The root chakra is one of the seven major chakras that serves as a path of understanding ourselves and how we relate to others. The chakra energy system is an ancient teaching that originated in India dating from 1500 to 1000 BC. Each chakra correlates with awareness or basic states of consciousness. In sanskrit, the root chakra is called muladhara. As the first chakra, the root chakra is the foundation of all seven. It represents the earth element and is located at the base of the spine.
What is a chakra?
A chakra translates as a “wheel” or “disk.” They are energetic focal points or “wheels” that stack along the mid-line of the body. They are intangible and do not exist in the physical sense. Though chakras are intangible, like emotions or thoughts, each one of the seven chakras represent strong ties to our physical and emotional well-being. Chakras receive, assimilate and expresses spiritual or life force energy.
- Chakra One – Muladhara / Root
- Chakra Two- Svadhisthana / Sacral
- Chakra Three – Manipura / Naval
- Chakra Four -Anahata/ Heart
- Chakra Five – Vishuddha / Throat
- Chakra Six – Ajna / Third Eye
- Chakra Seven – Sahasrara / Crown
Why does it matter?
It’s useful to learn about the root chakra because it opens up our understanding of the self and why we may feel disconnected to our own bodies. Each chakra is associated with a particular identity that we develop as we go through life. The root chakra represents the physical identity. As a wheel of energy that regulates our mind-body health, it affects our well-being, representing our basic needs for survival and self-preservation. The chakras can either be balanced, deficient or excessive.
Is your root chakra balanced?
Tied to our physical identity, this chakra grounds us firmly to our physical selves and thus, the physical reality. If you feel a strong and healthy sense of belonging, of being here and having, then that is a sign that you have a balanced root chakra. Other signs of a balanced muladhara include: good health, vitality, trust, stability and ability to relax. If you often feel disconnected from the body or if you are often underweight, fearful, anxious, restless and having poor boundaries, then your root chakra is likely deficient.
Healing the root chakra
To heal or nurture this part of your consciousness, you must reconnect with your body. To do so, practicing yoga, experiencing lots of touch and enjoying massages will help. For touch practices, try caressing your own skin, feeling the rhythm of your heartbeat, and expressing physical affection to yourself and loved ones. Enjoying massages is a great way to feel the healing sensations of touch and connecting with your body. In yoga, try grounding postures like child’s pose, happy baby, yogi squat and savasana.
The right to be here
Finding comfort and support in your own body is the goal of muladhara. It’s having the instinctual sense that you have the right to be here and enjoy life, to have the things that you want, that you are here to take up space because you have an inalienable right to exist. It’s a great feeling to be grounded, relaxed, stable, supported and comfortable in your own body – the essence of root chakra. This part of our existence is well worthwhile to know and nurture.
Recommended Reading
Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self