When your root chakra is blocked you don’t feel at home… anywhere. As the base chakra, it significantly impacts your sense
of security in life. When this energy center is open and balanced you feel at home, stable, and able to take on life’s challenges. You have clear focus, a sense of purpose, and are always “present” in the moment. However, if this chakra is blocked, the security gives way to doubt, fear, and your emotional and physical well-being suffers.
Symptoms of Blockage in the Root Chakra
A blocked root chakra not only creates an imbalance in energy flow throughout the body, but it can also instigate feelings of restlessness. You may feel like you’re constantly searching for an elusive something that you can’t even identify.
Individuals with a blocked root chakra find it difficult to “settle down” with anything, including where they want to live and work. Even their personal relationships are impacted.
Characteristics common to those with a blocked root chakra are:
- lack of focus
- co-dependency
- restlessness
- feeling abandoned

Most of us have energetic blocks and imbalances as well as energy-sabotaging habits that prevent us from accessing our full vitality, which leads us to feel exhausted, scattered, dull… even ill.
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In addition to the vagabond-like mentality a blocked root chakra creates is the issue of the physical and emotional toll the blockage takes.
Common physical signs of blockage involve the lower parts of the body, especially legs and genital area. The root chakra primarily governs the reproductive organs and lower extremities, including the lower spine, legs, and feet. The chakra blockage will often replicate itself manifesting as constipation, kidney stones, circulatory issues, and leg weakness. Additional physical signs can include:
- sciatica
- hypertension
- impotence
- colitis
- eating disorders
- prostate issues in men
Common non-physical signs of blockage include:
- depression
- anxiety
- fearfulness
- guilt
- resentment
Solutions for opening a closed Root Chakra
Techniques for opening a blocked root chakra can range from physical activity to meditation and energy healing.
Any physical activity can help unblock this energy center, from walking to doing chores around the house, and even yoga and dancing. Beneficial yoga poses for the root chakra engage your legs and muscles around the perineum. For example, “Standing Forward Bend” (or “Uttanasana” in Sanskrit) stretches the legs and hips fostering a more stable grounding and opening of the root chakra. Remember, no matter which physical activity you chose, the key is to be present in the moment and aware of your movement.
Meditating on the root chakra can also open this energy center. There are numerous meditation resources available online.
Check out our healing tips for the root chakra or seek assistance from an energy healer to supplement your clearing efforts. The chakra energy test will also help pinpoint blockages and imbalances.
What Others Say About Blockages In The Root Chakra
Here are selected quotes to shed light on what it means when imbalance takes place in this chakra.
When a young infant faces danger or neglect, it forces him to fall back on himself— an independence which is developmentally impossible. Instead the child falls into an intolerable pit of fear and helplessness— the experience of having no ground. When this happens, the downward current of energy is blocked. Instead, the life force moves toward the upper chakras, which feel safer. The upward movement then becomes habitual, depleting the lower chakras and sending the system out of balance.
Source: Judith, Anodea (2011). Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self. Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony.
The Mūlādhāra Chakra is the seat of the unconscious. It is like a dark, locked cellar whose hidden contents we have only a vague idea about. Perhaps there are precious stones, or perhaps poisonous scorpions or snakes. When a snake is sleeping, therefore in an unconscious state, it appears to be peaceful and harmless, but in a wakeful state it can be extremely menacing and dangerous. (…) One question that is often raised is whether it would be better to allow the unconscious to remain buried rather than to stir it up. The answer is that we can only attain freedom when everything that we have carried with us since the beginning of our existence is brought up into the light. Further spiritual development is only possible when everything we have amassed has been processed and purified, and all obstacles from the past removed; it is only when our vision is clear that we are able to recognise the path that will lead us towards realisation.
Source: Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (2012). The Hidden Power in Humans – Chakras and Kundalini. International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship.
Related Searches
Want to learn more about how the root chakra works and dive deeper in understanding how this energy center impacts your life? Here are additional resources to help on the way.
- Find out what happens when your root chakra is overactive?
- Learn about the root chakra symbol and its meaning
References
- Judith, Anodea (2011). Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self. Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony
- Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (2012). The Hidden Power in Humans – Chakras and Kundalini. International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship.
Author:
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.

Want Healthier and Happier Chakras?
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.
I feel deeply sad and quite devastated. I moved 40 times and had 115 different jobs. I just read the short part from Judith, Anodea (2011). Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self.
This hits home soooo hard. I should feel a sense of relief to finally know why all this has happened but I can only cry.
Stay with this guys, you’re henilpg a lot of people.
I can’t feel root chakra and my sacral chakra feels numb, whereas the rest of the 5 chakras I can feel them
That could be because those chakras vibrate at a lower frequency
Physical activity like jogging or walking is it enough to unblocked? I really need help. All that you say is true about root chakra blockage. I see myself in your explanation. Thank you
Another common symptom is feeling cold alot. The root chakra becomes blocked due to fear and therefore one has to go deeply into onesself to find the cause of the fears – change all the negative beliefs to positive beliefs. Apply positive affirmations – see Louise Hay. I am safe, I am secure, I am loved, I am great. I love me. It is due to old belief patterns due to life experiences including past lives that there is insecurity now.
Are you a person? I read your post here!in this circumstance..I must fight this daily,I’m married to the1 who reblocks myroot many time,daily.This is near intolerable,20 yrs,added to childhood trauma,overbearing,unapproving father was enough..he compound daily,I read,in nature,walk,bike ride,stretch,pray,music,writing,as an Empath,INFJ,& Pisces,I hit the trifecta..combined w/ a narcissist,manipulating gaslighter..very hard..separation is nor presently feasible..help..
very good explanation