The root chakra, or Muladhara, is the first of the seven main chakras in the body. Located at the base of the spine, it governs our sense of safety and security on this earthly plane. When the root chakra is blocked or imbalanced, we may experience a variety of physical and emotional issues related to feeling unstable, anxious, fearful, or disconnected from our bodies and the physical world.
What is the root chakra?
The Sanskrit word “Muladhara” means “root support” or “root foundation,” representing the root chakra’s role as the foundation for the other chakras. As the first chakra, the root is associated with our primal needs for survival and security. It is linked to our basic human instincts, including our fight or flight response when we feel threatened. The root chakra connects us with the earth element and governs the adrenal glands, spine, legs, feet, and the sense of smell.
When the root chakra is open and balanced, we feel grounded, stable, and connected to our bodies and the physical world. We are able to meet our basic needs for shelter, food, sleep, and exercise. We feel safe to explore life and take necessary risks. Blockages in the root chakra prevent us from feeling this solid foundation, which is so critical to overall health and our sense of self.
Common signs and symptoms of a blocked root chakra
Some common signs that your root chakra may be blocked include:
- Feeling ungrounded, spaced out, or disoriented
- Experiencing “survival anxiety” or generalized anxiety
- Feeling unsafe or like you don’t belong
- Being fearful of change or making decisions
- Lacking energy, often feeling fatigued
- Having restless legs or feet
- Experiencing lower back, leg, or foot pain
- Feeling disconnected from your body
- Having difficulty focusing on the present moment
- Forgetting to take care of basic needs like eating
You may also notice issues with the bodily functions governed by the root chakra. Constipation is common, as are urinary problems like incontinence or frequent infections. Women may suffer from menstrual difficulties. Low libido or sexual problems can occur due to feeling disconnected from the body.
Emotionally, blocked root chakra energy leads to insecurity, anxiety around survival needs, and a sense of being threatened easily. You may lack motivation or have difficulty moving projects forward. Financial issues are common since money is linked to security.
Causes of a blocked root chakra
There are many potential causes of blocked root chakra energy:
- Stress: When we are dealing with prolonged or chronic stress, the constant flood of adrenaline keeps us in “fight or flight” mode, causing root chakra imbalances.
- Trauma: Past physical, emotional or sexual trauma at any age can disrupt root chakra energy many years later due to stored memories in the body.
- Inadequate self-care: Not getting our basic needs met consistently can deplete the root chakra. Lack of sleep, poor nutrition, not exercising, and overwork are common culprits.
- Change: Too much change or transition in a short time period can challenge the root chakra’s sense of safety and throw it off balance.
- Lack of community: Since the root chakra governs our sense of belonging, loneliness and isolation tend to block this energy center.
- Sedentary lifestyle: Being less active decreases our connection with the earth element, which is so important for a balanced root chakra.
- Over-reliance on rationality: If we are cut off from our physicality and instincts, it can block the body-centered root chakra.
Often it is a combination of these factors that disrupts the root chakra. The good news is there are many ways we can unblock this foundational energy center and reestablish stability from the ground up.
Physical ways to unblock the root chakra
Since the root chakra is linked to our physical body and presence on the earth, physical activities are very helpful for unblocking a closed root chakra:
- Spend time in nature: Walking barefoot, gardening, or camping helps you reconnect with the grounding earth element.
- Practice yoga poses: Poses like Warrior II, Triangle, and Tree pose strengthen the legs and feet.
- Dance: Any kind of shaking, stomping or freestyle dance helps release stuck energy in the hips and legs.
- Wear red: The root chakra color red enhances energy flow there when worn close to the body.
- Eat grounding foods: Root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, and beets nourish the root chakra.
- Get low: Practice sitting, squatting, and kneeling to increase connection through the legs and feet.
- Establish routines: Having consistent routines for eating, sleeping, and exercise enhances root chakra stability.
- Get bodywork: Massage, reflexology, and acupuncture move blocked energy in the low back, legs, and feet.
Emotional and energetic ways to unblock the root chakra
Since our thoughts, emotions, and energy impact our physical body, we need to address the root chakra from these levels as well. Here are some highly effective strategies:
- Connect with the earth: Visualize roots growing from your tailbone into the earth to ground excess energy.
- Practice mindfulness: Staying present in the body through meditation decreases anxiety and worry.
- See a therapist: Working with a therapist or counselor helps resolve trauma contributing to root chakra issues.
- Aromatherapy: Essential oils like patchouli, cedarwood, and ginger promote feelings of security.
- Keep a journal: Writing helps you process stressful events that may be blocking the root chakra.
- Play drum or digeridoo: These instruments emit vibrations that resonate with the root chakra.
- Chant: Chanting “lam” strengthens the root chakra by focusing energy there.
- Practice gratitude: Giving thanks for basic necessities promotes feelings of safety and security.
How trauma affects the root chakra
Trauma at any stage of life has a major impact on the root chakra. Babies and young children dealing with neglect, insecure attachment, or abuse often grow up with underlying anxiety, poor boundaries, and an unstable sense of self – all root chakra issues. Later traumas like accidents, surgeries, deaths of loved ones, or sexual assault can also cause root chakra blockages.
Trauma gets frozen in the nervous system, and the body holds onto those memories. Since the root chakra governs our stress response, past overwhelm and fear remains stuck there, keeping us feeling unsafe in the present. Releasing old traumatic energy requires bringing awareness to how the body holds tension and re-establishing the senses of grounding and belonging.
Root chakra healing practices for trauma
Some beneficial ways to heal root chakra trauma include:
- Somatic therapy like Somatic Experiencing to release held trauma from the body
- Psychotherapy to process traumatic memories and build secure attachment
- EMDR to reprocess traumatic memories that contribute to root chakra imbalance
- Getting bodywork like massage or acupuncture to release muscular armoring
- Yoga nidra deep relaxation to establish sense of safety in the body
- Energy healing like reiki or Pranic healing to release dense stuck energy
- Support groups or counseling for abuse survivors to build connection
- Establishing consistent routines for self-care to rebuild trust
- Journaling, art therapy or music therapy to express difficult emotions safely
The root chakra is deeply vulnerable to early wounding but also highly responsive to therapeutic physical and emotional support. With time, trauma held in the root can be transformed into an unshakable foundation of strength, stability and belonging.
Signs of a healthy, open root chakra
When the root chakra is open and functioning optimally, you will experience a number of positive signs, including:
- A grounded sense of self and inner stability
- Feeling comfortable in your body and physically safe
- Security around basic survival needs like money, food, and housing
- Good physical health, energy, and vitality
- Comfort dealing with change and transition
- Healthy libido, sexual function, and reproductive system
- A sense of belonging and connection to your community
- Motivation, drive, and ability to complete goals
- Focus on the present moment and physical reality
A solid, open root chakra provides energetic “roots” that allow you to feel supported, safe, and equipped to handle whatever life brings. Make supporting your root chakra a priority if you want to live with greater ease, embodiment, and resilience.
Conclusion
Our root chakra provides the energetic foundation for feeling safe, grounded and present in our bodies. When blocked or imbalanced, we can experience anxiety, disconnection from the physical world, and difficulty meeting basic needs. There are many potential causes of a blocked root chakra, from stress and trauma to inadequate self-care and isolation. Fortunately there are also many ways to unblock this vital energy center, including physical activities, emotional healing techniques, and energy treatments. With a balanced root chakra, we establish security within ourselves to navigate life’s challenges from a place of stability.