The root chakra, known as Muladhara chakra in Sanskrit, is the foundation of the chakra system. It is located at the base of the spine, right below the sacral chakra, and is associated with being the foundation of the other chakras and providing you with a sense of grounding, security, and stability.
When the root chakra is balanced, it gives you a sense of belonging, which allows you to be more comfortable in any given space. On the physical side of things, it symbolizes your colon, bladder, skeletal system, muscular system, lower back, and legs. You can think of the root chakra as symbolizing your basic needs.
When your root chakra gets imbalanced or blocked, you may face physical as well as mental and emotional discomfort. These could be anything from anxiety, depression, and fear to bladder problems, arthritis, constipation, or feeling disconnected from your physical body.
Personally, I find the root chakra and the throat chakra are the main chakras to often be unbalanced – as our root chakra can be challenged when we feel our sense of security is at risk (losing our job, feeling unsafe at home, etc) and our throat chakra can feel stuck when we can’t speak up for ourselves or find our voice.
As such, it is crucial to make sure your root chakra stays balanced and open. Fortunately, there are several practices that can help you do just that. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ones.
Signs of a Blocked Root Chakra
There are several signs that indicate a blocked root chakra. These include:
- Feeling anxious and fearful
- Lack of focus and concentration
- Feeling disconnected from the physical world
- Chronic fatigue and lethargy
- Lower back pain and other physical ailments in the lower body
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be an indication that your root chakra is blocked or imbalanced. (Please note that this is not medical advice and if you are feeling any of the above you should seek out professional care in addition to any of the suggestions below)
When one or multiple chakras are blocked, we can feel out of balance – it inhibits the flow of energy in our body.
Root Chakra Balancing Ideas
There are several ways of pursuing root chakra healing.
1. Balanced Diet
A balanced diet is one of the best ways for healing the root chakra. Eating vitamin-rich foods that nourish your body can help to balance and heal the root chakra. Root vegetables and leafy greens are beneficial for the root chakra. Drinking herbal teas, such as ginger tea and dandelion root tea, can also help to heal the root chakra. Eating nourishing foods provides a solid foundation for your whole body and is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself.
2. Yoga & Physical Activity
Yoga is an ancient spiritual practice that can help you achieve a state of union with a higher force. It is equally effective at healing your various chakras. Yogic sciences say that there are different yoga postures and movements to heal each of your chakras. When it comes to the root chakra, you can practice yoga poses like the mountain pose, warrior pose, tree pose, garland pose, child’s pose, etc. If you make these a part of your yoga practice every day, your root chakra will consistently stay balanced and function optimally.
Any type of physical activity that connects you to your body can be helpful. Even if you just go for a short walk or dance to some of your favorite songs, you can connect more deeply with your entire body.
3. Nature
Spending time with mother earth is one of the most grounding things you can do. Walking barefoot on the grass can help stabilize the root chakra and promote a sense of safety in your body. It is also beneficial to spend time in natural environments such as parks, forests, and the beach.
4. Crystals
Crystals are powerful objects and can bring about healing at various levels of your being. They are especially popular for their ability to heal the chakras in the human body. The most effective crystals for healing the root chakra are red jasper, garnet, black tourmaline, black obsidian, bloodstone, etc. You can wear these crystals as jewelry or place them in your living space to help create a grounding and supportive environment. The root chakra is associated with the color red, so if there are specific red stones you are called to, those can work as well!
5. Energy Healing
There are many healing practices that can heal any chakra in your body. One of the most popular ones in this regard is Reiki. Reiki is an energy healing system that uses life force energy to heal physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual ailments in your body. You can also turn to practices like acupuncture, sound therapy, and pranic healing to heal your root chakra. Whatever method you choose, just make sure that you find a genuine healer who knows what they’re doing and that you feel compatible with them.
6. Meditation
Meditation is another wonderful spiritual practice that can heal a lot of the problems that we humans suffer from. And when it comes to chakra healing, it is probably the most powerful method you can use. If all you want to do is focus on being in the present moment, that is a wonderful way to meditate.
But if you’d like a visualization to focus on, find a place to sit comfortably and try this. Take a deep breath and imagine the roots of a tree growing out of you and connecting with the earth, then imagine a bright red light coming up from the ground and assimilating with your root chakra. Then, after a few minutes, just open your eyes and feel a sense of groundedness. Do this for a few days and you’ll feel so much better!
If lighting a candle or having a diffuser with essential oils assists your mediations, there are several scents associated with the root chakra, including frankincense, myrrh, cedarwood, vetiver, and patchouli.
7. Affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements that can help reprogram your subconscious mind. They also have an impact on the spiritual energy that flows around in your body. You can use this knowledge to heal your root chakra. So, you can try repeating positive affirmations such as “I am grounded and secure” or “I trust in the universe to provide for me” to help balance your root chakra.
Conclusion
The root chakra is an essential energy center that plays a vital role in our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. By understanding how to balance its energy, we can achieve greater physical health and mental well-being.
By taking a holistic approach to healing, including physical, emotional, and spiritual practices, you can achieve greater balance and well-being in your life. Take what resonates with you and leave the rest. And, please, if your mental health or physical body is suffering, make sure to see a licensed professional.