If you saw the word “Chakra” a few years ago or even a decade ago, you might sit there scratching your head. That is, unless you practiced yoga or were familiar with Auyurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system.
What was once deemed to be New-Age-y or property of incense burning hippies is making a resurgence as a very powerful diagnostic tool for those open to embracing it.
I believe that there is a lot of wisdom in this ancient concept that us “Normal” people can benefit from.
Have you ever thought that your body was trying to tell you something?
Maybe through a reoccurring ache, pain or injury? Through the same bodily complaint day after day, week after week, even month after month?
Your doctor might have told you that nothing is physically wrong with you that some medication can’t fix.
But what if it could be simpler than that?
What if mindfulness through the chakra system could help to alleviate or even eliminate those same complaints?
This is the task that I’m challenging you to accept.
Your first chakra is Muladhara or your root chakra. It is located at the base of your spine and is responsible for all of your basic survival needs and wants.
Think food, water, shelter, safety, security and sex- as in the propagation of the species rather than in a romantic bent.
A balanced root chakra would have you feeling strong, steady and balanced in your body. You would feel supported and be sure of your physical power.
If you are out of balance in this chakra, you could feel anxious or fearful, be suffering from some kind of adrenal overload as well as chronic or transient lower back pain.
So how does this translate into making improvements with our health?
As our evolution has progressed, survival has turned more into our desire for stability. Technology has made it possible for anyone reading this on a computer to already have had their basic survival needs met.
Survival is almost guaranteed if you have access to food, water and shelter, as well as medical care. While that isn’t everyone on this planet, chances are, your needs are currently being met.
So why is the root chakra going to be sending you messages that something is wrong or out of balance if our basic needs are already taken care of?
How are you when you consider the concepts of security, stability, support or balance?
Let me put this another way.
When you’re working, do you feel valued? Supported by your co-workers or boss? Secure in your position or sure that your job will still be around tomorrow, next week or next month? Are you working more hours than you need? Taking time away from your family, your hobbies or away from something else? Do you feel sure that you can speak your mind, step out on your own or even take a risk and that someone will be there to support, encourage or even catch you?
These are the issues associated with the root chakra.
Can you see how fear, anxiety, poor work-life balance and lack of support are all evidenced by the issues around this chakra?
Can you see how your physical body can react if you are in a constant state of fear, anxiety or worry? Can you see what could happen to your body if you’re in a go, go, go mentality because you just have to prove what a good worker you are?
All of these directly affect how you feel at your core around your security.
I mentioned lower back pain as being a really prime physical manifestation of imbalance.
Imagine this if you will- think of your legs as roots, grounding you into the earth and keeping you supported. As a tree, you are strong, powerful and flexible to the changes in the weather around you. You know the ground is always going to be there, so you know there is nothing to worry about.
Cut those roots. Try to survive as a tree without having the surety of the ground beneath you.
This is the feeling you have when you do not feel supported in your life.
I don’t care if it’s in your job, in your family or in your relationships. If you do not feel supported, it will take a toll on your body.
That is, you may suffer from lower back pain or lower back weakness. Your trunk is not feeling supported.
What can you do about this? How can you use these concepts to improve your health?
Recognition of these patterns comes first.
Once you can accept how these issues are at work in your life, then you can make the necessary changes that you can use to positively change them.
If you are feeling fear or anxiety, you can do several things. You can acknowledge these feelings and then let them go through talking with someone, physical exercise or movement or by quiet meditation. I personally recommend yoga or other body work to really get in touch with the source.
If your work-life balance is out of whack, then it becomes a question of setting and enforcing personal boundaries. This is a skill best learned by practice and then through practice, moving into integration. This is not a one shot deal. This is a lifetime change or more appropriately, a life style change.
If you are not feeling supported, first try to identify the source. Is it only in one aspect of your life or is it more widespread? What do you need to do to be more supported? Do you need to ask for it? Do you need to provide it for yourself? If someone or something is not capable of giving you the support you need, then it needs to come from you.
The wisdom of the Chakra System is far more powerful when you can see and acknowledge the patterns in your life. Where are you weak? Where are you strong? What is it that you need to be in balance or perhaps what do you need to let go of to achieve that balance?
I challenge you to take a deeper look, to listen a little more closely.
What is your body trying to tell you?
