Balancing the Root Chakra

What is the Root Chakra?

The root chakra, also known as muladhara, is the first of the body’s energy centers. When it is balanced, it brings feelings of safety, security, and being grounded. We worry less about day-to-day things and feel more confident. Our lives seem to flow more smoothly and we find a sense of connection with those around us.

This chakra is located at the base of the spine and is represented by the color red. The energy it brings leads to it being associated with the earth. The body parts connected to the root chakra are the adrenal glands and gonads.

How to Tell if Your Root Chakra is Unbalanced

If you’re not sure if your root chakra is balanced, try asking yourself these questions:

Do I feel anxious, insecure, or unconfident?
Am I afraid to try new things?
Do I worry about being able to meet my basic needs?
Do I feel disconnected from others or nature?
Do I feel stuck?
Is it hard for me to focus?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your root chakra might need a little TLC. (Let’s face it, in this semi-post-COVID era, most of us probably answered yes to at least one.)

An unbalanced root chakra has also been associated with certain health conditions, such as bladder or kidney problems, prostate issues, circulatory issues, constipation, unwanted weight fluctuations, and lower leg or foot injuries.

How do I fix it?

If you’ve read this far and decided that you seem to be in pretty good shape, that’s great! Consider reading the rest of this article anyway for tips on staying in balance.

However, if you’re relating to this article a little too much and think you might have an unbalanced chakra, don’t fret! A few small lifestyle changes are enough to bring you into balance again.

Diet

I know, I know. I tell you that worrying too much is a sign of unbalance, and then go and tell you to go on a diet. Don’t worry though. This diet doesn’t involve cutting out bread or buying expensive protein products. Instead, this dietary change is so simple that it almost sounds a little silly.

Are you ready?

To balance your root chakra, you need to eat more root vegetables. That’s it! See what I mean by simple? You probably already have some root vegetables in your kitchen. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions all count. You can also try turnips, beets, radishes, fennel, and different varieties of squash for some variety.

Exercise

While I personally enjoy high-intensity forms of exercise, the best form of exercise for balancing chakras is yoga. For the root chakra specifically, you’ll want to focus on poses that cultivate a sense of grounding. Try incorporating some of the following into your practice:

If you don’t currently have a practice, you might consider taking an online class. I’m also currently working on a series of yoga flows to balance the entire chakra system, so check back soon for that. (Edit: The sequence for the root chakra is now live!)

Earthing

Earthing is another form of grounding that is great for bringing your body’s energy into balance. It’s also really easy to do. Start by finding a patch of earth somewhere. It can be your backyard, a park, or a wooded area. It doesn’t matter where, just make sure you have permission to be there. Now you just take off your shoes (and socks!) and walk around barefoot. Try to really feel the connection between your feet and the ground.

It’s usually recommended to go for half an hour, but it’s okay if you can’t make it that long. Even just a few minutes helps. If you want to step this up a notch, choose one of the affirmations below to focus on during your practice.

Affirmations

Affirmations are great for healing all sorts of issues whether they are physical, mental, or spiritual. You can use them as a focus during meditation or yoga. Writing them in a gratitude journal also works well. For grounding and balance, try one of these:

I am safe.
I am financially secure.
All of my needs are being met.
I am connected to and supported by the earth.
I have strength and courage.

Did you try any of these ideas? If you did, or if you have any tips I should add to my list, let me know in the comments!

Heaven

Website | + posts

What is the Root Chakra?

How to Tell if Your Root Chakra is Unbalanced

How do I fix it?