The seven chakras are the major energy centers of the body. They distribute the five pranas throughout the body and maintain an amiable balance that preserves and restores general health. The first in the group is the Muladhara Chakra or the Root Chakra.

Understanding the first chakra in our energy body is quite essential and crucial for balancing the system fully to come to mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Therefore, through this guide, one can understand the Root Chakra fairly in depth detailing what it is, its location, and how to heal it using yoga meditation and even affirmations.

What Is the Root (Muladhara) Chakra?

The Root Chakra is the foundation for the physical structure of the body. The word Muladhara consists of two Sanskrit words: “mula” means “root”; “adhara” means “base” or “support”.

The Muladhara Chakra is based on the earth element and radiates the color red. Balancing it creates a good foundation for opening all the other six chakras, and promotes stability, confidence, energy, and strength.

Also Read: Effective chakra balancing methods.

Where Is the Root Chakra Located?

Root Chakra is located at the bottom part of the spine in the perineum area, that is, between the anus and the genitals. This is because its location indicates it as a point of connection between the external, physical world and our inner energetic system.

When this energy center is balanced, we feel grounded, stable, confident, and strong in the world. A blocked or imbalanced Root Chakra can lead to feelings of insecurity, anxiety, stress, and a loss of personal bearings.

What Is the Root Chakra Responsible for?

The center of Apana Prana is the first chakra. Apana is the vital force required for all excretion functions. Apana prana is required for removing toxins from the body and refreshing the earth’s elements. If the earth element is not refreshed regularly, it rots in the body and causes a variety of physical and mental diseases.

Characteristics of the Root Chakra

Element

The root chakra controls the earth element in our bodies. It does this by distributing Apana Prana, which helps refresh the earth element we get from the food we eat. All the food that grows on the earth has an amount of the earth element in it, some more and some less.

This chakra’s energies help identify our strong bond with the earth. This keeps us grounded to our inner being and promotes a positive and happy life. It refers to our basic, primal requirements of staying alive, safe, and secure; it also symbolizes the structure of our body, the bones, the flesh, and the skin. Thus, regulations pertaining to this element of earth assume a huge significance in maintaining healthy well-being.

Color

It must be noted that these chakras are composed purely of energy and, therefore, do not have their own color; however, each of the seven is a reflection of its constituent elements and all the colors surrounding it.

The Muladhara Chakra is surrounded by the element earth so it reflects the color deep red. Root Chakra color symbolizes primal instincts of strength and vitality. The red color is also linked to our physical and emotional needs for survival and self-preservation.

Symbol

The Root Chakra symbol is a four-petalled lotus flower consisting of a square, an inverted triangle, and the seed mantra LAM लं symbol in the center.

The four petals of the lotus flower are believed to represent the four earthly elements i.e. earth, water, fire, and air. Together, they unite to form the physical world or Prakriti. The fifth element, space is not included since it is not visible to the human physical eye. 

Mantra

Each of the chakras emits different sounds resulting from its activity. A combination of such sounds is called seed mantra. Seed mantra of Muladhara is Langm (लं). Through the chanting of the Root Chakra Mantra in yoga and meditation, this vital energy center can come alive and be energized, maintaining equilibrium among the chakras.

Also Read: Crown Chakra: Tapping into the Divine Energy of Sahasrara Chakra

Emotions, Mental Health & the Root Chakra

A balanced Root Chakra provides emotional strength when faced with fear and anxiety. This makes one feel grounded and secure. However, imbalance here can result in a wide range of mental illnesses and stress that may also influence general physical wellness. The Muladhara Chakra is associated mainly with survival. Other emotions linked with this energy center include:

• Feeling safe
• Feeling secure
• Survival Mindset
• Feeling grounded
• Self-preservation

Signs & Symptoms of a Blocked Root Chakra

Emotional Symptoms

It mainly satisfies the vital needs of food, water, shelter, and survival. The primary responsibility of this energy center is to fulfill these basic needs. In a negative expression, some of the expressions are overeating, hoarding material things, and greed for money. All are signs of unbalance.

When our basic survival needs are not met, Muladhara becomes dysfunctional and causes a disconnection from our earthly values. Consequently, individuals who suffer from a blockage or imbalance in the Root Chakra often experience various adverse emotional symptoms, some of which include the following:

• Hoarding of material things
• Greed for money or materialism 
• Lack of drive and direction
• Insecurity 
• Alienation and loneliness
• Anxiety 
• Depression 
• Self-pity

Physical Symptoms

When the first energy center is blocked and imbalanced, it can cause mental stress which is visible through one’s physicality. The physical symptoms of a blocked Root Chakra are:

• Lethargy 
• Panic attacks or anxiety
• Digestive disorders
• Health problems in the colon, bladder, and lower back
• Unexplained aches and pains in the body in the lower abdomen and pelvis
• Reproductive issues
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping

Root Chakra Healing: How to Unblock & Balance

According to belief, the Muladhara Chakra is a survival center, hence, instinctual of all the chakras; stabilizing the body’s base is important so that one may sense completeness.

Identifying and working on your chakras regularly ensures proper Root Chakra healing. There are many techniques to unblock the Root Chakra. Grounding chakra meditation and yoga poses are great tools that ask for physical strength and mental strength in the body. Repeating affirmations for the Root Chakra also sets a positive intention that is only meant to break old habits and create better ones.

Below, we provide three simple chakra balancing techniques you can practice daily to restore balance to this energy center.

Root Chakra Affirmations for Strength and Stability 

• I feel safe and secure.
• I have deep roots.
• I am grounded.
• I have found my peace.
• I trust more, I am fearless.
• I have self-love and I take care of my well-being.
• I am open to all possibilities.
• The earth provides a safe place for me.
• I have abundance in my life.
• I love my body and trust its wisdom.
• I trust the universe to support me.

Grounding Root Chakra Meditation

This is a common practice in the pathway to realigning this particular chakra, fostering energies in your body, and enhancing the deep-rooted connection that you have with the earth. During your meditation, you can also use the Root Chakra mudra Prithvi to awaken the earth element and restore balance to the energy system.

Also Read: Different Chakra Yoga Styles

10 Root Chakra Yoga Poses to Boost & Balance Muladhara Energy

Practicing chakra yoga poses harmonizes and connects the body, mind, and spirit. This unites the circulating energy centers of the body. Some specific yoga poses can clear excess chakra energy as well, which is just as vital to stimulating chakras to gain energy. The following Root Chakra poses rebalance by stimulating and releasing energy from the Muladhara so a complete transformation or growth may be achieved.

1. Corpse Pose (Shavasana)

Corpse Pose, also known as Shavasana, is a grounding yoga pose for the Root Chakra that can boost your sense of stability and connection to the earth. As you practice the pose, let yourself be fully supported by the earth below you as you release all the tension in your body. Repeat this to yourself during each inhale and exhale: “I am safe, I am supported.”.

2. Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskara)

Sun Salutations help you tap into this inner sense of strength and connection with the earth. You will feel a gradual, slow heat building from within while you connect with each inhale and exhale. Eventually, you will notice the mind surrender to the current moment while you work your way deeper into your moving meditation. Close your eyes if it feels comfortable for you.

3. Child’s Pose (Shashankasana)

Allow your entire body to relax. Notice how it feels to be completely supported by the earth beneath you. Welcome this balance of surrender and support to carry you through your practice.

4. Half Bridge Pose (Ardha Setu Bandhasana)

Half Bridge Pose surely grounds both of your feet into the ground. Simultaneously, the spine releases excess Root Chakra and energizes the Throat and Heart Chakra.

5. Easy Monkey Pose (Sukha Hanumanasana)

This pose gives an intense stretch to the psoas and quad muscles. Psoas and quad muscles are associated with our flight-or-fight mechanism, and they run deep down into the first chakra energy center. So take five breaths here, giving time to your muscles to turn residual fight-or-flight energy into inner strength.

6. Garland Pose (Malasana)

Our feet are our roots, and through our feet, we feel the energy of earth. Garland Pose plants us firmly on earth, opens hips, and promotes Apana Vayu in body. For awakening your soles’ fascia, gently tuck your toes under while resting on your knees. Hold for one minute and then release. Repeat three times.

7. Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)

Uttanasana is a great stance that helps in finding center and inner peace amid constant stress. Even as it stretches the hamstrings slowly, tension across the whole back is relieved.

8. Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)

Meaning of Virabhadrasana is “fierce warrior”. This position for the Root Chakra uses the body’s natural flow of energy to stimulate it while both feet are firmly on the ground. Practicing Warrior II will help you dig deeper into your inner reserves of strength and determination.

9. Tree Pose (Vrkshasana)

Tree Pose, or Vrkshasana, is a powerful asana that develops balance, attentiveness, and concentration. This posture stimulates the Muladhara energy, balancing the function of big intestines and adrenals; it also strengthens and tones the tendons and ligaments of the feet and relieves the stiffness in the hip joints, groin, and inner thighs.

10. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

Mountain Pose, or Tadasana, gives strength to spinal muscles and improves posture. This body alignment of the Muladhara Chakra restores the natural alignment of the body. Regular practice of this asana expands mental awareness by experiencing calmness and peaceful thoughts. Balancing and relaxing in Mountain Pose lets us feel centered and focused.

Reconnecting with Nature

Nature therapy heals not only the Root Chakra but our whole self. Lately, spending most of our time indoors due to the modern culture of working around many machines is depriving us of our connection with nature and earth. Deprivation of natural exposure can be poisoning, as it wears down the mind. And such creates anxiety, lack of self-confidence, and energy blockages.

Sometimes, the only therapy that we need is spending time walking in rejuvenating nature. The feeling of the grass beneath your feet, the smell of the ocean breeze, the sound of chirping birds, and a moment of solitude under the shade of a tree brings peace and harmony.

Conclusion

If the Muladhara Chakra is heightened, and the flow of energy is remarkably free, this provides an all-round positivity in our lives. A healthy, well-balanced Root Chakra creates a strong connection with our earthly instincts, the overall confidence, and increases our sense of self-worth. The energy of this chakra allows everyone to gain much-needed courage and perseverance during challenging times.