Yoga for the Root Chakra
The root chakra, positioned at the base of your spine, houses the raw, static life force energy known as Kundalini. Also known as the 1st chakra or Muladhara in Sanskrit, it governs your “survival instincts” and is associated with red — the color of vitality and energy. When the first chakra is open and balanced, you feel grounded and at ease with the world around you. If it is either overactive or blocked, you might feel off-balanced not only physically, but also emotionally.
Incorporating yoga to support chakra balance into your daily routine is a great way to open and balance your overall energy levels. Although a series of yoga poses are intended for individual chakras, the asanas (or poses) ultimately benefit the entire body. It is impossible to energize one energy center without affecting the rest of the system.
In practice, yoga poses are referred to as asanas. These postures are intended to improve your overall physical, spiritual, and emotional health when practiced regularly. Adapted from the word “asanam”, which is Sanskrit for “seated posture,” basic asanas for the root chakra not only ground you, but also bolster your primal nature. By strengthening your core and lower extremities, you also increase stamina.
To open and balance your first chakra, introduce forward bends and standing poses to strengthen your core, legs, and feet. Unsure where to begin? Start with these:
When properly balanced each of your 7 Chakras work together to create an optimal life. If you are like most of us your energetic ecosystem could use some help. Take this 2-minute chakra test to know which of your chakras may be the weakest.
Lizzy is editor in chief of Chakra Magazine and chakras.info. She is trained in several energy healing modalities including Reiki and Healing Touch. In addition she has spent many years studying ancient traditions such as the chakra system and Tibetan spirituality. She merges this knowledge with her passion for sharing information through journalism. Her mission is to offer accurate, up-to-date, reliable resources about topics that matter to readers with regards to the chakra systems.