Spiritual pilgrims literally walked through the mandala to attain spiritual insight. Get a pencil and try walking the Chartres mandala by tracing the path you would take to reach the center and then return from the center to the world again. Using mandalas and mantras together is a wonderful way to meditate because the combination of aural and visual stimulation awakens and clarifies your mind, body, and spirit in multiple ways. Adding color to your mandala goes even further toward stimulating the senses. Know Yoga helps you feel better in your body.
Body awareness is an important part of practicing yoga.
Chakras are related to nerve centers in the spine. Releasing chakras optimizes your neural superhighway. Mantras and mandalas channel the body's energy and focus the mind.