Wedding Yoga: The ROOT CHAKRA

I don’t remember when I first encountered the chakras, but I use them regularly in my yoga classes. In fact, they are the foundation of my wedding yoga practice. Yes, they can be a little ‘out there,’ but I have seen some a-ha moments using them with even some of my premarital counseling couples. So, let’s cut through the ‘woo-woo’ and get acquainted from the bottom to the top.

THE ROOT CHAKRA

The Root Chakra (or Muladhara in Sanskrit) is located at the perineum, between the sexual organs and the anus. Others say it’s at the base of the spine, but I like to bring the energy lower in the body.

Take a moment to find stillness and close your eyes. Bring your energy and awareness to your root. In fact, take three complete breaths into that area.

No, do it now. Close your eyes and find your root before you continue. No cheating or you’re missing out.

Good.

The root chakra or energy center houses our sense of survival, stability and security. It’s the center of our basic needs, our fight or flight response and feeling comfortable in our environment. Were you able to feel that?

If all is well, you should be able to feel grounded, trusting, courageous and have a healthy dose of self-esteem. If the root center is blocked, you may feel insecure, anxious and restless. You may also feel possessive, materialistic, lacking discipline or constantly get sick.

So right now you are either patting yourself on the back or completely freaking out. If your root chakra is open and working, congratulations. You stand on your own two feet unafraid and have vitality, strength and stillness. Celebrate that.

When there’s a lot of uncertainly around you, the root chakra may be a little off. This time of COVID has had us all living in limbo for months. So, there has been lots of insecurity and anxiety.

So, what do we do to balance muladhara?

1. Practice YOGA. I center my wedding yoga classes for groups on the root. I like to make sure the couple and their posse feels centered on their Big Day. Therefore I make sure to incorporate Balasana, Malasana, Uttanasana and grounding into your feet poses, like Tadasana.

2. Get out in NATURE. Take a walk and concentrate on the SMELLS around you. The root is attached to our sense of smell. Reconnect with that and you will open your root.

3. DANCE. Yeah, yeah I know, but trust me here. Put on music with lots of drums or bass and dance around. Stomp your feet, pump your fists - primal, energetic and FUN.

4. Close your eyes and MEDITATE for 10 minutes with the mantra, “I am safe and grounded.” There’s a good chance that there is security around us, but we don’t yet know it. Perhaps the repetition will allow our body and mind to actually believe it!

5. Take an hour and ORGANIZE one room or one section of your living space. Adding structure and order to your home will certainly build your stability.

Each of the chakras is linked to a gland. So, if thinking about energy in your root is too ethereal, think of connecting with your gonadal or reproductive glands. This chakra keeps the energy vortex connected with our basic needs of survival (food and waste elimination), and procreation.

So, how open is your root? How’s your sense of security and self-esteem? Did you find anything surprising as you reflected? Anything you would add?

The comment section below is always open to share your thoughts. Or if you want a personalized yoga practice or meditation, feel free to reach out.