Book on Chakras

Harmony in Chakras

Dr. Armitstead is fortunate enough to have collaborated with other healing professionals in writing a book about Chakras.  Here is a short excerpt from the chapter she wrote in Harmony in Chakras:

I will never forget the first time I worked with chakra energy in my office.  Sarah was a 34 year old woman suffering from anxiety and depression.  I had been working with her for about 6 weeks on dietary and lifestyle changes and designing a clinical nutrition program with whole food supplements to help her.  She was reporting a little improvement but it wasn’t the progress I was expecting.
In my healing work I use muscle testing as a tool to help identify what nutritional support the body needs to heal.  Using muscle testing I screen for heavy metals, heavy chemicals, immune stressors like bacteria, viruses, fungus, and parasites and food sensitivities using homeopathic vials. Any of those things can cause an imbalance in the body and can lead to symptoms; in Sarah’s case, depression and anxiety.  
Muscle testing is based on quantum physics. E=mc2. So if energy equals mass times the speed of light squared then anything with mass has energy and we are using that energy and muscle testing to get a response from the body. This response allows us to know what energy is disrupting the body and make very specific lifestyle and supplement recommendations for that person based on the muscle testing. 
I had been using this technique for years and seen great results with depression and anxiety so when Sarah came in that day and wasn’t getting the results I expected I wanted to go deeper into the emotional component with her about her anxiety and depression and since muscle testing is my tool I decided to muscle test the chakras for the first time and see what would happen.  
Up to this point I knew what chakras were from a very superficial point.  I knew they were energy centers in the body each correlating with certain emotions.  The red one had to do with feeling safe and being at home in your body, the orange one had to do with our sexuality…and so forth.  I wasn’t even sure of the proper names, just the colors.  I had seen pendulums used before in testing chakras so I thought if pendulums can pick it up then maybe muscle testing can too.  So this time instead of muscle testing the organs, with Sarah’s permission, I put my hand in the energy center just a half-inch off the body to see what would happen.  To my surprise, but I guess it shouldn’t have been surprising, the body responded!

To get your signed copy of the book and learn more about Chakras and how I muscle test them come to the book launch on

Thursday, August 9th, 530-7pm
Skinny Bar and Lounge at
174 Orchard St, NY NY 10002
Event details

Book details

Own Your Power With a Balanced Solar Plexus

The 3rd chakra or solar-plexus is located just above the naval and below the rib cage. It is our energy center and it is where our Will Power comes from; our ability to achieve, self-esteem, raw emotions, and self-discipline are all governed by the solar-plexus. It is where we can have a mental understanding of our emotional self.


The solar-plexus not only governs the emotional and mental aspect of your psyche but also your psychic experiences. Often a feeling of intuition or “gut feeling” in a certain situation will benefit you greatly if you listen to it. All aspects of the digestive tract, including the assimilation of nutrients are controlled by the 3rd Chakra.

When this Chakra is in balance you will be in complete control over your emotions and thoughts. Your ego will have no unwanted influence over your actions. You will know without a doubt, and accept your place in the Universe, have self-love and, in turn, have a great appreciation for all the people in your life and the uniqueness that they bring to world. When in tune, your Solar-plexus will radiate warmth and joy through-out your entire being, and to others who come into contact with you.

Over-active Solar-plexus Chakra

If your chakra is over-active you may be judgmental or critical – and you will easily find fault in others. You may be demanding and have extreme emotional problems, being very rigid or stubborn (it’s either your way or no way). Often anger, or aggressiveness result from an over-active chakra. You may always be planning to do things, but never doing, and your work or interests become a priority over things you have to do (a workaholic). You may also be a perfectionist and can’t settle on something that is already good enough, it always has to be better.


Under-active Solar-plexus Chakra

If this chakra is under active it can cause severe emotional problems. You may have a lot of doubt and mistrust towards the people in your life, and worry too much about what other people might think about you. You may also run on “auto pilot” avoiding your feelings of depression or anxiety; you may feel afraid or alone when you start to look at what you have been avoiding. You also may feel that you are not good enough and be seeking a constant approval of others, this can lead to a need, or dependency on the people in your life.

Physical Symptoms of a Solar-plexus imbalance: Poor digestion, weight problems, ulcers, diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, arthritis, pacreas, liver or kidney problems, anorexia, bulimia, hepatitis, intestinal tumors, food allergies and colon disease.

Healing the Solar-plexus

There are many ways one can begin to balance their Chakras.

Affirmation for the Solar-plexus:
Oh I feel it in my gut
A swirling mass of confusion, indecision and contempt
Breathe, breathe deep all the way down to the pit
On the breath bring all that is good
Whatever that may be to your center
Remember what you are good at
You have a gift to share
You have power to make a difference
I don't have to blame, judge or force you
I don't have to fix it and make it all right
I will breathe deep and remember to honor myself and others
I will exhale all that I don't need and inhale Love
Thank you, I am powerful
Like the unique perspective I bring to the table
I will move forward with self respect and integrity in tact
I will act generous with my gift

Color of the solar-plexus is associated with the color yellow. Picturing a beautiful yellow sunflower where the chakra is located can have an instant affect. Yellow Candles or surrounding yourself with pictures of yellow things can begin to bring this chakra into balance.

Organs/Glands governed by the solar-plexus: Large Intestine, Stomach, Digestive System, Adrenal Glands, Pancreas, Liver, Lungs.

Stones that help the solar-plexus: citrine, topaz, yellow calcite

Aromatherapy/Essential Oils for the Solar-plexus: Best is lemon, followed by Rose, rosewood, sandalwood, chamomile, rosemary, myrrh, frankincense.



Healing the Solar-plexus with Nature: The Solar-plexus’ Element is Fire. Taking a walk out in the sun is extremely beneficial. Sitting in front of a camp fire, or fire place can have an instant healing effect. Fire breathing from Kundalini Yoga will help too.

Solar plexus Chakracise – do the twist, belly dance or hola hoop for at least 70 seconds.

Energy Balancing and the Chakras

There are 7 main energy centers in the body, known as chakras. The definition of chakra is a point of spiritual energy in the human body according to yoga philosophy. Each chakra has a certain location, color and correlation to specific body parts, mental thoughts and emotional moods. When the energy center, or chakra, is blocked or weak physical or emotional dysfunction can occur. When we release the blocked energy and open up the chakra it can give ease to the mind and the body, undoing tightness, stiffness, or malfunction in the body. There are different ways of releasing the energy and since being a chiropractor is all about releasing stuck energy in the spine, joints and muscles of the body it was only a matter of time before I started to release blocked chakra energy in my patients as well. 

I muscle test the chakras by putting my hand in the energy centers. Not only do I check the front of the body’s chakras but also the sides and back.  Chakras are not one dimensional but think of it as a ball of energy and we can check the four sides of the body for it.   after muscle testing and finding out which ones go weak I then prioritize which one needs the most healing and balance that chakra first.   I then have the patient wear the appropriate colored sunglasses that correspond to the weak chakra for at least 60 seconds. Wearing the different colored sunglasses puts that specific color or wavelength into the brain and that helps reset the blocked chakra to allow energy to flow again. If you are interested in buying a pair, they are $30 at www.chakraclass.com. 

There are lots of different ways to open up and balance chakras.  Sometimes the issues isn’t a blocked energy but an energy that is too open that needs to be balanced.  Working with the chakras I found so many ways that were beneficial in balancing the energy. Singing bowls which I have all 7 of them at home and use on a regular basis are wonderful, using sound to balance.  I also love using tuning forks, crystals, essential oils, yoga and color therapy.  There are 7 different chakras that correlate to the 7 different colors of the rainbow - starting from the bottom, the first chakra is red and up to the 7th chakra, white or violet., 

After developing the glasses I wanted to incorporate exercise and movement into opening up and stimulating the chakras so we developed Chakra Class. In this exercise class you will go through a sequence of movement to help open up and stimulate all the chakras. After getting a good workout you will leave the class feeling light and rejuvenated as well!

We also now have the Chakra Light Therapy at the office where you lay under 7 quartz crystals that have cold laser lights going through them to open and energize each of your chakras.

1st Chakra also known as Root Chakra (red)

Sits at the base of your spine, at your tailbone.

Physical imbalances in the root chakra include problems in the legs, feet, rectum, tailbone, immune system, male reproductive parts and prostrate gland. Those with imbalances here are also likely to experience issues of degenerative arthritis, knee pain, sciatica, eating disorders, and constipation.

Emotional imbalances include feelings affecting our basic survival needs: money, shelter and food; ability to provide for life’s necessities.

When this chakra is balanced, you feel supported, a sense of connection and safety to the physical world, and grounded.

The lesson of this chakra is self-preservation; we have a right to be here.



2nd or Sacral Chakra (orange)

Located two inches below your belly button.

Physical imbalances include sexual and reproductive issues, urinary problems, kidney dysfunctions, hip, pelvic and low back pain.

Emotional imbalances include our commitment to relationships. Our ability to express our emotions. Our ability to have fun, play based on desires, creativity, pleasure, sexuality. Fears of impotence, betrayal, addictions.

When this chakra is balanced, we have an ability to take risks, be creative. We are committed. We are passionate, sexual and outgoing.

The lesson of this chakra is to honor others.

3rd or Solar Plexus Chakra (yellow)

Located three inches above your belly button.

Physical imbalances include digestive problems, liver dysfunction, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, stomach ulcers, pancreas and gallbladder issues, colon diseases.

Emotional imbalances include issues of personal power and self-esteem, our inner critic comes out. Fears of rejection, criticism, physical appearances.

When this chakra is balanced, we feel self-respect and self-compassion. We feel in control, assertive, confident.

The lesson of this chakra is self-acceptance.

4th or Heart Chakra (green)

Located at the heart.

Physical imbalances include asthma, heart disease, lung disease, issues with breasts, lymphatic systems, upper back and shoulder problems, arm and wrist pain.

Emotional imbalances include issues of the heart; over-loving to the point of suffocation, jealousy, abandonment, anger, bitterness. Fear of loneliness.

When this chakra is balanced we feel joy, gratitude, love and compassion, forgiveness flows freely, trust is gained.

The lesson of this chakra is love.

5th or Throat Chakra (blue)

Located at the throat.

Physical imbalances include thyroid issues, sore throats, laryngitis, TMJ, ear infections, ulcers, any facial problems (chin, cheek, lips, tongue problems) neck and shoulder pain.

Emotional imbalances include issues of self-expression through communication, both spoken or written. Fear of no power or choice. No willpower or being out of control.

When this chakra is balanced, we have free flowing of words, expression, communication. We are honest and truthful yet firm. We are good listeners.

The lesson of this chakra is to speak up and let your voice be heard.

6th or Third Eye Chakra (purple)

Located in the middle of the eyebrows, in the center of the forehead.

Physical imbalances include headaches, blurred vision, sinus issues, eyestrain, seizures, hearing loss, hormone function.

Emotional imbalances include issues with moodiness, volatility, and self-reflection; An inability to look at ones own fears, and to learn from others. Day-dream often and live in a world with exaggerated imagination.

When this chakra is balanced we feel clear, focused, and can determine between truth and illusion. We are open to receiving wisdom and insight.

The lesson of this chakra is to see the big picture.

7th or Crown Chakra (white)

Located at the top of the head.

Physical imbalance include depression, inability to learn, sensitivity to light, sound, environment.

Emotional imbalances include issues with self-knowledge and greater power. Imbalances arise from rigid thoughts on religion and spirituality, constant confusion, carry prejudices, “analysis paralysis.” Fear of alienation.

When this chakra is balanced, we live in the present moment. We have an unshakeable trust in our inner guidance.

The lesson of this chakra is live mindfully.