I’ve been feeling very much out of tune lately. I haven’t felt grounded or connected to myself. It is actually very easy to let this happen, taking the time to go inward and heal takes willingness and patience. I decided it was time to tune into my deeper self and start to heal from the inside. I have been stressed, agitated, angry, impatient, absent from my day-to-day life, living on the surface. So I decided to slow down today, to do some yoga, which lead to mediation and a focus on my root chakra. I plan on making the time every day this week to meditate and heal each chakra and maybe bring some light into my life and ease my over active mind.
Day 1: The Root Chakra- Tribal Chakra (Muladhara)
“All is One.”
Energy connection to physical body: Spinal Column, rectum, legs, bones, feet, and immune system.
Mental, emotional issues: Physical family and group safety/security, ability to provide for life’s necessities, ability to stand up for self, feeling at home, social and familial law and order.
Physical Dysfunctions; Chronic low back pain, sciatica, varicose vans, rectal tumors/cancer, depression, immune-related disorders.
The root chakra is located at the base of the spine, pelvic floor, and the first three vertebrae. It is your foundation; it represents our basic needs (food, sleep, shelter, etc.), safety, security and strength. In Sanskrit Mula means “root” and Adhara means “support” or “base.” Associated with the Earth element, the root chakra connects us to our physical bodies, environment, and the Earth. This chakra glows red, which symbolizes strength, vitality, and stimulates our instinctual tendencies. In psychology red is associated with our most physical needs and our will to survive. Furthermore, it exudes a strong, sexual and powerful energy.
An imbalance with the root chakra can lead to anxiety, fears, nightmares, excessive negativity, excessive feeling of insecurity, abandonment issues, selfishness, lack of interest in daily life, restlessness, lack of energy. These imbalances also reveal themselves in physical form too in the large intestine, colon, sex organs, bladder, lower back, leg, or feet issues. A blocked root chakra can lead to behaviors governed by fear. For example, seeing risk all around, and a desire to find security in work, physical safety, relationships, or housing situations. An overactive root chakra may turn fear into greed and paranoia. This can present a physical issue with control over food intake and diet. It is important to balance this chakra because we tend to lose interest in our most basic needs. Self-care is key here, taking care of one-self, feeling strong, stable, and safe will allow us to build a stable personal foundation which can lead to personal growth. Balancing the root chakra also allows one to observe relationships with their “tribe.” We are not alone in this world we are interconnected to our family, friends,significant others, and coworkers. The root chakra develops between 0-7 years of age. Many of our root issues stem from our family, these experiences, feelings and beliefs we have learned become apart of our identity. In turn, they affect the way we see the world, ourselves and how we create relationships with others. It is important to look at these relationships and what you have taken from them, the positive and negative. By reconnecting with the root we are able increase our personal integrity and work on transforming ourselves and bringing awareness in our other chakras.
How to balance the root chakra:
Meditation, I posted the guided meditation I used below. Using crystals, mudras, mantras (LAM), affirmations, visualization of your chakra spinning and giving off red vibrant energy, watch your thoughts and simply bring more awareness into your every day life (this goes for all chakras)
Walking in nature and reconnecting with the Earth.
Stones for the root chakra: Red and black – fire and earth elements
Black/brown crystals: Hematite, Obsidian, Onyx, Tiger’s Eye, Black Tourmaline
Red Crystals: Red Carnelian, Red Jasper, Bloodstone, Garnet
Yoga Asanas that help to open and align Muladhara are…
- Pavanamuktasana, knee to chest pose
- Janu Sirsansana, head to knee Pose
- Padmasana, lotus flexion
- Malasana, squatting pose
*Anatomy of the Spirit, The seven stages of power and healing, By Caroline Myss PH.D.
*http://www.chopra.com/articles/the-root-chakra-muladhara#sm.000l6cd6j17ovdotz8m1rjhbobfct
LauraBrown-out-loud 