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Liberating the Consciousness from Imprisonment in the Physical Body · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  When we reflect on our normal state of conscious awareness, we
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  recognize a primary seat of awareness in the mind, while
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  also finding that we respond to impulses that originate in the
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  other chakras. Subtle energy centres from the
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  base of the spine to the crown of the head.
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  Yogic science has long recognized that energy traverses
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  the subtle channels that connect the chakras.
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  In the practices of Kundalini yoga, the object is to awaken
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  the sleeping coiled serpent energy in the Mulladar chakra,
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  the root chakra that governs the powers of sex and other basic
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  forces of the vital nature, and directed up to meet with the
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  Sahasrara chakra, the 1000 pedal Lotus at the top of the head.
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  This movement leads to the bursting forth of the
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  consciousness to a range above the head, conveying liberation
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  and expanded consciousness. With this breakthrough, various
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  disciplines, particularly in the Chinese forms of martial arts,
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  focus the awareness and energy to build tremendous strength and
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  force in the solar plexus, the naval center or Manipura chakra
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  in the systems of yoga. What we do not frequently
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  recognize, however, is that there are additional stations of
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  consciousness below the Muladhara as well as above the
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  Sahasrara. Those who take up the
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  exploration of the subconscious and unconscious ranges may find
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  themselves at some point opening energy centers at the level of
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  the knees or the feet. For those who take up the
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  practice of the Integral Yoga, where the focus is on bringing
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  down into human existence the higher powers of consciousness,
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  the opening of the thousand petal chakra at the top of the
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  head represents A thoroughfare for the movement of this energy.
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  And they find when the openings come that they are stationed in
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  their awareness above the head and outside the constraints of
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  the physical body. Sri Aurobindo notes quote the
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  consciousness is usually imprisoned in the body,
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  centralized in the brain and heart and navel centres, mental,
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  emotional, sensational. When you feel it or something of
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  it, go up and take its station above the head.
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  That is the liberation of the imprisoned consciousness from
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  the body formula. It is the mental in you that
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  goes up there, gets into touch with something higher than the
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  ordinary mind, and from there puts the higher mental will on
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  the rest for transformation. The trembling and the heat come
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  from a resistance, an absence of habituation in the body and the
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  vital to this demand and to this liberation.
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  When the mental consciousness can take its stand permanently
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  or it will above like this, then this first liberation becomes
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  accomplished. Siddha.
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  From there the mental being can open freely to the higher planes
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  or to the cosmic existence and its forces, and can also act
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  with greater liberty and power on the lower nature.
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  End Quote Reference Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
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  Chapter 3 in difficulty, page 54.