Chakras, the spinning wheels of energy within, were first mentioned in the Vedas, ancient Hindu texts…

and later on in the Yoga Upanishads and  Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. There are altogether seven main chakras, all governing different functions and supporting different elements in our lives. They vitalize the physical body, and draw in universal life force to keep the body in balance. The chakras can become blocked or unbalanced for various reasons, in which case the vital energy cannot freely flow through the body. This can lead to disturbances in the mental, physical and spiritual health.

Muladhara, the first chakra

The Muladhara chakra, also called the Root chakra, is the first chakra. The word literally translates into Root Support, originating from two Sanskrit words Mula meaning root, and Adhara meaning support or base. This chakra connects us to the physical world, and provides us the feeling of security.

This red colored chakra, symbolized with a lotus flower with four petals, deals with our material reality, and our feeling of safety in the world. It governs our survival skills, it grounds us and helps us to take care of our material needs. When the Muladhara chakra is balanced, we feel secure, balanced, grounded and connected with our body.

When the Muladhara is imbalanced

Imbalances in the Root chakra may manifest as lacking a feeling of safety in an area of your life, be it your home, finances, job or relationships. When we are not grounded, we can feel unstable, untrusting and we can easily lose focus of what we are doing.

Emotionally this imbalance can result in anxiety disorders and general fearfulness towards life. A person may react irrationally, like a cornered animal, when the feeling of basic security is being threatened. On the other hand, a person with an overactive Muladhara chakra may act overly controlling and greedy, working too hard as if trying to gather the feeling of security and safety from outside.

Physically an imbalanced Muladhara chakra is associated with lower back pain, urinary infections, sciatica, hip issues or painful periods for women.

Balancing the Muladhara chakra

Since the element of the Root chakra is Earth, keeping yourself grounded and close to the earth supports the energy of this chakra. Feel the earth underneath, and feel the support as if you would have roots yourself.

Meditation can be very helpful. Sit comfortably, and focus on your breathing. Imagine a red, spinning vortex in the area of your Muladhara chakra, on the base of your spine. Inhale while drawing energy from the spine up, and exhale drawing energy back down. Surrounding yourself with red color can also be beneficial.

Each chakra has a one syllable seed sound, Bija Mantra, as described in the Hindu tradition. When it is performed, either out loud or silently, it activates the energy patterns of the chakra in order to purify the body and mind. The sound of the Muladhara chakra is LAM.

Working with the Muladhara chakra will help us connect to the present moment. It provides us with a solid foundation for other elements in our lives, as we need a stable base in order to grow and flourish.