Our center of security, connection to the material world, and our feelings of capability can be rebalanced and rejuvenated through using yoga for the root chakra. Enjoy these asanas and the bija mantra for the root chakra.
Yoga Is More Than A Workout
If you have gone to many yoga classes you may have already found out that yoga offers a deeper depth than just working out your body. Different teachers have their own style and some may transmit the message of classical yoga and teach you how to work with the subtle energy bodies.
Yoga is a holistic healing method which means it treats the person as a whole. It clears the body, the mind, and the spirit. Working with the chakra system is a big part of getting the most out of your yoga practice.
The Root Chakra
The root chakra is the first chakra in the seven chakra system, it is located at the base of the spine right at the coccyx bone. It is associated with the kidneys, colon, adrenal glands, bones, and muscles.
It is represented by the element earth and the colors red, brown, and black. You can understand this chakra as our connection to the physical realm which encompasses our physical needs, feelings of safety, and security.
Just as any chakra the root chakra can become blocked by suppressed, unhealthy patterns, trauma, and any stagnation within its territory these practices will help you to clear blockages from your root chakra.
Yoga Asanas For The Root Chakra
If you are ready to move your body with a 30 min yoga practice then go ahead and follow along with the video below. Otherwise, you can use the listed asanas throughout the day to promote grounding and clearing of your root chakra.
Asanas are the physical poses within yoga practice, this is where our movement practice comes in to heal and recalibrate the physical body. Here are some that work for the root chakra:
- Malasana – feet should be just about shoulder-width apart, your toes rotating outwards to the top corners of your matt, bend the knees to come into a squat and focus to keep the feet flat on the ground, keep the spine long, hands in prayer position with the elbows pressing into the inner thighs and inner things back into the elbows
- Anjaneyasana (low lunge) – come into a high lunge, drop the back knee so that the legs are in a sort of miniature split, can leave back toes tucked or untucked, press back leg into the ground, grip for with front foot and pull from foot slightly back towards you, square the hips so that have a balance of strength yet relaxation in this pose
- (Virabhadrasana II (Warrior 2) – step one foot back a little short than the distance you would make for a high lunge, rotate the back foot down to become parallel with the short edge of your matt, bend into the front knee while making sure the knee does not pivot inwards (which you can do by checking to make sure you can still see your big toe on the front foot), pull the feet inwards towards each other as if pulling up energy from the earth with it, activate the core and find length in the spine, inhale take the arms out to 90 degrees, keep the gaze over the front hand
Bija Seed Mantra For Root Chakra
Mantras originated in Vedic Sanskrit within India. Mantra translated and broken down from Sanskrit, “man” meaning mind and “tra” which can be understood as to transfer or transport. Connecting these two translations, we can understand a mantra works as a conduit for higher wisdom and profound healing.
At Cleveland University, research shows that the melodic and rhythmic tones created when chanting form a soothing effect in the body called the Neuro-linguistic effect [NLE]. The release of healing chemicals in the brain is increased when we are intentionally attaching a meaning or understanding to the mantra.
Which is called the Psycholinguistic effect [PLE]. Each of the seven chakras has its own bija mantra that can link you directly to the energy of the chakra at its peak state. Meaning repeating these mantras can directly open, purify, nourish, and balance your chakras.
The root chakra’s bija mantra is Lam, pronounced the la as you would in the name Larry. You can chant this throughout your certain points within your yoga asana practice, during seated meditation, or when you want to bring more support to the root chakra.
