Muladhara, the root chakra, is the first chakra in the seven chakras energy system. Chakra is sanskrit and translates as “wheel” or “circle”. This translation can begin to explain the way the chakra system is a continuous stream of energy circulating through the body.
Sometimes when we become stagnant in life or it is time to change the way we have previously been living, our chakras can become blocked with this stagnation.
Characteristics Of A Balanced Root Chakra
Muladhara is located at the base of the spine, more specifically the coccyx bone. This chakra governs the bones, muscles, kidneys, colon, and adrenal glands.
This energy center is the place where we derive our primal needs. It is our connection to the physical realm, our environment, our bodies, and our survival. This includes our thoughts and feelings around our safety financially to emotionally and physically as well.
When the root chakra is in balance, being able to feel safe, capable of having your physical needs met, and an overall feeling of security in the foundation of your life will come easily.
When this chakra is activated we feel supported enough to take necessary risks, to be vulnerable, and to challenge ourselves in order to grow.
Our chakra system works like a river, to maintain healthy and clear water it needs to have movement. An overactive chakra can work like a flood and destroy surrounding structures.
You may focus on activating the root chakra when symptoms of an underactive root chakra begin to present itself. For an overactive root chakra, you may want to work with some of the techniques to bring it into balance as listed below.
Traits Of An Underactive Root Chakra
When the root chakra is underactive one does not feel that they have a stable foundation. It can be hard for them to form trust and truly give and receive, as they may be stuck in a scarcity mindset and find it hard to tap into selflessness.
With self-confidence in mind the ability to feel safe while speaking their truth can be another challenge for those with an underactive root chakra.
This can also show up emotionally as anxiety, scarcity beliefs, cynicism, and insecurity. This can be seen when someone experiences a lot of self-doubt, worries about their financial security, or has trouble speaking up for themselves. An underactive root chakra can also equate to feeling inadequate and incapable of reaching your dreams.
Scarcity mindsets can manifest as selfishness, an avoidance of necessary risks, severe pessimism, and inability to share with others. This can also mean a fear to share emotionally, out of a fear of rejection. This can equate to secrecy and manipulation stemming from a lack of self-trust and confidence.
With an underactive root chakra, it can feel difficult to say no because one may not feel a strong enough support in themselves to navigate the possible winds of conflict. This brings us to understand that a balanced root chakra that feels rooted in itself can calmly communicate in conflict and does not feel threatened. The relationship to feeling worthy is starved when the root chakra is underactive and this perpetuates an inability to trust or believe in oneself.
Activation Allies of the Root Chakra
When activating the root chakra there are tools you can use to open up your connection to this energy center. You can incorporate these elements into your daily habits such as listening to chakra healing music while cooking dinner, starting your day with this grounding meditation or simply dressing yourself in the color red. Some basic associated root chakra tools are presented below.
Yoga Poses To Open The Root Chakra
More advanced root chakra activation allies such as yoga asanas, or yoga postures, create their focus on the lower body and offer a grounding effect to the body and mind. These yoga poses calm the mind and increase self-confidence. Asanas to open and activate the root chakra are Uttanasa (forward fold), Virabhadrasana (warrior 2), and Malasana (squat pose). Try this grounding chakra yoga practice to connect with your root chakra.
Affirmations For Root Chakra Activation
- It is safe for me to be in this body
- I deserve success
- I am worthy of (ie. love, my dreams, abundance)
- I am financially stable
- It is safe for me to trust
- I am capable and strong
- I am supported and loved
- I am grounded
Crystals To Activate The Root Chakra
Healing crystals can be used during meditation, placed under a pillow while sleeping, or carried in your pocket throughout your day. The color of a crystal directly correlates to which chakra this is helping you to work with. The colors red and black support the energy and balancing of the root chakra. Some specific crystals to work with are:
- Garnet
- Black Tourmaline
- Red Adventurine
- Black Obsidian
- Red Jasper
- Hematite
When choosing a crystal to work with it is always important to use your intuition. One way to do this is to close your eyes and hold the crystal in your hand. Let go of any expectations and allow yourself to notice any subtle sensations arising while you are holding this crystal. Take note of the state of your mind as well.
If you are not able to hold the crystal before purchasing it, another way to feel which may be right for you is by imagining you’ve made the decision to purchase a specific crystal. Take note of how you feel after making this decision. Again, let go of trying to force a mental response. Allow your feelings to come naturally. You may also decide to use this practice with two different crystals in order to feel the contrast on how you would work differently with each one.
Traits Of An Overactive Root Chakra
When the root chakra is overactive emotionally it can show up as anger, impulsivity, greed, thoughtlessness, and difficulty letting go. This can also take the form of struggling to focus, being restless, and demonstrating controlling behavior.
The mindset can be materialistic and identify with the ego. One can become easily agitated and have resistance to “going with the flow”. It can also take the form of resisting change and remaining stubborn.
Techniques To Balance The Root Chakra
An over activation of the root chakra can be balanced with present and compassionate attention. Some techniques to rebalance this chakra include yin yoga, meditation, and letting go of some material possessions. The focus is to work with more calming techniques, as an overactive root chakra tends to want to be more impulsive and immediate.
Massage, self-care acts, and cleaning up your physical environment can also balance the root chakra. For massage, this will activate the parasympathetic system and bring one into their body and out of their head. Self-care acts such as applying a face mask or reading a favorite book can begin to develop a strong foundation of self-love. This foundation of self-care can teach one to feel safe in their body. Cleaning your physical environment can be an act of showing gratitude for your personal possessions. This can also work as an opportunity to cultivate an appreciation for all the ways you are already blessed.
Benefits Of Yin Yoga For An Overactive Root Chakra
Yin yoga is a slower-paced yoga, where the postures are held for 1-5 minutes. You can practice with sound healing music in the background or in silence. Yin yoga stretches the fascia of the body, this is where our body’s energy is believed to be stored. The slow and meditative pace yin yoga moves at, offers a chance to go deeper into the subconscious. This allows what one may be avoiding to surface and be worked through.
- the slow pace activates the parasympathetic system i.e. the body’s rest and digest response
- stretches the fascia so the excessively gathered energy may circulate to the rest of the body where it may be deficient
- the slow pace in yin yoga can offer one a space to surrender and emotionally acclimate to this meditative and slow pace, which is the opposite to overactivity
Journal Prompts To Heal The Root Chakra
These journal prompts offer you the ability to explore your unconscious. You may be able to discover blockages you have within your root chakra, learn how to better support yourself, and maybe where you may want to change your approach to life. To begin this journey find or create a space where you feel comfortable and are able to think without being interrupted. Then let’s dive in.
- When do you feel the most supported? How do you support yourself?
- Where do you feel confident in yourself? What are some of your strengths?
- What am I ready to let go of?
- How can I surrender to life more?
- What changes could you make in your life to feel more grounded?
- In what ways are you stopping yourself from being vulnerable?
- Do you have resistance to letting go of control?
Further Reading
You can learn more about all the seven chakras here or individually dive into each chakra by clicking each one below.
