Root down

I encountered several unanticipated events over the past two weeks that resulted in me canceling classes, rearranging my schedule, and relocating. If you’ve traveled to different time zones you might be familiar with the disorientation and fatigue known as jet lag. When I work with clients that travel frequently, I encourage them to combat jet lag by drinking lots of water, listening to their body, taking an extra day (or two) of rest and engage in their physical practice as soon as possible to add familiarity and structure to their day. I practiced this by setting aside the same time of day for the same workout regimen at the gym and incorporated slightly more rigorous morning and slower night yoga routines. I conjured the imagery of rooting down into the earth while resting on my favorite Manduka mat after weeks of moving around with my travel mat (BTW, have you tried a fold-up travel mat instead of a rollup mat? Amazing!). The combination of the external activities coupled with intentional meditation helped me settle into a new space and I therefore decided to base this week’s classes on the theme of the root chakra, otherwise known as Muladhara.

If you are unfamiliar with the word chakra, it is a Sanskrit word for wheel or cycle. According to Vedic philosophy (non-religious wisdom traditions passed down from the Vedic era), there are seven primary wheels of energy that run along the spine. Each of these wheels are located on a different area of the spine and correspond to a number, color, element, and health/spiritual focus. Whether or not you believe chakras as an energetic force, they can be a useful tool for giving your practice a focus or purpose. In this week's classes we will use the root chakra as our guide to a grounding and centering yoga and meditation practice.

Eight characteristics of the root chakra:

1. The Sanskrit name for the root chakra is Muladhara (mu·lad·hara) which roughly translates to the root of existence.

2. Located at the base of the spine, it is the first of seven primary chakras (some say there are over 100 chakras) which work their way up along the spine to the 7th crown chakra, Sahasrāra, located at the top of the head.

3. The symbol for the Muladhara is often a red four-petaled lotus.

4. The Muladhara is associated with the color red.

5. The imagery of roots of a tree are often used as a metaphor in meditation, given that the corresponding element is the earth element.

6. A common mantra used to activate the root chakra is Lam, which is the Sanskrit word for seed.

7. When the Muladhara is out of balance you might feel out of place, depressed, or anxious. Conversely, you will likely conjure a sense of belonging, contentment, and security when your root chakra is realigned.

8. The mudra (hand gesture) associated with the root chakra is called the Muladhara mudra. Join my classes this week to learn how to position your hands for this mudra.

Feel free to share ways you settle into a new routine and find your roots in unstable times.

Want a little more guidance on how to root down into your practice or develop an accompanying workout routine? Contact me for your free consultation!