Muladhara or the Root Chakra is located at the base of the spine at the tailbone, this is the starting point for our spiritual development. This chakra is associated with the element earth and is linked
to your ability to feel grounded, safe, trusting and feeling stability in your life. It is the foundation of the entire chakra system, as it is the lowest of all the chakras on the body. The Muladhara Chakra is an important center for grounding to maintain balance in your life. Having a strong connection to the earth provides a solid foundation for experiencing the energies of all of the chakras.
All material things are represented by the first chakra: the body, the earth, material and money. This chakra helps us to manifest the physical items which we need to stay alive and healthy. When it is balanced, we experience feelings of safety and courage. Blocks in the root chakra are associated with fear, anxiety, instability and insecurity. The adrenal glands operate under the Muladhara Chakra system and therefore the “flight or fight” system of reaction may be over reactive whenever changes come.
When the energy at your muladhara chakra is balanced and flowing freely, you feel safe and secure in your life. You tend to be fully present in the moment and connected to what is going on around you. You relate in healthy ways to the people who share your life. You are blessed with good health because your immune system is functioning properly, and your skeletal system supports you. Your earthly needs, such as food and shelter always seem to be provided. The muladhara chakra is related to your sense of being part of a relationship, family and community. Its energy enables you to provide for your own needs and for those who may be dependent on you. Working with the energy of your muladhara chakra can assist you in connecting with your body in a healthier manner. It enhances your ability to eliminate what you no longer need or want in your life, including negative thoughts and emotions. It can help you to free yourself from prejudices and intolerances that you may have held for a long time, or even enable you ro release yourself from negative ways of looking at the world that you may have `inherited` from your family.
D E F I C I E N T
You tend to be a fearful person.
You lack discipline, suffer from restlessness, crave constant change.
You may feel ungrounded.
You are often unable to settle down, make commitments or sustain healthy relationships.
You feel disconnected from your body.
E X C E S S I V E
You might feel stuck in life.
You tend to be sluggish, heavy, overbearing, overburdened.
You hoard things.
Your thinking is in terms of black and white; you see other as being either with you or against you.
You may suffer from constipation.
You frequently feel depressed.
You are obsessed with physical security.
You are preoccupied with routine and fear change.
When the root chakra is out of alignment, you may find yourself busily bouncing from one thing to the next in a rush without appropriate attention or intention. This can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, and stress. On the flipside its imbalance can result in a feeling of lethargy, being stuck, feeling unable to take action, and manifest intention.
P R A C T I C E . H E A L I N G
We can heal and open the Root Chakra, with asana (postures), meditation and yoga nidra. Working with your chakras is all about balance. Releasing excess chakra energy is just as important as stimulating chakras to gain energy . The poses below are aimed at both stimulating and releasing energy from the Muladhara in order to allow for true transformation and personal growth. Spend 10 deep breaths in each pose, or if you have time, 10 minutes.
Sukhasana - Easy seated pose.
If you're uncomfortable seated on the floor you can use blocks or pillows to elevate the pelvis. Focus on the areas of the buttocks resting on the floor. The hips are relaxing and the pelvis is heavy.
Balasana - Childs Pose.
Let your whole body relax. Notice how it feels to be completely supported by the ground beneath you, and welcome this balance of surrender and support to carry you through your practice.
Malasana - Garland Pose (Low Squat)
This pose brings you close to the earth, and helps calm the mind and spirit while strengthening the lower back and ankles as well as opening the hips. Our feet are our roots, and through the feet we feel the energy of the earth.
Baddha Konasana - Butterfly Pose
Releasing deep tension within the hips, this pose allows the pelvis and seat of the spine to connect to the earth. Let your body be supported by the earth underneath you. Connect with the warm ujjayi breath.
Uttanasana - Standing Forward Fold
A calming pose to ease a busy mind, Uttanasana helps us find center and inner calm. At the same time, it slowly stretches the hamstrings and relieves tension in the entire back. Helping us to become aware of our foundations as we trust ourselves to be supported by the feet.
Virabhadrasana - Warrior 1, 2, 3.
Virabhadrasana means "fierce warrior," so what better pose to help you face your fears and doubts? This pose uses the body’s natural flow of energy to stimulate it while both feet are firmly on the ground, helping you dig deeper into your inner reserves of strength and determination.
Savasana - Relaxation
More so than any other pose this is the most important (and of course often the favourite!) Allowing yourself time out, to just be. Resting the body. Exploring and finding the inner stillness will help your body to heal, your mind to calm. Focusing on the breath will help the mind stop wandering, when it does, come back to your breath.
Bija - LAM
The cleansing mantra chanted for your Root Chakra, which keeps us grounded and linked to the earth.
Chanting this mantra will cleanse impurities that can collect in the root chakra – literally opening you up to feelings of security, prosperity and belonging – and clearing any blocked energy that is being prevented from moving through to the other six main energy centers. Chant “LAM” if your energy is low, you struggle financially, you suffer from low self-esteem and you suffer from adrenal fatigue and other stress-related ailments.
Focusing on poses that will enable you to feel grounded, or simply moving through your practice with consciousness. The strong foundations you body provides. The hands, the feet, the pelvis. The areas of the body touching the floor that support the body. Balances, standing poses, seated poses and lying supine are a great way to connect with the earth underneath you.
Allow yourself to surrender to the earth underneath you.
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