Our body and our energy points are subject to various environmental influences, both positive and negative. It is therefore important that each individual responsible undertake effective chakra cleansing practices in order to maintain balance and harmony among our physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual aspects. This is necessary so that our chakras (energy systems) always function in unison with one another for a healthy and active lifestyle.

Following are some of the conventional chakra cleansing methods man uses for thousands of years:

1. Regularly burning incense or certain herbs and plants and allowing ourselves to soak in the smoke can negate the negative effect of obstacles to our energy points. Smudging is an age-old practice known to people of diverse cultures and civilization as an effective method if achieving balance and harmony in life.

2. Auric brushing with the aid of crystals and gems is one way to cleanse our chakras of blockages but it should be done judiciously as it is potentially a double-edged knife, it can cause damage if not done by a well-experienced person.

3. A healthy lifestyle, drinking plenty of clean water, tea and fruit juices, plus enough sleep and relaxation are highly recommended in order to maintain strong energy systems.

4. Engaging in regular breathing and physical exercises is to your advantage as it helps maintain the vitality and normal function of our chakras.

5. Establishing a connection with nature is one way of gaining positive influences on our energy systems since nature is an integral part of our environment and existence.

6. Color therapy is another effective chakra cleansing practice. Colors, with their effects on individuals can successfully be used in initiating chakra cleansing either by visualization or by looking at the real color.

7. Listening to music also heals our energy system. Music is an effective chakra cleansing technique and can be used to activate our chakras, which in turn activate the entire endocrine system.

8. Stimulating our mental power and engaging in worthwhile intellectual pursuits are critical factors to maintain a healthy chakra. The mind rests in the mental aura and this level of the aura needs to be stimulated or it will slow down, accelerating the aging process. We need to be learning, interested, and passionate about something at all times in our lives.

9. Deep contemplation for a few minutes on a regular basis is enough to allow us to realize and understand our thoughts and emotional feelings. It is a vital way of chakra cleansing technique because it makes us cognizant and receptive to everything around us.

10. Practicing love of self is also important as it teaches us survival and self preservation. It also makes us more able to love others.

11. An awareness of our feelings and emotions coupled with the ability to express them in a constructive manner to people around us is a very vital chakra cleansing and maintenance strategy. Restrained thoughts, feelings and emotions can invariably cause energy jams that can disturb our health and well being.

12. Be creative in everything that you do even if it is not related to the arts. Enjoy your tasks and perform them in a jovial manner and they would not be a drudgery.

13. Coming to terms with our past and having an appreciation of its meaning can provide us a deep understanding of our objective as a human being.

14. Live a life anchored on the moral values of respect, trust, decency, honesty and truthfulness. This will make you a more constructive and reliable person that others would trust.

15. Communicate with your Creator through prayer. Praying is a fundamental part of our health and energy systems because it is an acknowledgement of humility and a sign of respect for the Almighty. It also helps put us at ease and make us sensitive to our environment.

All the above methods of chakra cleansing are very important. However, it takes practice and a realization of your love for yourself and others before you can truly understand and use them for chakra cleansing. It is not necessary to use them all at the same time but it is recommended to start off with one or two or three and continue to add methodologies over time. Chakra cleansing is not achieved instantaneously, it is a constant and lifetime process (just like chakras are continually in motion) in order to achieve and maintain a healthy balance among all the elements involved.