Chakra Introduction and Muladhara

February 23, 2012 at 11:00 am (chakras, Healing, yoga)
Tags: Chakra, healing, Muladhara, Nerve plexus, Sanskrit, yoga

When I started practicing yoga, everything about it intrigued me.

Here was a process that said, “See for yourself,” and nothing was off-limits.  I did a lot of reading, plenty of exploring, and before long, I stumbled into the chakra system.  It was an experience which changed how I related to my body, my personality, the struggles I faced, and how I faced the world.

Chakra means “wheel” in Sanskrit, and is pronounced with a hard “ch” like “Chuck-rah”.  The chakra system is one of wheels of Light and Energy, which are different colors, residing along our central axis.  In western anatomy, they are related to both endocrine glands, and nerve plexuses (incredible nets of nerves that serve specific organs or organ systems).  Each chakra has a different tone, or sound, relates to a different element (earth, water, fire, air and ether) and shows up as certain qualities when it is both balanced and imbalanced.  Delving into the world of the chakras, and seeking to rebalance the system for yourSelf, is both deeply satisfying and a bit daunting.  In the coming posts, I aim to offer you information about the qualities held at the chakras, some questions and exercises to help you increase your Awareness, and a few affirmations that will help promote your healing process.

Oftentimes this is work that we come into and move away from, as time and desire dictate. All is well.  You will be attracted to the place that needs your attention.  I do suggest, however, that wherever your Journey leads you,  that you begin and end by grounding down, into your first chakra.  This is where we begin today, and there are myriad exercises that will help you to cultivate your Ground.  If you do not fully ground down into Source, into Self, before working with the chakra system, you run the risk of becoming agitated and anxious, and becoming a bit lost of the world you live in.  You still belong in the physical world, Dear One!

This work is but a window into another level of your Beautiful Self.

With Love!
R

Muladhara Chakra has four petals, and is a deep red color

Muladhara Chakra

The Muladhara chakra, or root chakra, is located at the very tip of your coccyx, where your perineum resides (between anus and genitals).  It is a deep ruby red, and related to the earth element in our bodies (which is embodied in bone).  It is associated with the coccygeal plexus of nerves, and our feet (and how they feel on the ground).  It is the seat of kundalini energy, where our potential resides; and the Hindu god Ganesha guards this doorway carefully.

When this chakra is balanced, we are stable in ourSelves; patient, grounded, trusting, and happily in the world.  When this chakra is imbalanced, we may be sluggish or have little momentum, or be anxious, flighty, depressed or unstable.  The muladhara chakra deals with the right To Be Here, to Exist.  It develops early in life, within the first seven years, and so if we experience trauma, moving from place to place, or a significant emotional loss, then we can bet that we need to spend some time healing this area of our system. Most of us living in the west, where slowness, patience, and groundedness are not highly valued (we are a society of people driving ourselves and constantly DOing, rather than BEing), need to spend some time here simply because we have neglected this entire part of ourSelves.  We have neglected, sadly, the part of us content to sit still.

To heal the Muladhara chakra, we must reawaken our connection to the earth.  Eating root vegetables, rubbing our feet, listening to low-toned drums and dancing are a few way to start stimulating our root.  The root chakra is strongly connected with the physical body, and so whatever you can do to move yourSelf lovingly, and paying attention to how you relate to the earth at any given moment, is a wonderful doorway in.

You can also chant the bija (seed mantra) LAM (“a” like in “father”) either slowly or over and over again, sitting cross legged in a comfortable position.  You can do this daily, for 1-3 minutes, and then rest, simply sitting quietly, for another few minutes, feeling your breath and the weight of your body on the earth.

In terms of a yoga asana, oftentimes tight hamstrings accompany an imbalanced root chakra.  When our hamstrings are tight, our bodymind is constantly in a state of being ready to run away: NOW we are Standing our Ground, literally, and easing that tightness.  Forward bends (both standing and seated), along with strengthening the quadriceps group with the Warrior poses, are both very helpful in igniting this energy center.  Lightening or Chair pose (Utkatasana) is also WONDERFUL for igniting your legs and root.  When you feel your legs shaking in any pose, it is because they are being woken up, and challenged.  Stay with that, never pushing to harm yourself, but simply staying present to get the full experience.

As you feel your way slowly, carefully, in these poses, notice patience and calm come to the surface of your bodymind.  A willingness to stay in one place, to settle in to your pose, even while there might be plenty of sensation present, are indications that your root is Awakening.

Ganesha guards the temple that leads to Your Soul and Welcomes you to the Path!

There you have it, Dears!  Happy Beginning of the Journey, or Welcome Back to the playground of the chakra system.

With Love,

R