Heather Deaville Heather Deaville

Chakra Yoga Series: Part 7, Crown Chakra

Yoga Teacher in Warri II pose

As we arrived at the final week of our journey through the chakras, we reached the Crown Chakra, Sahasrara. And yet, in many ways, this is not an ending at all, but a beginning.

Going deeper into stillness

This week we continued in the same direction as our exploration of the Third Eye Chakra, moving further into stillness. We softened mental chatter, created space, and allowed ourselves time to reconnect, not only to our intuition, but to a wider sense of awareness and connection to all living things.

To support this journey, we began back at the Root Chakra. In many ways, the Crown Chakra invites us to reflect on the entire chakra system. When the chakras are balanced, we begin to feel both an inner steadiness and an outer connection to something greater than ourselves.

Root to rise

“Root to rise” is a familiar phrase in yoga, but this week it truly came alive in our practice.

We began with grounding, pelvis-focused movements, building awareness from the base upwards. As the weeks have unfolded, I’ve found myself offering fewer verbal cues, one of the joys of working with the same students over time. With less instruction, there is more space for students to feel, explore, and trust their own experience.

Our connection to the earth felt strong and steady. We moved through:

  • Bridge Pose

  • Flowing Cat–Cow

  • Mountain Pose

  • Dolphin Pose

  • Warrior II

  • Extended Side Angle

  • Eagle Pose

As with our Third Eye practice, we returned again and again to our Drishti, our focused gaze. The energy in each class felt calm and grounded, yet quietly powerful—soft, steady, and deeply present. The stillness of mind was something you could almost feel in the room.

Essential oils

We began the practice with Elemi essential oil, a resin-based middle note known for its grounding and regulating effect on the nervous system. It helps to ease stress, clear the mind, and support clarity and focus. It was exactly what was needed as we settled into practice.

We closed with Frankincense essential oil, an oil long associated with spiritual connection, tranquility, and contemplation. Its deeply calming effect on both body and mind made it the perfect companion for our final meditation and savasana.

Mudra and mantra

This week we explored Atmanjali Mudra, often described as a gesture of greeting the self. It carries a quiet sense of reverence and inner acknowledgement.

We paired this with the mantra:

“Tranquillity and inner wisdom characterise my life.”

Throughout the practice, we also worked with the awareness:

“I am the observer of my thoughts and do not let them bring me down.”

And in meditation:

“In the silence, I am open to receive without asking and without expectation. In the silence, I will see and hear the truth.”

Where next?

As I reflect on this journey through the chakras, I feel a strong pull to continue exploring this work more deeply with my students. Rather than keeping each chakra separate, it feels like the right time to begin weaving them together, as they are naturally intended to be.

So next week, we’ll begin a new chapter: a journey through all seven chakras as one integrated practice. It feels exciting, expansive, and full of possibility.

Exploring each chakra individually has been a fascinating experience, both for me as a teacher and for my students. Many have shared how much they’ve enjoyed the process: taking their practice to a deeper level, exploring something new, and stepping beyond their comfort zones with curiosity and openness.

I hope this journey has inspired you to explore the chakras for yourself. And if you’re a yoga teacher, perhaps it might encourage you to create your own Chakra Yoga series. If you do, I would truly love to hear about your experience.

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope to see you back here again soon.

If you’ve enjoyed following this Chakra Yoga journey and feel called to explore it more deeply, you’re so welcome to join me.

I offer regular yoga classes, workshops, retreats and CPD training for yoga teachers who want to integrate essential oils into their teaching in a safe and meaningful way.

👉 Get in touch, I’d love to hear from you heather@deavilleyoga.com

Sources and Inspiration

The themes explored in this class were informed by my own knowledge of traditional yoga philosophy and practice. My experience as a professional aromatherapist and inspiration from:

  • Anodea Judith’s Chakra Yoga, published by Llewellyn Books

  • Aromatherapy for healing the spirit, Gabriel Mojay, published by Healing Arts Press

  • Mudras for Body, Mind & Spirit by Gertrud Hirschi, published by Tarotdeck

  • The Power of the Chakra’s, Fiona Toy, published by Hinkler

These sources often inform the framework I use when designing themed yoga classes that integrate movement, breath, subtle energy and essential oils.

The Chakra Yoga series:

You can explore the whole series so far by following these links to my chakra yoga blogs for each one:

Read More
Chakra Yoga Heather Deaville Chakra Yoga Heather Deaville

Chakra Yoga Series: Part 6, Third Eye Chakra

Yoga teacher making her way to Puppy Pose

As we reach week 6 of our Chakra Yoga journey, I can feel the energy settling into a quieter, more meditative space. Having moved through more outward-facing energetic themes, our attention now turns inward to the Third Eye Chakra, Ajna. This practice invites us to trust our intuition and listen deeply to our inner wisdom.

Focus on our focus

In this week’s classes, we worked with both our internal and external gaze. This simple shift helped to quiet the mind and deepen our ability to listen to ourselves.

In yoga, this focused gaze is known as our Drishti. We gently anchor our awareness to a single point, allowing the eyes to be steady yet soft. This steadiness supports us in balance postures and encourages a calmer, more settled mind in stillness.

The inner eye

The Third Eye Chakra is considered the seat of intuition. Located just above and between the eyebrows (and slightly deeper within the centre of the head), it is often described as a form of inner knowing and connecting to a higher, more spiritual realm.

Like the Heart Chakra, its guidance is clearest when we pause long enough to truly listen. This week we explored that space by slowing the breath and visualising calm, expansive imagery, spaces that felt vast, open and still.

One image that resonated strongly was standing at the edge of the ocean, watching sunlight dance across the water. In teaching, I also chose to speak less at times, allowing more silence for students to fully inhabit their practice.

The physical practice

Our asana practice supported this inward focus through postures that encouraged steadiness, space and awareness:

  • Extended Puppy Pose

  • Warrior III

  • Revolved Side Angle Pose

  • Downward Facing Dog

Each shape offered an opportunity to return to the breath and gently refine attention.

Mudra and mantra

This week I really enjoyed sharing Shankh Mudra (Shell Mudra) with students. In this mudra, the fingers interlace to form a shape reminiscent of a conch shell, symbolising the connection between outer expression and inner truth.

It is said to support inner listening and deepen connection to intuitive knowing. The right thumb is gently held, representing the “pearl of wisdom” protected within.

We closed with the affirmation:

“I trust my instincts and follow their guidance.”

Essential oils for the Third Eye

We began our practice this week with Clary Sage essential oil. This oil supports reconnection with intuition, helping to clear the mind and leaving us feeling revitalised and re-inspired.

We closed the practice with Amyris essential oil, a gently uplifting oil that helps calm and clear the mind while supporting a quiet sense of wellbeing and inner ease.

Join me for a class, workshop or CPD training

My joy is in sharing my two great passions—yoga and aromatherapy—and I would love to have you join me on this journey.

I teach yoga classes in Sussex, run yoga workshops, and Yoga retreats across Sussex and Kent.

I am also blessed to have a wonderful community of yoga teachers who have completed my Essential Oils for Yoga Teachers CPD training. They are passionate about learning how to safely and meaningfully incorporate essential oils into their classes and workshops.

Next week

Next week we’ll journey up the Sushumna Nadi to the Crown Chakra, Sahasrara, building on our exploration of inner knowing while gently expanding into our connection with the world around us and the divine.

Sources and inspiration

The themes explored in this class were informed by my own knowledge of traditional yoga philosophy and aromatherapy, as well as inspiration from:

  • Chakra Yoga by Anodea Judith (Llewellyn Publications)

  • Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay (Healing Arts Press)

  • Mudras for Body, Mind & Spirit by Gertrud Hirschi (Findhorn Press)

These sources often inform the framework I use when designing themed yoga classes that integrate movement, breath, subtle energy and essential oils.

The Chakra Yoga series

You can explore the full series so far below:

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Heather Deaville Heather Deaville

Chakra Yoga Series Part 3: Solar Plexus Chakra

Plank pose to fire up the Solar Plexus Chakra

After establishing a grounded root and exploring our creativity in week 2, week 3 classes’ have been exploring the power of the Solar Plexus Chakra, Manipura.

The element of this Chakra is fire and boy did that translate into our practice, where strength was the key word through every posture. This chakra is associated with self confidence, optimism, and determination without the need to trample over others. It was a great, if challenging week on the mat.

Drawing on our personal power

This week our practice focused on:

  • Uplifting our energy

  • Restoring confidence and optimism in our ability to achieve

  • Holding poses for longer

  • Warrior poses, plank, boat - expansive and strong

  • Facing the physical challenge to see how much we are capable of

Holding for longer

By spending longer in poses like Warrior two, plank pose and down dog, we had to draw on our well of inner strength to last the distance. The breath was our supportive guide, enabling us to strengthen our will power to stay for longer. This practice really challenged us physically, but the rewards of knowing we could do it were great.

Oils to support our fire

Alongside our asana practice, we worked with 2 beautiful essential oils to enhance our exploration of the Solar Plexus Chakra.

This weeks practice started with Lemon essential oil. A breath of bright, uplifting fresh air, it wiped the slate of the day clean and encouraged us to let go of emotional confusion and doubt, clearing the mind, encouraging self-trust and uplifting us in body and soul.

Then Pine essential oil was introduced towards the end of the practice. This fortifying scent helped to bolster our confidence and like Pine often does, it re-established our connection to life in the hear and now.

I absolutely loved this combination of oils for all it added to our Solar Plexus Chakra Yoga class this week. This class takes place on a Tuesday morning at Ditchling Pavilion.

Continuing the journey next week

Next week we’ll be reaching theHeart Chakra, Anahata. This chakra which is the link between the lower, more physical chakras, and the upper, more spiritual and ethereal ones. And once again our practice will change to explore this energy centre in all its glory

If you’re intrigued to explore this in your own yoga practice you are warmly invited to join us on this journey through the Chakras. Click to discover my yoga classes, workshops and retreats.

Essential Oils and Themed Yoga Teaching

Working with aroma alongside yoga can add a subtle but powerful layer to themed classes, workshops and retreats.

Essential oils like Lemon and Pine can deepen the energetic tone of a practice and help guide students deeper into the qualities you’re exploring.

For yoga teachers, learning how to integrate essential oils safely and intentionally can open up new possibilities for creating meaningful, sensory-led classes, workshops and retreats. Check out my practical guide to essential oil safety in yoga classes here

If you're a teacher interested in exploring this approach, I share the framework I use for blending aromatherapy with yoga practice inside my on demand Essential Oils for Yoga Teachers CPD, where we explore safety, how to use scent to deepen your students yoga practice, and ways to weave scent into themed classes such as chakra practices.

You can learn more about the training here: Essential Oils for Yoga Teachers CPD

Sources and Inspiration

The themes explored in this class were informed by my own knowledge of traditional yoga philosophy and aromatherapy as well as inspiration from:

  • Anodea Judith’s Chakra Yoga, published by Llewellyn Books

  • The Power of the Chakra’s, Fiona Toy, published by Hinkler

  • Aromatherapy for healing the spirit, Gabriel Mojay, published by Healing Arts Press

These sources are a few of the books I go to to inform the framework I use when designing themed yoga classes that integrate asana, pranayama, subtle energy and essential oils.

The Chakra Yoga series:

You can explore the whole series so far by following these links to my chakra yoga blogs for each one:

Read More
Chakra Yoga Heather Deaville Chakra Yoga Heather Deaville

Chakra Yoga Series Part 1: Root Chakra

Grounding isn’t about holding yourself rigid.
It’s about softening into strength.

This week in our root chakra practice, we explored steadiness through strong standing postures, slower breath and a felt sense of support beneath us.

Returning to the Root: Exploring Grounded Presence in This Week’s Yoga Classes

This week in class, we slowed down.

Not because we were tired, not because we needed less, but to explore the root chakra, to reconnect to the earth and explore the power of this chakra in helping us step away from our thoughts, our to-do lists, and the constant forward pull of life.

We came back to the ground.

We explored the root chakra — Muladhara — the energetic centre associated with safety, stability and belonging. Located at the base of the spine and connected to the element of earth, it governs our sense of being supported, physically, emotionally and energetically. It’s associated with the colour red and is represented by a lotus flour with four petals.

And perhaps more importantly, it influences how safe our nervous system feels in the present moment.

Ground Before You Grow

There’s a quiet wisdom in starting at the root.

In yoga, we often speak of expansion — opening the heart, awakening insight, rising into expression. But growth without grounding can feel unsteady.

This week, we prioritised steadiness. We started at the pelvis, connecting to our root chakra with our pranayama (breath) our minds through visualization's and physical through our movement. In standing we pressed firmly through the feet, allowing the upper body to be soft and flowing, whilst the lower body was string and connected.

Simple things. Foundational things.

And yet they shift so much.

Safety Is a Felt Sense

When we focus on grounding practices, we are sending subtle cues of safety to the body.

The nervous system responds to rhythm, pressure, containment and connection to the earth. Longer exhales gently stimulate the parasympathetic response. Strong, steady postures build a quiet resilience.

In a world that constantly pulls our attention upward and outward, rooting down allows us to reconnect to what matters.

Working with the Earth Through Aroma

Alongside the physical practice, we also worked subtly with scent in my Tuesday Morning Ditchling class and post Wednesday evenings flow yoga.

Earthy essential oils can deepen the experience of grounding, offering an anchor through the breath. This week we explored vetiver and patchouli — both traditionally associated with root energy.

Vetiver has a deep, smoky, almost ancient aroma. It settles quickly in the body, centres and connects us to mother earth — calming, nourishing, relaxing the body and mind. Many people describe it as feeling like a weighted blanket for the nervous system, it’s also known as the King of Sleep!

Patchouli carries a warm, earthy scent that brings awareness back to the physical body. It can be especially supportive when we feel scattered or disconnected, gently grounding and stabalising the mind when overthinking and worry develop.

Used lightly and intentionally, scent becomes another pathway back to presence — not overpowering, simply supportive.

A Small Grounding Ritual You Can Try

If you’d like to work with root energy at home, try this:

Stand with your feet hip-width apart.
Soften your knees slightly.

Scrunch and release your toes three times.
Imagine roots growing from the soles of your feet into the earth beneath you.

Take five slow breaths.
Let your exhale be longer than your inhale.

If you have vetiver or patchouli to hand, place a drop on a cotton pad or in a diffuser and allow the aroma to accompany your breath.

Notice what shifts.

Building Upwards: Next Week’s Theme

Having established steadiness at the root, next week we gently begin to move upward.

We’ll explore the sacral chakra — Svadhisthana— the centre of fluidity, creativity and emotional expression.

If the root asks, “Am I safe?”
The sacral chakra asks, “Can I feel?”

Our practice will soften, spiral and flow a little more. We’ll work with the element of water, inviting mobility into the hips and space into the lower belly. Where this week was about steadiness and containment, next week will be about permission — to move, to feel, to explore.

If you’ve been feeling unsteady, overwhelmed or disconnected from your body, this kind of themed, intentional practice can be profoundly regulating.

You don’t need to understand chakras to benefit. You simply need a willingness to arrive as you are and take from each practice what works for you.

And you are always welcome.

I run yoga classes and retreats across Sussex and Kent, blending my passion for yoga and aromatherapy to support you through life.

The Chakra Yoga series:

You can explore the whole series so far by following these links to my chakra yoga blogs for each one:

Read More