Improve Focus With These 5 Yoga Poses to Open the Crown Chakra

The crown chakra, Sahasrara, is the gateway to the infinite wisdom that exists within and connects your physical being to the spiritual realm. This chakra is connected to wisdom, unity, and self-awareness.

Sahasrara – the seventh chakra – is located at the top of the head and is often known as “The Thousand Petals,” according to Yoga Journal. Opening up the crown chakra invites you to gain access to higher states of consciousness. When blocked, this can lead to confusion and a lack of focus. Check out these five yoga poses for opening up the crown chakra to connect to your spiritual side. 

Tree Pose – Vrksasana

The tree pose is a gentle yet effective position for channeling the energy of the crown chakra. This pose, according to The Yoga Collective,  allows you to ground through your roots as you align all of the seven chakras.

Begin by coming to a standing position at the top of your mat with your feet together and your hands at heart center. Find your groove by placing one leg on the other in whichever option feels comfortable for you; the ankle, the shin, or the inner thigh. As you find your balance, raise your hands in a prayer pose above your head, holding them high in the sky as the head rises up. 

The tree pose is a great position to integrate crown chakra affirmations, so while you are in this position,  you can recite, “I trust my highest self and allow the wisdom from the universe to guide me.”

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Crescent Lunge Pose – Anjaneyasana

The crescent lunge yoga  pose offers head-to-toe bliss as you engage energy from the tips of the toes to the tips of the fingers which are held high above the head. This pose enhances stability and balance, both of which can guide you towards a sweet harmony of the mind and body, according to verywellfit. 

Begin in the mountain pose, step one foot backward as you enter a low lunge, anjaneyasana. Then, raise your hands in a prayer pose and place them right above the crown chakra as you welcome a slight bend in the back. Stay in this pose for as long as you choose to while focusing your awareness on the crown chakra.

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Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend – Prasarita Padottanasana

The wide-legged forward bend pose connects your crown against mother earth, according to Ekhart Yoga. To enter the pose, stand side facing on your mat with one foot at either end with your hips and head facing outwards. Raise your hands up high and hinge from your hips as you swan dive forward allowing your head to follow. 

You can  either place a yoga block in front of you and gently place the crown chakra on the block for support. Or, if you find that you have more flexibility you can go ahead and dive deeper into the pose so that your head touches the mat beneath you. Stay in the pose for five to 10 breaths.

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Rabbit Pose – Sasangasana

Opening the crown chakra invites you to lean into the unknown; something people often find uncomfortable or hesitant to explore. As you move through uncomfortable situations in life, the rabbit pose can help you breathe through them, according to Yoga International.

To enter the rabbit pose, begin in a kneeling position. Bring the knees close together and interlace your fingers behind you as you roll  your shoulders back allowing your sternum to rise. From here, fold forward with your head as it meets the mat below you, chest resting on thighs. Lift your hips and as you roll allow your arms to freely flow behind you towards the top of the mat as you roll onto the tip of your head. 

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Headstand  – Sirsasana

The headstand is considered the king of all poses. That’s because this yoga pose nourishes and regulates the brain, which connects your entire body, according to The Balanced Yoga . Sirsasana stimulates and regulates all body functions by increasing blood supply to your scalp and brain. In fact, balancing on your head may actually stimulate your nervous system.

To practice the headstand yoga pose, interlace your fingers and rest your forearms on the mat in front of you. Create a triangle shape with your arms as a little seat to support your head. Place your head on the ground and stand up onto your feet, stabilizing through all four corners. 

From here, press into your forearms and allow your feet to rise directly above you. You can use a wall for support here if the headstand pose is new to you. This super-powerful pose stabilizes your core center and deeply connects to the crown chakra. 

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