How to Balance Your Root Chakra

If you’d Google the word ‘balance’ online, you’d come up with hundreds of articles about how important it is to find balance whether it is when riding a bicycle, adjusting the sweetness or saltiness of a dish or instilling a work life balance so that family and friends don’t suffer.

The term Chakra, a Sanskrit word meaning wheel, refer to the energy centre that was written about in the Upanishads, the religious texts originating in ancient India. There are seven chakras in total and today, I shall write about the first one called the root chakra or Muladhara, associated with feelings of stability, security, and grounding. It is often illustrated using the colour red and it is connected to the earth element. This chakra is the baseline of functional and worldly relationships and desires and creates a feeling of safety.

When this chakra is low in energy, it becomes difficult to express qualities such as feeling grounded and connected to self and others that are associated with that chakra. It can show up as depression and insecurity. On the other hand, if there’s too much energy, as in an overactive chakra, it will induce feelings of panic, anxiety and fear which can have both physical and emotional effects such as fearlessness without precaution or hoarding because you need more to feel secure.

Personal habits such as poor physical alignment or posture, eating unhealthy food, or self-destructive behaviour may also cause a chakra to be imbalanced.

Here are some ways to choose from in order to rebalance your root chakra:

• Engage in activities that promote a sense of stability. Connect with the Earth by walking barefoot on grass or sand, spend time in nature, or practice yoga to help restore balance.
• Find a quiet place to sit or lie down to close your eyes and focus on your breath. Visualise the Earth's energy flowing up through your veins, filling your body with stability and strength.
• Repeat positive affirmations like "I am grounded and secure," "I am safe and protected," or "I am rooted in the present moment." on a daily basis.
• Engage in physical activities such as jogging, dancing to help release stagnant energy.
• Place certain crystals like red jasper, hematite, garnet, or black tourmaline close to the base of your spine where the root chakra is said to be located as it can aid in rebalancing.
• Apply diluted essential oils like patchouli, cedar wood, or vetiver to your wrists or the soles of your feet or a few drops of oils in a diffuser or added to a bath to help balance the root chakra.
• Consume root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and beets and protein-rich foods like beans and legumes that promote grounding and stability.
• Surround yourself with red in your clothing or home decor as it is the colour associated with the root chakra and helps stimulate and balance it.
• Use sound therapy as it can be a powerful tool for chakra healing. Chanting, drumming, or listen to specific frequencies that resonate with the root chakra (such as 396 Hz) to help balance its energy. Recordings designed for healing this chakra are available aplenty online.
• Massage, acupuncture, or reflexology help us become more body aware and make us develop a stronger connection with our physical body to ground and balance the root chakra.
• Reflect on any past or present experiences that may have caused feelings of instability or insecurity. Therapy, counselling, or other forms of emotional healing address and release any unresolved emotions or traumas that may be affecting your root chakra.
• Create a structured and consistent daily routine to help bring stability to your life and support the root chakra. Set regular sleep patterns, mealtimes, and self-care rituals which will give you a sense of security and stability that can positively impact the first chakra.
• Apply principles of Feng Shui to your living space to enhance the energy flow and balance of the root chakra. Create a clutter-free environment, incorporate earthy tones, and place grounding objects like rocks or plants in the space.

Chakra healing is a gradual process, and consistency is key. Incorporate some or all of these practices into your daily life, listen to your body's needs, and be patient with yourself as you work on balancing and strengthening your first chakra.

Next time, I shall elaborate on the next chakra and how to keep it balanced so watch this space and have a wonderful week ahead.