Yoga Medicine for the Root Chakra

The root chakra (Muladhara) is the first chakra, or energy center, of seven in the body. A balanced and open chakra allows for chi, your vital energy or life force, to flow freely while a blocked chakra can manifest symptoms of physical and emotional imbalance. Check out Julia’s article for an overview of The Chakras.

The root chakra is located at the base of your spine and governs feelings of safety, security, confidence, and being grounded. Tension stemming from the coccyx and first three vertebrae in the spine can be associated with ailments such as sciatica, leg cramps, digestive concerns, and inflammation.

Yoga is great medicine for your root chakra. Through each of these poses, envision a red light at the base of your spine and breath through your pelvic floor

• Flow between Warrior 1, Warrior 2, Reverse Warrior, Extended Side-Angle, and Triangle asana while focusing on centering your pelvic floor

• Malasana or Garland Pose is an important resting position in human evolution that is great for your ankles, groin, and lower back. Due to our modern lives, the seated squat can be a difficult pose for some, so ease into the pose with variations. Shift your weight by flattening one foot at a time, frog legging your way to stillness, and hold for at least 30 seconds. You can sit on a block for extra support, or rest your heels on a folded towel or blanket if they don’t reach the ground.

• Finally, choose Savasana and/or Sukhasana for active rest and meditation. Affirmations to use for meditation: I am… I am supported… I am exactly where I need to be… I am enough…
  
  I also encourage practicing other grounding exercises, or “earthing”, that connect you to the earth’s magnetism, such as walking barefoot.
  
  Namaste.