Let’s find our root
Scroll to the end of the post for March’s Playlist!
March 2023 Focus
The First Chakra: Muladhara (Pt 1)
Roots, Grounding, Survival, Health, and Home
“Life isn’t meant to become safe, stable and unchangeable – it is YOU who are meant to become your own sanctuary. It is in your power and in your hands to create an inner world of rock-like stability.
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Before we jump into this month’s blog I want to give some more info on the Chakras…
Chakras
In March we are launching into a new series of themes, a study through the Chakras. Perhaps you’ve heard something about the Chakras, the discs of energy in the body, that when in balance help us to live fulfilled and healthy lives. However, there has been both misinformation and trivialization of this system as it and other eastern teachings have moved into the mainstream. There are a lot of great resources out there, but one I have learned so much from was “Eastern Body, Western Mind” by Anodea Judith who relates the chakra system to the psychological stages of Erikson, Maslow, Wilber, and others. She relates these stages of development to current excesses and deficiencies and gives advice for connection and healing. I may not be an expert on psychology, but I know how experiences can live in the body; both traumas and joys. We are shaped in our lives through circumstance and whether that’s held in a closed off heart, an overactive ego, a floaty and ungrounded lack of boundaries, or an inability to make oneself heard, we can work toward healing by using the Chakra system. With intention and some work, we can work to recalibrate our internal systems. So if you’re new to the Chakra system or you’ve heard strange or “magical” claims about it, know that our purpose of study is about bringing balance to mind, heart and body through our asana (Physical yoga) and our study. I will be focusing rather narrowly, but if you want to study more in depth I can point you to some great resources.
Muladhara means root support. The first Chakra is located at the base of your spine and is also related to everything below that point on the body. It is associated with the element of Earth and the color red. This Chakra develops first and is based in needs being met, a sense of home, and relation to nature. It is our right to be here, our right to exist. Signs of a healthy root chakra are: good health, being well grounded, comfortable in body, feeling of trust in the world, stability, and the ability to relax and be still.
There is a lot to be said about this first Chakra, so I am trying a new strategy and spending more than one month on this first foundational element of self. This month we will start with just the aspect of Grounding. In upcoming months we may venture into healthy boundary setting, releasing fear, and learning to trust ones own body.
"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet."
― Thich Nhat Hanh
Too much or not enough- I have moved a lot in my life so far. I have had to adapt to new surroundings and find my balance in a new place. It takes time to settle in and relax somewhere new, and during some periods of my life I struggled with feeling anxious and restless. It’s really easy in our digital world to be disconnected from our surroundings and our sense of self in our bodies. Transition and technology overuse are certainly ways to become unbalanced, but oftentimes we are unbalanced because of things we have no control over. Having one’s needs unmet (housing, food, water ect.), trauma in birth or childhood, major illness, malnourishment and lack of empathy or love from others, are all ways we might come out of balance either in deficiency or excess of the root chakra. I had a lack of roots and it left me disorganized, distractible and anxious. I needed to work through my deficiency and sometimes I still feel that way and use the tools I’m about to relate. While deficiency may make a person nervous, fidgety and untethered to sense of place, excess might show up in sluggishness, inflexibility to change, lack of energy, overeating for comfort, overattachment to sense of place, and fear of security. Whether excessive or deficient or some blend of the two (many of us) we need healthy grounding. The three things I have found most helpful for healing (after the basic needs are met) are nature, community, and movement.
Nature- Sometimes the best thing for your foundation of self is simply to dig your toes into the mud and breathe some fresh air. Even in winter, if I spend even five minutes outside I feel calmer, more alert and more In the real world. Take time to find your happy place, maybe there’s a spot at the beach, on a hilltop, or a clearing in the woods that helps you to slow down and feel calm. Maybe you don’t have much nature where you live, that’s ok. A park or a simple walk outside in the sunshine (or rain!) can help you to be more present if you do so with intention (leave your phone behind) and really be in the moment. You can also bring nature inside with you. I am a recovering plant killer, and I am learning through trial, error, and google searches how to keep my little houseplants growing. Even though I’m not very good at it, nurturing life and being part of the process of a growing thing is pretty magical.
Community- People are important. A support system can anchor you in a new environment or life phase. People also challenge you to consider things differently and can push us out of our comfort zone. Find your people and reach out when you need it. Technology has changed so much about how we connect with others. We must acknowledge the blessings along with the curses of the internet age. The point is real connection. Face to face time with people outside of family and work is precious and crucial for your mental health, but it can be hard to come by in our fast paced world. Prioritize and even schedule it, if you need to. Real world interactions are the best, but when you can’t visit, try to stay connected; zoom, call, text, email, or send a carrier pigeon because you need people. I felt so much more secure in my sense of place after I had started going regularly to a board-game night and made some friends there.
MOVE! In my mind, this is the most important way to both build up energy in your root chakra and or release energy that is stagnant and trapped. Surprise! Yoga is a great way to get moving. This month we will work on poses that help us to feel solid and grounded relating to feet, legs, hips and the base of the spine. We will also be finding deep stretch and release of tight muscles in the same places. However, yoga is only part of the puzzle. You can and should move your body as often as you’re able. It could also be dancing, running, martial arts, strolling in a park, playing a game, or anything else that brings you joy. Move your muscles and bones, work up a sweat, not to punish your body, but to feel the exhilaration of what you can do. If your work requires long periods of time in a chair or you drive a lot, see if you can take movement breaks. Take a simple twist or reaching stretch to remind your body that it’s there. Stand up and walk around a bit, or research desk yoga— there are a lot of easy ways to keep yourself moving.
The Root Chakra is the foundation for all the others and is so important that we set ourselves up for success: physically, mentally and emotionally. You don’t have to be an expert in chakras to find a bit more balance in your life through nature, community, and movement. We try not to be a rock solid and unmoving, not a cloud floating and without substance, but a tree, solid but moving in the wind, rooted but growing. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog this month! If you have any questions, comments or would like more resources about the Chakras you can find my email on the contact me page.
Here’s March’s Playlist!
