What is a Chakra and How is the Chakra System Important For Wellbeing?

Chakra (plural--chakras)

1. One of the seven centers of spiritual energy in the human body according to yoga philosophy.  (American Heritage Dictionary)
2. In Hinduism and Tantra, any of 88,000 focal points in the human body where psychic forces and bodily functions can merge and interact. In Hinduism there are seven and in Tantra four major chakras, each associated with a colour, shape, sense organ, natural element, deity, and mantra. The most important are the heart chakra, the chakra at the base of the spine, and the chakra at the top of the head.  (Encyclopedia Britannica Online)

Chakra Balancing
The Chakras must be in balance for optimum physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Chakra balancing is based on the ancient Indian belief in a series of seven chakras , or energy centers. Chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel. These energy centers are believed to be located at specific points between the base of the spine and the top of the skull. Some esoteric systems include additional chakras, said to extend beyond the physical body into the human auric field. Each chakra is believed to relate to particular organs of the body, ailments, colors, elements, and emotions. However, different systems or sources that use the idea of chakras may disagree about the details.  (Source:  Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine  Author:  Gregutt, Peter)