Living in Alignment: Chakras, the Yamas & Niyamas, and The Four Agreements

Yoga is more than movement; it is a philosophy of presence, purpose, and transformation. At its core, yoga invites us to reconnect with our breath, body, values, and the rhythms of the world around us. At OAKE Yoga, we draw from diverse wisdom traditions that nurture personal growth, emotional well-being, and ethical living.

In this reflection, we explore three foundational systems that together support a balanced and intentional life:

The Chakra System, which maps our inner energy and emotional flow
The Yamas and Niyamas, the ethical principles from the Yoga Sutras
The Four Agreements, grounded in Toltec wisdom and modern practice

Though these frameworks arise from different traditions, they are deeply interconnected. Together, they form a multidimensional guide to living in alignment—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. At OAKE Yoga, we see these teachings reflected in our core values:

Rooted Growth | Embodied Strength | Conscious Connection | Intentional Living

Journaling Prompt #1: Recognizing Alignment

Think of a moment when you felt calm, grounded, and clear.

What helped you feel that way?

Were you speaking your truth? Setting boundaries? Caring for your body or breath?

What would help you return to that feeling more often in your day-to-day life?

Chakras: Mapping Energy and Emotion

The chakra system, rooted in ancient yogic and tantric traditions, describes seven energy centers that run along the spine—from the base to the crown of the head. Each chakra governs specific physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our lives, influencing how we feel, connect, and move through the world.

Starting with the Root Chakra (Muladhara), which supports grounding and safety, the system rises through the Sacral (creativity and emotion), Solar Plexus (confidence and personal power), Heart (love and compassion), Throat (expression and truth), Third Eye (intuition and insight), and culminates at the Crown Chakra (spiritual connection and awareness). When energy flows freely through these centers, we experience greater balance, vitality, and clarity.

At OAKE Yoga, we explore the chakra system through the value of Rooted Growth—meeting you where you are and supporting your personal evolution. Each chakra offers an invitation: to reflect, release, and realign with your deeper self. From the steadiness of the root to the insight of the crown, these energy centers offer a path toward more purposeful, embodied living.

When our energy is balanced, we feel grounded, open, and aligned with our truth.

Journaling Prompt #2: Exploring Your Energy Centers

Take a quiet moment to check in with your body and breath.

Where do you feel grounded or steady right now?

Where might you be holding tension, uncertainty, or emotional heaviness?

Choose one chakra that resonates with how you're feeling. What might it be asking for—rest, expression, courage, connection?

Write about how tuning into that energy center could support your well-being this week.

Yamas & Niyamas: The Ethical Roots of Yoga

The Yamas and Niyamas, as outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, offer a timeless ethical framework for living with greater awareness, compassion, and integrity. The yamas are outward-facing principles that guide how we interact with others - encouraging non-harming (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), moderation (brahmacharya), and non-attachment (aparigraha). At OAKE Yoga these practices reflect value of Conscious Connection, inviting us to show up in community with care and authenticity. The niyamas focus inward, offering tools for personal growth - purity (shaucha), contentment (santosha), self-discipline (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya), and surrender (Ishvara pranidhana). These teachings mirror our value of Embodied Strength, guiding us to cultivate clarity, resilience, and inner steadiness.

Rather than rules to follow, the Yamas and Niyamas serve as invitations to live with greater alignment - on and off the mat. They encourage reflection, mindful choice, and the courage to evolve. We explore these teachings not as abstract ideas, but as living practices that help us navigate everyday life with intention and heart. Whether through breath, movement, or journaling, these values offer a grounded path toward deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us.

Journaling Prompt #3: Exploring Inner Guidance

Think of a recent moment when you felt proud of how you acted, or one where something felt out of sync.

What value were you honoring or forgetting in that moment (like honesty, patience, self-care, or compassion)?

How did it affect how you felt, physically, emotionally, or in your relationships?

What’s one small intention you can carry into this week to align more fully with the person you want to be?

The Four Agreements: Tools for Inner Freedom

Don Miguel Ruiz’s Four Agreements, rooted in ancient Toltec wisdom, offer simple yet powerful principles for shifting how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world. These teachings encourage us to break free from limiting beliefs and unconscious patterns—and instead live with greater clarity, presence, and emotional freedom.

Be impeccable with your word – Speak with honesty, kindness, and integrity
Don’t take anything personally – What others say or do reflects their own reality, not your worth
Don’t make assumptions – Communicate openly and choose curiosity over fear
Always do your best – Honor your energy, effort, and growth in each moment

At OAKE Yoga, we see these agreements as everyday invitations to practice Intentional Living—choosing thoughts, words, and actions that reflect our values and truth. They remind us that the way we speak to ourselves, set boundaries, and respond to life’s challenges is a practice in itself.

Inner freedom doesn’t come from trying to control life - it comes from meeting each moment with awareness, compassion, and choice.

Journaling Prompt #4: Practicing Perspective

The Four Agreements offer simple, powerful reminders to live with more clarity and self-awareness—like speaking with integrity, letting go of personal judgments, and doing your best with what you have.

Think of a recent interaction or challenge that left you feeling unsettled or unsure.

If you could respond again—with more clarity, kindness, or self-trust—what would you do differently?

What belief, habit, or assumption might have shaped how you reacted in the moment?

What intention can you carry forward to support more grounded, peaceful responses in the week ahead?

At OAKE Yoga, we believe that yoga is not just something we do - it’s how we choose to live. Whether you're tuning into your energy through the Chakras, exploring values like compassion and truth through the Yamas and Niyamas, or cultivating freedom with The Four Agreements, each path offers a way to come home to yourself.

These teachings may come from different traditions, but they all point to the same truth: that through presence, intention, and awareness, we can reconnect with who we are and how we want to move through the world.

We invite you to return to these teachings again and again - on the mat, in your journal, and in the quiet moments in between. As you do, remember that you’re not alone. You’re part of a growing, grounded community dedicated to living with heart, wisdom, and wholeness.

Join us in practice. Share in reflection. Grow in community.

This is the path of OAKE Yoga, and we are so glad you’re moving through it with us