Today I will be sharing practices, habits, and knowledge on how to balance the root chakra, and detailing the benefits of doing so.

Ever since spring 2020, life has seemingly been anything but ‘normal.’ Many routines were uprooted and fear took centre stage.

If you’re like me, you might have been feeling anxious, ungrounded, and unbalanced.

Now that it’s almost a year later, I have learned that I still can’t control any external situation/circumstance.

Furthermore, hopelessly waiting for something to miraculously end all of my perceived problems turned out to be futile.

So, I tapped back into my amateur love of chakras and dedicated intentional time towards practices that balanced and strengthened my root chakra.

The root chakra (Muladhara) is the first major chakra located at the base of our spines. – it governs our survival and security instincts.

Its colour is red, and it’s the most important chakra since it also governs our connection to the physical world.

Without a balanced root chakra, all the other chakras suffer.

Think about a tree – if a tree’s roots aren’t healthy and receiving nutrients from the soil properly, wouldn’t the limbs of the tree suffer too?

How can the rest of the tree bear fruit and flowers if it’s compromised at its roots, unable to take in nourishment?

What is the Root Chakra?

Located at the base of your spine, the root chakra is your body’s energy centre for stability, safety, strength, security, groundedness, and inner peace.

Your root chakra acts as your foundation. This is where you build your strength, power, and steadiness so that the flow of energy can easily move freely throughout your entire body.

A good metaphor is to think of your root chakra like the roots of a tree.

With strong roots, you’ll remain stable, firm, and supported, no matter which way the wind blows.

And that’s truly what your root chakra does for you; with an open and balanced root chakra, you’ll remain grounded, centred, and calm, no matter what’s going on in your external world.

Does this mean everything’s perfect all the time? Absolutely not.

A balanced root chakra signifies that you feel firm in your place in life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have hopes and dreams for something more.

However, because you feel so solid and steady, you’re not desperate or distressed as you wait for your dreams to manifest.

Rather, you’re able to let go, trust, and ground yourself to the present moment, knowing that all is truly going to be okay.

In this post, we’ll dive deep into root chakra healing and discuss some powerful practices for opening, balancing, and healing the root chakra.

First, here are some of the key attributes of the root chakra:

• Sanskrit Name: Muladhara (Mula: “root”; Adhara: “support” or “base”)
• Location: Base of spine
• Color: Red
• Body Parts: Legs, Colon, Kidneys, Prostate, Bladder, Tailbone
• Symbol: Four-petaled lotus with a square in the middle
• Element: Earth
• Mantra: LAM
• Affirmation: I am
• Balanced Attributes: Secure, Grounded, Strong, Centred, Stable, Steady, Safe, Peaceful, Supported, All Basic Needs Are Met
• Imbalanced Attributes: Insecure, Anxious, Depressed, Scattered, Disconnected, Restless, Fearful, Cynical, Neglected, Worried
• Fundamental Need: Survival

Location in the body

Where do we find the Root Chakra ? Well, it is found at the base of the spine, somewhere around the perineum and it corresponds to the section of the spine called the coccyx.

Or to be more precise, it is located halfway between the anus and the genitals.

Earth element

Each Chakra has an element associated with it.

The Muladhara, relates to the earth element and therefore to all solid earthly things as for example our bodies, our health, our survival, our material and monetary existence as well as our ability to manifest our needs.

If we look within our body, the Root Chakra relates to the solid parts such as the bones, the large intestine (that passes solid things) and the fleshy body as a whole.

The earth element represents our need to stay grounded, alive, safe and healthy.

Root Chakra colour

The Muladhara is represented by the earth element which can be described as a solid, condensed state of matter and the ‘‘lowest‘ end of the Chakra spectrum.

And so, it is visualised as a deep vibrant red which is the colour of beginning, the colour with the longest wavelength and the slowest vibration in the visible spectrum..

Signs of an imbalanced root chakra

• too overly focused/hypervigilant
• resistant to change
• low energy
• anxiety surrounding housing/living situation
• insecurities (especially about finances)
• trust issues
• always needing control/dominance

Each chakra can be overactive or underactive, but those experiencing any of the signs previously mentioned have a passive, or deficient, root chakra.

This means that not enough energy is feeding your roots. And since our bodies want to support us, even at our own detriment sometimes, the symptoms of an underactive root chakra are simply just mechanisms of protection.

It’s up to you to work on bringing balance and harmony into these energy centres.

How to Balance the Root Chakra – Ultimate Guide!

Here are some ways to balance the root chakra.

Earthbound Connections

Because people with Root chakra imbalance feel anxious and detached, re-establishing relation to the Earth is the first phase toward healing Muladhara.

The Root Chakra relates deeply to the element of the earth, so when we do activities that connect us with the earth, we are nurturing our Rook Chakra.

Stimulate connection with the earth by gardening or going on long walks in nature.

If you are in an urban area, you can still find nature around you – bring a plant into your apartment/flat, or go visit a local park, even holding a crystal could do the trick.

The point is to feel a connection with the earth – you could even meditate with the idea of Grounding.

When healing the Root Chakra, be mindful to ensure a safe and harmonious connection with your surroundings and loved ones.

The connection to the world and your surroundings will create a sense of harmony and stability.

With connection to the earth energy, you may feel at ease with who you are and your purpose in this world.

Eat Root Vegetables

Minor adjustments to your food intake may also prove beneficial to healing the Root Chakra.

The organic matter that we ingest, literally forms the basis of our being.

In a literal sense, the proteins and vitamins in our food become the baseline of our health.

A balanced diet can usually help hold the chakras intact.

Do you ever wonder why you crave ‘comfort food’ when you are stressed?

There are some common foods associated with the Root Chakra – ironically, those foods are generally roots!

Grounding foods for the root chakra are:

• High in protein. Feed your muscles foods like beans, tofu, kale, and almonds.
• Red.  Because of its connection with the colour red, the Root Chakra plays nicely with red foods like red peppers, raspberries, or cherries. Typically, these products give you a lot of vitamin C, and support your immune system, as a bonus.
• Roots. Vegetables such as beets, carrots and potatoes are all grown in the ground – directly related to the roots in the earth, these vegetables help to rebalance a misaligned Root Chakra.

Crystal Healing for Root Chakra

You might be able to realign or begin to unblock the Root Chakra by working intentionally with certain stones.

Crystals carry energy and when working with certain stones, you can access different levels of energy and connection.

As crystals are made of earthbound energy, working with crystals can bring a sense of calm to the Root Chakra.

When working with the Root Chakra, the following stones may be of particular benefit.

• Carnelian: A pale red stone with orange hues. Red carnelian blends power, cleanliness, and courage. If you suffer with anxiety and can’t bring yourself to abandon your comfort zone, Carnelian will support you in building self-confidence.
• Obsidian: A black gemstone is said to be a stone of protection. You can defend yourself against dark energy with this stone – wear it while you work to become more stable in your life, and your obstacles will be met with ease.
• Bloodstone: Historically kept as a token of good health and long life, Bloodstone also has a reputation for bringing good fortune – leading to increase in finances, it also helps banish negativity. With all that, Bloodstone will be your Root Chakra’s lucky charm.
• Argonite: is the crystal of expansion. It supports us as we learn to expand our beliefs and learn to reprogram our prejudices. We need to be able to stretch out edges and grow without fear or worry getting in the way.

Abundance Mindset

Adopting an abundance mindset can have a tremendous impact on a healthy energetic system.

Meditation and journaling practices may be a tremendous benefit in letting go of materialistic desires. Instead of worrying about the lack, focus on the good you already have.

Reframe your perspective when thinking about finances, sense of self, or your general health and safety.

Instead of thinking, “I’m so broke. My bank account is empty.” Try thinking, “My bank account is wide open for growth.”

One of the main aspects of Muladhara chakra healing is learning to trust and enjoy yourself by letting go of anxiety.

Your nerves naturally decrease when you stop operating from a scarcity mindset.

Accept that you are important and successful in this universe – believe that good things are coming.

Anything you put your mind to, you will do.

Be confident in sharing your power and capabilities. As you use an abundance mindset to calm the Root Chakra, you will find hope, confidence, and resilience.

Remember: There is always enough.

Meditations on the Root Chakra

Root Chakra meditations will benefit you too when it comes to healing Muladhara.

Start by initiating your standard mediation strategies, such as sitting still and concentrating on the breath.

But then, try to draw a physical connection to the earth – use grounding techniques and stimulate a strong connection with the earth and build a sense of security in the Root Chakra.

Here’s an example:

• Sit or stand up straight. Start by relaxing all your muscles and shutting your eyes, breathe deeply and inhale through the nose, draw the air through the lungs as deep down as you can, and exhale through the mouth.
• Shift your focus to the Root Chakra spot, right under your tailbone.
• Imagine an energetic cord expanding from that area into the earth. Let it drop below the floor, and the dirt and rocks beneath that – continue to drop the cord further and further into the earth’s core. Then, pause in the stillness.
• In this connected state, release any unwanted feelings of anxiety, stress, or worry. Let the healing energy of the earth absorb those feelings – they can be transformed into something productive in another cycle.
• Before returning back from your meditative state, take a moment to pull up feelings of safety, security, and abundance – bring these energies with you as lessons and reminders from the earth. Use them to remind yourself that there is always enough for everyone and we are destined to thrive.
• Visualise the cord coming back up toward the Root Chakra centre at the base of your spine and integrating seamlessly into your being. You are fully connected, whole, and held by the earth – there is nothing to worry about.

If you struggle with the above, try and guided meditation, the below is an excellent one that I use regularly:

Gratitude

A gratitude practice has so many benefits that I could write a whole book on this one practice alone.

If you don’t have time for any of the other things mentioned above, just spend every day writing at least 5 things you are grateful for.

It can be the simplest, or even the silliest things – and don’t just think it, but write it out on paper so that your conscious mind can manifest that which you attract.

The more grateful you are, the more gratitude you’ll attract into your life.

With unforeseen events weighing down our past and clouding our future, it’s crucial now more than ever to maintain inner balance.

Tending to your root chakra is important for overall mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health.

Just as taking a shower every day to cleanse our bodies and maintain our physical health is the norm, so should regularly cleansing our chakras be.

Energy maintenance, in my opinion, is just as important for staying healthy and sane as all the other things we do for ourselves.

So, next time you’re feeling overwhelmed and all over the place, try these practices and notice the benefits.

Imagine your body is a plant that’s in need of some love – what would you do to take care of the plant?

How would you help it grow? What does its roots need to thrive?

Practice grounding yoga poses

Whenever I lead a yoga class, I love diving deep into the root analogy during tree pose.

It’s a great way to really visualise yourself physically grounding through the soles of your feet and finding that inner balance.

The following yoga poses help to connect with the earth energy and bring a sense of grounding to the physical body.

Suggested Practices:

Morning Grounding Poses:

• Child’s Pose
• Cobra
• Downward-Facing Dog
• Goddess
• Yogi Squat
• Mountain
• Tree
• Savasana

Earthy Evening Poses:

• Savasana
• Waterfall Pose
• Happy Baby Pose
• Seated Forward Fold
• Reclined Butterfly
• Reclined Spinal Twist
• Supported Bridge
• Constructive Rest

Think about what your body needs, then listen to it.

Root chakra affirmations

Finally, targeted affirmations are incredibly useful for root chakra healing.

As with all affirmations, you can repeat these positive statements multiple times a day, or anytime you get a sense your chakra might be blocked.

In particular, you might want to try saying one or more of these root chakra affirmations right before or after you meditate, or when you get ready for the day ahead:

• Wherever I am, I am safe and secure.
• I am stable, grounded, and relaxed in this moment.
• All of my safety needs will always be met.
• I have a healthy body, a healthy mind, and an abundant life.
• I am anchored to the earth and supported by the universe.
• The universe will always support me and show me where to go next.
• I deserve and receive support whenever I need it.
• The universe will always provide for me.
• I feel my root chakra opening, and I feel myself stabilising.
• I am secure and happy in my home.

You can also combine affirmations with yoga poses, or try holding one of your root chakra stones while saying an affirmation.

Some people also like to write their affirmations down, placing them in a prominent place as they continue daily chakra work.

Sound Therapy

The root vibrates in harmony to “C” Note. Additionally chanting “LAM” will have a positive effect on this chakra. Vibrational Note C, Frequency: 256 Hz is good. Try meditating with singing bowls or music made including these frequencies and notes. Listen to the elemental root chakra sounds of thunder, native music and drumming.

The 7 key symptoms your root chakra is opening

The below seven symptoms are things that nearly everyone feels as they open their root chakra.

If you think you’re activating your root chakra but aren’t having any of these symptoms, don’t get discouraged.

Everyone is unique, but the more you progress, the easier it’ll be to attune to your body’s frequency and understand how it feels on a deeper level.

In fact, that’s what activating the root chakra does in a nutshell.

Still, here are the seven key symptoms your root chakra is opening:

Literally feeling grounded

These symptoms occur in no particular order, but an overwhelming sense of grounding is usually a key indicator that your root chakra is opening.

A natural side effect of feeling grounded is a decrease in overall anxiety you might feel.

Maybe your heart rate is noticeably slower, and your mind isn’t crowded with irrational thoughts.

This feeling of groundedness is synonymous with being in the Now – when you live in the moment of Here, the present moment, there is no room for anxiety.

Fear creates anxiety, and fear is only present in the past and future.

 Feeling connected

Similarly, a feeling of connectedness will manifest soon after the feeling of being grounded.

This is the feeling that reminds us that we aren’t alone in the world.

There might be upwards of 8 billion people on the planet, but some days it can feel like you are left out of the biggest party in the universe, quite literally.

However, activating the root chakra brings you back into this blissful awareness that there are other people like you in the world.

Not only that, but you will feel more connected with the Earth as well.

Have you caught yourself thinking about how warm the sun felt today or how pretty a bird was?

This is a key indicator that you are connected.

Healthier eating habits

It is extremely common for deeply blocked root chakras to manifest as eating disorders.

Once that blockage is cleared and the chakra finds its balance, that eating disorder won’t stand a chance.

I’m sure there will be a lot of sceptics out there, but it’s true!

When the root chakra is balanced, you naturally feel at home in your body – you appreciate and love yourself just the way you are.

It’s a soulful healing that happens from the inside and quite literally balances the chemicals in your brain as well.

As a result, you are left with a better relationship with food because you respect yourself and your Divinity.

 Tingling or heat

This symptom might seem vague, and that’s because it’s supposed to be.

Tingling and heat aren’t symptoms specific to the root chakra, but they are specific to the chakra system as a whole.

It is typical for people to feel any sort of tingling or heat in the chakra area they are activating or balancing.

Regarding the root chakra, you could feel tingling or heat in:

• The bottoms of your feet
• Your palms
• Your pelvic floor (for all you yogis out there)

Ability to listen to your body

The root chakra brings you back to the physical plane.

It anchors you to reality and stabilises your life. In a personal sense, it gives you the tools to listen to your body.

Take getting sick, for example:

You feel the literal first symptom the sickness manifests.

It may seem like you have become more sensitive because you can feel even the faintest of symptoms.

In reality, you can hear your body when it talks to you – as if someone turned up the volume.

Similarly, it has a way of increasing libido as well, which makes sense because the second chakra relates to passions within and without; sensual and sexual.

 May affect sleeping

Now, this can be a good and bad thing.

As mentioned above, when you first open your root chakra, it will likely bring up a few troublesome ‘side effects.’

Sleeping can be negatively affected, causing restless leg syndrome and other restless activity until the energy flows freely and balanced.

Once the root chakra is balanced, you can expect a better night’s sleep accompanied by vivid dreams.

Sleep is a vulnerable time for any living being.

You fall into this subconscious state, your body goes limp, and you stay this way for hours on end!

If knowing this triggers anxiety within, there are some apparent root chakra lessons headed your way.

The root chakra wipes away any trace of insecurity or instability in your being.

 You gain a sense of safety within yourself

There is no greater feeling than to feel supported and safe in your own skin.

Unfortunately, we can’t choose our upbringing.

So many people grew up feeling unsafe in their own homes. This put them in survival mode very early on.

When this mentality is engrained into the mind in this nature, it causes a calcification to occur.

Suddenly, you see your Self as a protective barrier, always with its guards up.

In reality, you are a powerful and spiritual vessel of energy and your body; Keeps. You. Alive.

Do you understand how magical that is?

How to balance the root chakra – Final thought

That is what the First Chakra is, our roots, our base, our foundation. It is our sense of safety, of health, of warmth. And so, our journey up the spine through the Chakras has begun.

As you learn about chakras, you’ll discover that balancing them is a practice you can develop, especially if you think of it as a process of not just living your life, but actually loving your life.

I would love to hear your thoughts on what you are doing to change your life in the coming days and years!

If you have any questions please reach out to me via adam@adam-lawrence.org. I would love to hear from you!

I really hope you found inspiration in this article.

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Adam

Hello! My name is Adam and welcome to my space on the internet. Here you can find me writing about subjects such as spiritual growth, self-discovery, wellbeing, addiction recovery and mental health. Please connect with me on my journey and join the community!