The Muladhara Chakra (Root)

Thank you to Marco Testasecca (Paps) for this wonderful representation of the Muladhara Chakra Symbol

What is a “Chakra”?

Meaning “Disc” in Sanskrit, a Chakra is an energy centre in the body.

There are 7 Chakras in the body.

1. The Root Chakra – Muladhara
2. The Sacral Chakra – Svadhisthana
3. The Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura
4. The Heart Chakra – Anahata
5. The Throat Chakra – Vishuddha
6. The Third Eye Chakra – Ajna
7. The Crown Chakra – Sahasrara

During our practice, it’s useful to be aware of the location of the Chakras.

Each Chakra is connected to a Sanskrit letter which is connected to a mantra sound.

The chakras are closely in tune with the endocrine system, which controls vital functions in our body.

Each Chakra is associated with a gland; Glands are part of the endocrine system and send chemical messages that are secreted into the blood. They govern digestions, reproduction, immunity and growth.

The chakras can affect our organs and viceversa.

Important events in our lives, our upbringing and our conditioning can have a profound effect on the state of these energy centres.

Chakras can be balanced and aligned when we are healthy physically, spiritually and mentally.

Chakras can also become unbalanced and blocked when the energy doesn’t flow as freely.

Our Yoga practice is a very precious discipline to address imbalances in our Chakras.

How to balance your Chakras?

Meditation, Pranayama, Asanas (Yoga Postures), Essential Oils, Energy Work (Reiki, Acupuncture, Sound Therapy etc) Crystals

1st CHAKRA, THE MULADHARA CHAKRA ( THE ROOT CHAKRA )

This Chakra is situated at the base of our spine, it represents the centre of our vital life force.

The Muladhara represents survival, groundedness, links us to our culture, family and birthplace, belief patterns, predjudices….

Through the Muladhara, we connect with our primal instincts and needs;

to survive, to get shelter from potential danger, to gather food & water

Your upbringing and how much care and love you received growing up, how much you moved around or how stable your base was, all have an influence in the stability of this Chakra.

This Chakra is physically related to the lower part of the body; our feet, our legs, large intestines, bones, kidneys and the nervous system.

Mula = Root

Dhara = Place

Image = Spinning Red Disc at base of the spine

Seed Sound = LAM

Element Associated = Earth (heaviest of all elements)

Colour Associated = Red

Gland Associated = Adrenals (they activate fight or flight to protect the body)

Motion = Downward Motion of Elimination (Apana Vayu )

Excess in Muladhara energy = Sluggish, heavy, stagnant, stuck in your ways, afraid of letting go, lazy, hoarding things, afraid of letting go

Deficient in the Muladhara energy = giving away to the point of not having enough, fearful and anxious emotions, feeling ungrounded, head in the clouds

Essential Oils = Nutmeg (energising effect), Patchouli (calming) Bergamot (maintaining energy balance)

Asanas Associated = Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Dandasana (Staff Pose) Padmasana (Lotus Pose), Virabhadrasana A (Warrior 1) , Utkatasana (Chair Pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog), Janu Shirshasana (Head to Knee Pose)

Badhas Associated = Mulla Bandha (activating Perineum)

Symbol = Sacred Lotus Flower