Feeling anxious, afraid, or insecure lately? It’s possible that your root chakra may not be blocked or imbalanced. Also known as the nervous system for the spirit, the chakra system is a vast network of energy channels. There are 72,000 energy channels in the body, which are also known as “nadis” in ancient Sanskrit. Each nadi connects to one of the major energy points, and we call these major energy points chakras.
The root chakra is the first of the major seven chakras, and is linked to our basic needs and our spiritual and emotional balance. It’s time to open and balance a blocked root chakra right now with these proven methods below!
- Meditations
- Affirmations
- Yoga Poses
- Mudras
- Diet
- Oils
- Stones and Crystals
- Spend Time in Nature
- Reprogram Thoughts and The Subconscious Mind
The Sanskrit name for root chakra is “muladhara”. This name describes its purpose well as Mula means “root” and adhara means “base.” As the name suggests, the root chakra represents our physical, emotional, and spiritual foundation of safety and security. When balanced, we trust ourselves and the world around us. However, when root chakra is not open and in balance, we can feel excessive anxiety, fear, or insecurity.
Signs of A Blocked Root Chakra
First, let’s check to see if your root chakra is blocked. Although not an exact science, there are a number of signs and warnings that can help identify an imbalance or blockage. As this chakra is located around the base of the spine, some of the greatest physical symptoms may be pain and soreness located in the lower back. Pain, cramping, or discomfort may also extend to the legs or feet. You may even experience weight gain, especially in the lower body.
Emotionally, you may feel a tremendous deal of anxiety and deep insecurity. Similarly, there are often accompanying trust issues with others and your environment. You have difficulty letting go. There can also be a lack of stability in your life which can cause feelings of vulnerability and cause you to keep your guard up constantly. This can drain your energy and be exhausting!
Do these physical and emotional signs resonate within you? Well, then let’s begin the healing and unblock the root chakra now!
Side note: if anxiety is your predicament, check out this article to understand the science on how yoga, meditation can literally help you calm down and alleviate stress and anxiety. In there we explain how brain waves work and which ones your brain needs to generate and HOW. Very interesting stuff!
Meditation Works! It’s Proven By Science
Root chakra meditations, along with yoga, are perhaps the most important technique for removing a blockage.
As we’ve discussed previously in “The Real Science Behind Chakras,” the primary goal of opening up all chakras, including the root chakra, is to promote rest, relaxation, and digestion. This will help keep us centered, grounded, and balanced. It will also help drive away many of the negative thoughts and corresponding physical ailments associated with blocked chakras. To get all the tools and hacks for opening and balancing each of your chakras, head over to this post.
As we mentioned in this post’s introduction, the chakra system as a whole is often referred to as the body’s “spiritual nervous system.” Well, our real nervous system is of course intricately linked with our spiritual nervous system. Intuitively, you probably already knew that our physical, emotion, and spiritual bodies are all deeply connected!
Meditation Can Help Turn Off Our Stress Response
The part of the body responsible for rest, relaxation and digestion is the parasympathetic nervous system. The sad reality is that when chakras are blocked, our stress response kicks in. From there, we go into an autopilot “flight or flight response”. Non-coincidentally, The parasympathetic nervous system is one of three divisions of the autonomic nervous system
Do you ever feel anxious, stressful, and negative thoughts playing in your head on a loop? Like a treadmill you can’t escape? Well, you’re not alone.
Meditation stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which promotes rest, relaxation, and digestion. It does this through the Vagus nerve, which effectively slows your breath down. This in turn, will lower your heart rate and even lower the frequency of your brainwave state!
End result? Chakra Unblocked!
Root Chakra Meditation Guide
We share the science so you know this works for real! But this isn’t an anatomy class, so lets get to root chakra meditation!
1. Find a comfortable space
- Make sure that is quiet and a place that you feel safe and secure. Make sure you will not be disturbed. Sit in a relaxed seated position or laying down.
2. Go outdoors, if possible
- Since the root chakra is all about being “grounded” and creating a foundation, try to sit or lie down outdoors if you are able. The grass in a park or forest or the sand on the beach are great options. If you are unable to go outdoors, try sitting or lying down directly on the floor in your home, gym or office.
3. Feel free to add music or binaural beats
- If outside and you are alone, we recommend simply listening to nature. However if home or there are others nearby, it can be useful to add soft and relaxing music or binaural beats. There are even root chakra specific music or binaural beats you can try!
4. Focus your awareness in prayer position
- Close your eyes. Place your palms together with fingers pointing up and thumbs against your chest in the prayer position. Feel your heart beating. Pay attention to your breath as you inhale and exhale and try to slow it down through longer and deeper exhalations through the nose.
5. Focus on the nose
- Smell is associated with the root chakra more than all other chakras, so focus on the tip of your nose as you exhale deeply and slowly through it.
6. Visualize the energy flow
- With eyes closed, visualize the flow of energy through each of the chakras. Picture this energy as a continuous and harmonious wave. And visualize the color of each chakra as you pass through it. Take your time visualizing each chakra and color. And spend the most time focusing on the root chakra and associated red color.
7. Repeat and push away negative thoughts
- Visualization of root chakra and remaining six while continuing to focus on breath and nose for multiple cycles. If any negative thoughts enter your awareness, simply acknowledge them and push them gently away and refocus on visualizations and the body.
8. OM Chant
- Slowly and gently end your meditation and return your awareness. Then, chant “Om” three times with the majority of sound and vibration dedicated to the “A-U” sound and less emphasis on the “M”.
Affirmations
Affirmations serve as positive reminders to ourselves throughout the day to help us break the cycle of negative thoughts. As mentioned previously, the activation of our stress response can cause a “loop” of negative thinking. Over time, our body gets conditioned to these thought patterns and we repeat them subconsciously.
By consciously speaking positively and kindly to ourselves, we help break this cycle. Affirmations go hand in hand with meditation, as well the other techniques below. All of the methods in this guide work best as a complement to each other.
Blockages in the root chakra are dues of instability, insecurity, and fear. Often we perceive our most basic needs not being met, and this creates a lack of trust both in ourselves and the world around us.
To truly unblock and balance the root chakra, we must affirm to ourselves that we are in a safe and loving space.
Here are some great examples of affirmations you can say aloud each day to unblock the root chakra.
I:
- am in a safe and secure environment
- love my body, mind, and spirit
- am loved
- am stable and grounded
- The universe will protect and provide for me
Root Chakra Yoga Poses
The stretching and strengthening of the body through yoga poses help us align our body and spine. Although not literately on or inside the spine, all seven chakras are energy points that are found outside the body and along the spine. As we become better balanced physically through yoga, our chakras also become better aligned. In addition to reducing back pain, yoga is one of the most effective ways to maintain a healthy spine.
After you get grounded in your root chakra, check how to open the crown chakra, the most spiritual of all. In this post, we’ve shown you 10 ways to do it.
Scientifically speaking, Yoga is very similar to meditation and affirmations in the way it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. Daily practice will create a stronger resilience in our body against the stress response and our natural tendency to go into “fight or flight” mode.
Intricately associated with survival and basic needs, a blocked root chakra is highly associated with the stress response and a lack of security and stability. Yoga poses that help keep us grounded, stable, and maintain a strong foundation are the key to unblocking and opening the root chakra. Two of the mostly highly recommended are the head to knee forward bend and the mountain pose. Here are some great examples with pictures that experienced yoga teachers recommend:
(Side note: ever wondered what makes a good yoga teacher? Here are the 10 qualities that you should look for in a yoga teacher. Also, these are the qualities you should have if you’re a yoga teacher.)
Mountain Pose – Tadasana
Head to Knee Forward Bend – Janu Sirsasana
Easy Pose – Sukhasana
Garland Pose – Malasana
Standing Forward Fold – Uttanasana
Warrior II – Virabhadrasana II
Knee to chest pose – Pavanamuktasana
Lotus flexion – Padmasana
Mudras
As mentioned earlier, the root chakra is also known as “muladhara” in Sanskrit. There is a specific muladhara mudra to help unblock and open your root chakra.
- While seated comfortably, join the tip of thumb with your ring finger in each hand.
- While holding this same position, bring together the left and right hand so that all four fingers touch while the other six fingers are open and facing up. The palms of hand should be facing up and towards each other.
- While in this position, connect the smallest pinky fingers of your left and right hand. Leave the remaining four fingers open
- Hold this mudra twice a day for 5-7 minutes
Diet
Ever heard of the expression “beet red?” Sometimes, simplicity works. Things are as they seem, and the English language actually makes sense! If you want to open your root chakra, eat root vegetables. They will help ground you. The color associated with the root chakra is red, and red beets is one of the most highly recommended foods to help open your root chakra! Here a good list of foods to help unblock the root chakra:
- red beets
- carrots
- parsnips
- onions
- garlic
- potatoes
Recommended Root Chakra Oils
The root chakra is associated with a strong foundation and stability, so reaching for earthy essential oils makes sense. The right essential oils will help ground, stabilize, calm, and heal us and help increase the natural flow of energy throughout our bodies.
“I always tell all of my clients that the root chakra can benefit from grounding so any essential oils that are made from a tree or the roots of a plant can be helpful such as Cedarwood, Frankincense, Vetiver, Spruce, and Sandalwood.”
Sherrie Griffin, Mind-Body Coach, Reiki Master
Here’s a list of commonly recommended essential oils by professional Yogis, Reiki Masters, Aromatherapists, and healers to help unblock and open the root chakra:
- Frankincense
- Patchouli
- Vetiver
- Valerian
- Spruce
- Cedarwood
- Turmeric
- Myrrh
- Sandalwood]
- Ylang Ylang
Stones and Crystals
In addition to the other techniques listed throughout this guide, healing stones and crystals play an important role in helping balance and unblock all chakras. The root chakra is associated with the color red, which is representative of the color of fire and our basic primitive survival needs.
Consequently, many of the healing stones and crystals that are recommended are also red and include: red jasper, red carnelian, red garnet, red tiger’s eye.
Below is a list of the top healing crystals and stones that experienced certified crystal healing practitioners recommend to help unblock your root chakra:
- Red Jasper
- Red Carnelian
- Obsidian
- Red Garnet
- Red Tiger’s Eye
- Bloodstone
- Black Tourmaline
- Smoky Quartz
- Hematite
- Black Onyx
To learn more about how to use crystals, head over to our beginner’s guide to crystal therapy. In there we’ve interviewed several crystal therapists. Since you do not want to experiment on your own, head there to learn more about how to use crystals for your healing.
Spend Time in Nature
One of the best ways to break the cycle of negative thinking is to get outside and get in touch with the Earth. The root chakra represents our foundation and connects us to the physical world, and a great way to strengthen this connection is to explore it through nature! One of the best ways to become more grounded is to touch the ground literately! Trying walking barefoot on the sand, grass, or dirt.
Feel the sunlight on your skin and a gentle breeze on your face. Enjoy scenic views of forests, grasslands, mountains, lakes, rivers, oceans and beaches. As mentioned previously, this is a great place to meditate too!
As you begin to mindfully appreciate the bigger world around you and live in the present, you will be calmer, happier and less fearful of the unknown. Consequently, many past fears, anxieties, and stresses will be put in perspective and be greatly diminished.
Reprogram Thoughts and The Subconscious Mind
You can never change the present if you continue to live in the past. Yet so many of us create the same negative thoughts each day, go through the same mundane habits and lifestyle that keeps us feeling continually stressed us, anxious, and living in fear.
Often , we look outwards in our external environment or to others, but true lasting change must come from within. A blocked root chakra often deals with feeling of lack, and this often manifests in our lives as a lack of trust, security, or stability. The only way we can truly change is while in a mindful, calm, receptive, and grateful state of being.
Of course, this isn’t easy! You can’t do this simply by thinking about it consciously alone.
“By Itself, Conscious Positive Thinking Cannot Overcome Subconscious Negative Feelings”
― Joe Dispenza, Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One
The meditations and affirmations above will help you train your mind and control it. They will also help you access the subconscious mind, and over time, you will effectively “program” positive thought patterns, habits, and behaviors. Along with health benefits of strength and flexibility, yoga poses and mudras will also help train you to stay present and mindful, and will help ground you and build a stronger foundation.
Conclusion
When the foundation of a house is broken, the entire structure of the house can be compromised. As the first chakra in our system, a blocked root chakra can similarly compromise our whole body as well and make energy very difficult to flow freely through all other chakras. Although it will take time and effort, we can unblock our root chakra with meditation, affirmations, yoga poses, proper diet, essential oils, healing stones and crystals, spending time in nature, and through reprogramming our subconscious mind. These techniques are complementary and work best when performed together. Open your root chakra and become more grounded, trusting, and stable today!
Sources
https://www.sherrigriffincoach.com/
Shanti Arunkumar Senior Contributor At L’Aquila Active
Learn more about Shanti by reading her bio below.
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