Discover Chakras - Part 2
Muladhara
The First Chakra
Its color is red and it is located at the perineum, base of your spine. It is the Chakra closest to the earth. Its function is concerned with earthly grounding and physical survival. This chakra embodies the very basic foundations of your life. It facilitates your feeling of being grounded.
Muladhara Represents emotional and survival issues, such as financial independence, money and food. This Chakra is associated with your legs, feet, bones, large intestine and adrenal glands. It controls your fight or flight response. Blockage may manifest as paranoia, fear, procrastination and defensiveness.
When beginning your chakra journey, it is important to balance your root chakra first to create the foundation and stability for personal growth through chakra balancing.
Chakras are energy centers in the subtle body that distribute the flow of prana or energy throughout your body. Starting at the base of the spine and working up to the crown of your head. Chakras influence your emotional and physical health.
Muladhara - The Root Chakra
Located at the base of your spine, the root chakra or muladhara is the first of your seven chakras. The Sanskrit name translates to “root support” or “base”. As the root of your being, this chakra establishes your foundation as well as your sense of security, stability and the basic necessities of life – food and sleep – are predominant factors.
The energy of your first chakra extends from the base of the spine downward like a root through the legs and feet. This forms your deepest connections between your physical body, environment, and Mother Earth. The root chakra embodies your relationship with the physical world. This includes your body, aspects of self, sense of security, survival and your connection to the environment.
The root chakra is related to your basic needs – your survival center. This chakra manifests
your primal and ancestral instincts, like your flight-or-fight response. As the foundation of the chakra system, the root chakra function is to respond to any issues concerning your survival such as eating, sleeping, exercising, housing, financial security, sense of safety, and stability.
Providing the foundation you need to build upon, your first chakra is where you ground yourself and anchor your energy. When balanced, the root chakra allows you to harness courage, and resourcefulness, and to expand upon our ancestral instincts while keeping you grounded.
Key Characteristics of the Root Chakra
Grounding — Anchors our energy into the world and forms our connections with Mother Earth.
Security and Stability — Responsible for your sense of security and stability in your world.
Foundation — As the first chakra, it is responsible for the foundation you need to build upon during personal growth. You cannot grow unless you feel safe and secure.
Physicality — Highly responsive to your physical health.
Survival — Initiates your fight-or-flight mode and will to live.
Instincts — Embodies your primal and ancestral instincts.
Root Chakra Imbalance
If there are imbalances in the root chakra you may experience anxiety disorders, fears, or nightmares. Physical imbalances may manifest as problems in the colon, with the bladder, with elimination, or with lower back, leg, or feet issues. In men, prostate problems may occur. Eating disorders may also be a sign of a root chakra imbalance.
Stress, illness, emotional upset, and conflict can all cause blockages or imbalance in your chakra system. All of the seven chakras are interconnected; when one chakra experiences a blockage or imbalance, it affects all the others. This disruption of energy can cause your mind, body, and spirit to suffer.
When your root chakra is imbalanced, it cracks the foundation of the whole chakra system. If you are just starting your chakra journey, it is important to balance your root chakra first. Imbalance in this chakra can cause you to find yourself coping with threats to your survival. These threats can be moving, changing jobs, reoccurring health problems, weight problems, sense of fear, or insecurity.
Under Active Root Chakra
When a chakra is under active, it means that the chakra is experiencing a blockage or is not distributing the flow of energy. When your root chakra is under active, it can affect your overall health.
Signs of an Underactive Root Chakra
Feel Disconnected
Disorganized
Lack of Focus
Overactive Root Chakra
When a chakra is overactive, it means that the chakra is distributing too much energy. It is working in overdrive and bringing imbalance to the chakra. When your root chakra is overactive, it affects your overall health.
Signs Of An Overactive Root Chakra
Anger and Annoyance Towards People and Events in Your Life.
Greediness
Dependent on Others’ Security
Rigid Boundaries
Difficulty Accepting Change
Materialistic
Impulsiveness
Feelings of Fear, Anxiousness, or Restlessness
Lack of Stamina
Trouble Obtaining Financial Security
How to Balance the Root Chakra
Chakra balancing is the process of restoring the harmonious and balanced flow of prana or energy throughout the body. Your chakras are in constant fluctuation. Practicing chakra balancing and aligning is a regular and sometimes daily activity to explore. But how do you balance your root chakra?
Anchor Yourself in Your Environment
Your root chakra is highly influenced by your feelings of stability and safety. Developing a harmonious relationship with your environment and immediate surroundings helps restore balance to your first chakra.
Connect With the Earth
When balancing your first chakra, it is important to connect directly with Mother Earth. Spend time outside, walk unpaved paths, plant a garden, or keep plants inside your home. These are all ways to form a personal connection with the earth to support a more grounded and sustainable energy flow
Physical Activity
The root chakra plays an important role in your physicality. Physical activity supports root chakra balancing. Yoga can be particularly helpful in balancing your root chakra. Below are specific movements to help ground and connect you with the energy of your first chakra:
Mountain Pose | Tadasana
Warrior One Pose | Virabhadrasana 1
Bridge Pose | Setu Bandhasana
Corpse Pose | Savasana
Meditation
Meditation plays a vital role in balancing and opening your chakras. Chakra meditation techniques are very similar to regular mediation techniques, but with a focus on one specific area of the body. Try this simple but effective root chakra meditation:
Sit with your shoulders back and spine straight. Relax your muscles as you close your eyes and breathe deeply. Inhale through your nose and exhale through the mouth.
Focus your attention on the location of your root chakra, right below the tailbone.
Since the root chakra is tied to the color of red, imagine a red glow at the base of your spine. Slowly expand this red glow, making the whole area warm and relaxed. Rest in this sensation for 3-5 minutes.
When you are ready, slowly open your eyes. You may follow with positive affirmations.
Affirmations
Affirmations are a positive way to heal negative programming that can be embedded in your subtle body. When balancing your root chakra, practice saying these phrases to yourself:
I feel deeply rooted
I am connected to my body
I feel safe and secure
I am grounded, stable, and standing on my own two feet
I trust myself
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be a powerful tool when balancing the root chakra. Essential oils with earthy and grounding aromas can help restore balance to your root chakra. The Root Chakra Blend is designed to aid in balancing and opening your first chakra. Apply the Root Chakra Blend to the base of spine, legs, and feet when re-balancing your root chakra.
Crystal Healing
Each chakra is influenced by unique stones. The root chakra is highly influenced by Blood Stone. When balancing your root chakra, meditate with blood stone or even carry the stone with you to let the energetic properties help restore balance to the chakra. The Root Chakra Blend has a Blood Stone roller ball to aid in balancing your root chakra.
Root Chakra Essential Oil Blend
Help ground your body and mind with Root Chakra Blend. This blend combines the therapeutic benefits of essential oils with the energetic properties of the root chakras complementary gemstone, Blood Stone.
Vetiver — Brings a deep sense of belonging, and grounds the body and mind.
Myrrh— Revitalizes the body and brings emotional strength.
Frankincense Serrata — A grounding aroma that brings a sense of security.
Grapefruit — Energizes and rejuvenates the body and mind.
Pine —A woodsy aroma that is grounding and promotes well being.
Blood Stone Roller Ball
Blood Stone is known as the stone of courage. The energetic properties of blood stone promote self-esteem and repel negativity. The grounding effects of blood stone guide you to face life’s challenges with resilience and strength.
What to Expect in Part Three: Learn About Svadhisthana
The Sacral Chakra - The 2nd Chakra
How to Use the Root Chakra Blend
The Root Chakra Blend was expertly crafted to open and restore balance to your root chakra. You may use this blend to help aid in your root chakra realignment. Simply apply the Root Chakra Blend to the base of your spine, legs, and/or bottom of feet.
