition, balance arises in the crown chakra (sahasrara) when you:
- Experience inner peace, even when it's busy outside
- You can easily let go and have confidence in your path
- Open to new insights and inspiration
- You feel connected, with others, with nature or with life itself
If this balance isn't present, you may struggle with feelings of confusion, meaninglessness, disconnection, or even a sense of aimlessness. Please note: mental well-being is complex and depends on many factors. Yoga and chakra theory are not a substitute for professional care – consider this as additional inspiration.
Practical tips: the crown chakra in your daily life
At Yogi Essentials, we believe it's important to make spiritual concepts relatable and applicable. You don't have to sit still for hours or follow the perfect spiritual diet. Small habits or moments of peace can go a long way:
- Meditation: Sit on a comfortable meditation cushion and focus on the top of your head for a few minutes. Visualize a soft violet or white light radiating there.
- Being Outside: Many people experience a calmness outside, near the sky or clouds, that resembles what the crown chakra symbolizes: connectedness and space.
- Self-reflection: Pause for a moment to ask questions like, "What gives me peace? What transcends my worries?" Write these down, without judgment.
- Breathing: Calm and conscious breathing brings relaxation, which makes your head feel less full and makes it easier to reach that 'higher' peace.
Yoga poses and the crown chakra
🧘 Headstand - Sirsasana
This inverted pose stimulates blood flow to the head and activates the crown chakra. It brings a sense of clarity, focus, and connection to something larger.
NOTE: This is a pose for advanced yogis. Listen to your body and always exercise caution when performing advanced yoga poses.
Tree Pose - Vrksasana
Standing on one leg, you build balance, concentration, and inner stillness. Your crown rises while you remain firmly grounded—the very connection between heaven and earth.
Stand upright with both feet firmly on the ground. Slowly raise one foot and place it against your ankle, calf, or thigh (but not against your knee). Bring your hands over your heart or extend them upward like tree branches.
🐇 Rabbit Pose - Sasangasana
A deep bow, gently placing the crown of your head against the mat. This has a calming effect on the nervous system and opens the energy point at the top of your head.
Begin in child's pose, sitting on your heels with your arms beside your body. Bend forward and place the crown of your head on the mat, near your knees. Hold your heels with your hands and gently lift your hips, allowing your weight to rest gently on the crown of your head.
🛏️ Savasana - Corpse Pose
Complete relaxation where your body can let go and your consciousness opens. Ideal for connecting with your higher self and the greater whole.
Lie on your back with your legs slightly apart and your arms relaxed at your sides, palms up. Let your feet fall outward and close your eyes. Breathe in and out slowly, giving your body permission to completely relax for 5-10 minutes.
Want to dedicate a full yoga session to your crown chakra? Then follow this class from Yoflaminga and rebalance the third eye chakra.
Symbolism and inspiring facts
The crown chakra is surrounded by symbolism. In sculptures and art, you see this zone as a kind of halo or lotus flower, directly above the head. In various spiritual traditions, it represents a state of enlightenment. Think of the halo in classical paintings, or the "diamond crown" in myths and legends – all images of spiritual openness.
In the yoga tradition, the thousand-petaled lotus is sometimes seen as a metaphor: just as your mind can be filled with thoughts, this lotus is vast and multifaceted—but within it lies stillness. It is the point where the "I" and the "greater whole" meet. You don't have to take this literally; think of it as poetry for your inner world.
Crown Chakra Incense – Lotus
Lotus has a light, pure scent that symbolizes enlightenment and spiritual awakening. This scent supports the crown chakra by inviting you to stillness, clarity, and connection with the greater whole.
Chakra incense helps you relax, focus, and deepen your senses – perfect for meditation or yoga practice. Each scent is tailored to a specific chakra and supports its associated energy.
The Crown Chakra in Our Own Yoga Experience
What we've noticed is that when you let yoga, meditation, or breathing work for you, you can sometimes experience moments of clarity, calm, or connection—without it having to be grand or spectacular. For us, that's the symbolism of the crown chakra: creating space for stillness and inspiration, without the pressure to be "perfectly" spiritual.
See it as an invitation. Not to reach for the highest, but simply to be , on your mat, paying attention to what is there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the crown chakra?
The crown chakra— Sahasrara —is the seventh and highest chakra, located at the top of your head. It represents spiritual connection, awareness, surrender, and inner peace.
How do I know if my crown chakra is out of balance?
You may feel disconnected from yourself or the world around you, struggle with trust, or get stuck in overthinking. With overactivity, you may experience a feeling of drifting or restlessness.
Do you have to be spiritual to work with the crown chakra?
No, it's not about religion or faith. The crown chakra is primarily about being connected to yourself, to life, and to something greater than yourself. You can define that entirely yourself.
Why do I sometimes suddenly feel clear or 'light' after savasana or meditation?
This is a sign that your crown chakra is opening. Silence, relaxation, and surrender create space for awareness and connection – exactly what this chakra needs.
What helps to open the crown chakra?
Visualizations with white or purple light, silence, meditation, nature, breathing, and scents like lotus. Moments of pure being—without distractions—also contribute to activation.