The Muladhara chakra is also known as either the first or the root chakra. It is located at the base of the spine or the perineum. As the first chakra, it is our base or our foundation. When this chakra is imbalanced the rest are likely imbalanced to some degree as well. As our base, it is the lowest frequency (color red) and most dense (earth element) of the seven primary energy centers.
In the West, many of us are at least slightly imbalanced here. We are so focused on “doing” and rushing so much that signals from the body are not “heard.” How often are you stuck in your thoughts, mentally building and checking off lists, or playing out possible scenarios or even past events in your mind? Those are all signs of not being embodied. It is through connection with the root chakra that we shift towards greater embodiment. Yoga is a fantastic way to do this. Pairing the breath with movement gets us out of our heads. With consistent practice guided initially by a yoga therapist, we can start building interoception and even neuroception (a term coined by Dr. Stephen Porges which is the awareness of what state of the nervous system you are in). These skills are extremely helpful in continuing upwards and rebalancing the remainder of the seven primary chakras.
Alternately, perhaps you are just feeling heavy and burdened, maybe overwhelmed or stuck. This too is a sign of root chakra imbalance. These are signs of an underactive Muladhara chakra. Here again, pairing movement or in this case even just a shape in the body with breath can start shifting one from stuckness to action. There may not be enough energy to do a vinyasa or maybe even hatha class. Instead, restorative yoga may be necessary here – gentle and static heart-openers to cultivate energy while supporting the whole body with plenty of props to demonstrate that one has support and does not have to act alone can be astoundingly impactful.
How else might you know your Muladhara chakra needs some love and attention?
Physically
Foot, ankle, or knee problems
Excessive tension or weakness in the legs
Large intestine issues
Bone disorders
Perpetual health issues
Frequent financial difficulties
Intellectually
Difficulty making decisions
Muddled thinking
“Brain Fog”
Attention difficulties
Emotionally
Stress
Fearfulness
Powerlessness
Highly reactive
Poor emotion regulation
Guilt
Spiritually
Disconnected from ancestors (our roots) of all varieties (blood, land, spiritual, etc.)
Suicidal ideation
Unworthiness to be here, to eat, to have fun, to rest, etc.
Disconnected from nature
How might you work on rebalancing your first chakra?
When you notice an imbalance in the root chakra you can incorporate a variety of practices or even just invite certain things into your environment that corresponds to this foundational energetic center.
Element: Earth
Crystals (generally dark or red ones)
Dirt and Sand
Clay or Earthenware
Plants and Trees (visualization works when these are not accessible)
Earthing
Essential Oils (especially woods and roots and those with an “earthy” scent)
Color: Red
Wear it, put red things in your environment, drink it, eat it, notice it
Food: Proteins/Meat (I also like root vegetables here)
Yoga: Grounding, Feet & Legs
Downward Energies (Apana Vayu for my fellow yogi nerds) or Grounding Forms
Supine (grounding yet mildly energizing)
Prone (maximally grounding)
Leg Strengtheners – Warriors, Chair, Goddess/Victory, etc.
Inward Turning Forms – Head to Knee, Child’s Pose, Bound Angle/Cobbler’s, etc.
Affirmations: Safety, Security, Agency (Choice)
I’ll continue in future posts to go into greater depth on some of the ways to cultivate a balanced root chakra. Ultimately, rebalancing chakras is very personal to the individual and how the imbalance is showing up. I empower individuals to learn how to sense and heal their own chakras in a manner that fits their own unique goals and lifestyle in my yoga therapy practice. You can book a session here.
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