Balance Your Root Chakra (3 Easy Ways!)

We’ve already talked about the heart chakra, but I feel really strongly that we talk about balancing your root chakra as well this month.

When it comes to self-love, the root chakra is where it’s at!  

The root chakra, or Muladhara in Sanskrit, is located at the lowest point on your body of all the seven chakras, but it is actually considered the first. This is because the root chakra represents your sense of safety and security, forming the foundation upon which the other chakras rest.

If a foundation is built upon shaky ground, the house on top of it will not be stable.

When there is an imbalance with your root chakra, it can manifest as anxiety, restlessness, impatience, greediness, overspending or excessive nightmares. The root chakra is located at the base of the spine, the pelvic floor, and the first three vertebrae, so you may feel discomfort in those areas. You may have trouble with your elimination like constipation or bladder infections, lower back pain, or weakness in your legs or feet. Eating disorders are also connected to your root chakra. 

It’s interesting to note that our sense of security is tied to our childhood experiences. As vulnerable babes, we rely on our parents to provide and fulfill our physical and emotional needs: a safe home, food on the table, and affection. How well and quickly these needs were met informed your view of the world as a kind and trustworthy place. But if your needs were not consistently met, or you experienced trauma as a child, it creates that shaky foundation. 

If you can’t trust the world around you, you’ll have a hard time believing in yourself as well. 

Your root chakra is balanced by releasing long-held beliefs or fears — and healing deep emotional wounds by addressing those basic needs we missed.  I visited a healer when my root chakra was out of whack who used massage modalities in the pelvic area that had me crying like a baby. It can be intense work, but there are simple ways you can connect to your body and get grounded every day (with or without tears).   

Read on for ways to balance your root chakra + give a BIG hug to your Inner Child.

The color red has a powerful impact on your root chakra. Jennifer White, a yoga instructor and the author of The Best Day of Your Life, suggests meditating and imagining a glowing red light at the base of your tailbone, “extending down your legs and feet, grounding you to the earth.”

If you need some mood music, check out this Root Chakra Awakening Meditation Music.  

Connect with the earth, the mother of all grounding mechanisms.

Go to the beach and walk barefoot on the shore, feeling the sand between your toes with each step. Check out a community garden or work in your backyard. If you live in an apartment, buy some plants to repot in a nice planter. Feel the soil between your fingers. Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty. 

Hit the Yoga Mat.

Try some asana poses that can really open and unblock your Muladhara too. Here are a few poses to try.

Pavanamuktasana

This is a knee to chest pose you may be familiar with, as all levels of yogi utilize it. It stretches and releases tension in your lower back, improves circulation in the hip area and massages the organs in both your abdomen and pelvic areas, like to reproductive and sex organs. Oo la la!  

As it’s an excellent position to alleviate abdominal gas, it’s also called the Wind-Relieving Pose. ???? Practice this in the morning on an empty stomach or first in your sequence as it will make the other poses easier to do without trapped air in your intestine.

Tutorial here.

Malasana

This squatting pose, helps calm and ground your mind and body. It’s also called the Garland Pose, in reference to the way your arms hang in this deep squat. As you move through the entire sequence, it will help tone and strengthen your legs and improve elimination issues. There are a few different ways to do this pose, plus modifications if you have knee or leg injuries, so check out the lesson below from Yoga Journal to find the intensity that is right for you. 

Tutorial here. 

Padmasana

Also known as the Lotus Pose, this is a hip opener, so it’s excellent for releasing emotions. When we’re stressed or feel threatened, our natural response is to tighten this muscle region, storing negative energy there.  Not only does this pose help you loosen up, but it realigns your spine and lower back. When you’re sitting tall, you’re thinking tall, and your energy is automatically centered inwards. Confidence boost confirmed!

Tutorial here.

Balancing your root chakra is all about bringing you back to those basic needs, so even taking a shower or a walk around your neighborhood can help calm your mind and center your thoughts, so you can strengthen the foundation of your own well-being with love and care. 

Do you feel like your root chakra is out of balance? Which of these methods will you try first? Let me know by posting in The Badass Beauty Club on Facebook.

LOVE + trust,