Tag: root chakra

Some yoga poses and therapeutic tips to help unlock the root chakra.

What is the root chakra?

The first chakra is the root chakra. In Sanskrit it’s called muladhara. Mula means root and dhara means flux or energy flow. So we could think about it being our original or source energy.

The root chakra energy is all about feelings of safety and security. It’s about our self-esteem, and feeling comfortable in our own skin and also feeling like we belong. 

The root chakra energies help us to feel grounded and connected to the Earth. Letting us take root and then move forward with our life. When these energies are stuck, imbalanced, or blocked, we lose our vitality and zest for life. When our sense of belonging is compromised we feel insecure and uncomfortable in our own skin.

Where is the root chakra?

Our root chakra is found between the tailbone and the perineum. It includes our adrenal gland, which governs our fight or flight response. Organs associated with the root chakra are;

• feet

• bladder

• colon 

• large intestine

• skeleton

What happens when our root chakra is blocked?

If there is a block in our root chakra we may feel anxious , or have nightmares.

Physical imbalances can manifest as problems in the

• colon

• bladder

• lower back

• legs

• feet

• prostate problems in men

Eating disorders can also be a sign of a root chakra imbalance.

How to unblock the root chakra?

1. Meditate

Meditation connects us to a higher plane, and it also grounds us at the same time.

Try this root chakra meditation, it can be done outside for maximum benefit. 

• Sit comfortably
• Close your eyes
• With each exhale, deepen your connection to the ground where you are sitting
• Visualize a ball of red light at the base of your spine. The ball contains all you need to feel safe and secure
• With each inhale, make the ball bigger

If you want to use a mantra to support yourself, try repeating 

I am here.

2. Yoga

• Knee to chest pose
• Head to knee pose, no need to fold all the way forward. Just tuck your chin and breathe
• Lotus, or variation half lotus
• Squatting pose, remember you can sit on a block to feel more supported

3. Do pelvic floor exercises

Do Kegel exercises. Or use Mula Bandha in your yoga practice, to help strengthen the pelvic floor.

4. Chant

Sounds create vibrations in our body, this can be healing. The mantra sound that corresponds to the root chakra is LAM. Or you can chant OM.

5. Aromatherapy

The sense connected to this chakra is smell, to activate a sense of rooting and grounding these essential oils can be tried

• Cedarwood
• Frankincense
• Myrrh
• Patchouli

6. Positive affirmations

Find an affirmation that resonates and repeat when meditating or say throughout the day

• I belong
• I am here
• I have everything I need
• With every breath, I release anxiety and fear
• I inhale peace and exhale anything that no longer serves me

7. More ways to unblock the root chakra

• Roll your feet with a foam roller or a tennis ball
• Have a massage
• Walk outside barefoot
• Take savasana or rest pose under a weighted blanket or cocoon yourself in a blanket
• Try gardening. When we are close to the earth we naturally feel more grounded