This document discusses the Muladhara or root chakra. It governs our foundations of body, home, family, etc. and provides a sense of safety, belonging, and trust. Childhood trauma can damage this chakra, leading to issues like greed, fear, or social isolation. Balancing it involves feeling interconnected with life and free from fear of death. Yoga poses like forward bends and warrior 2 can stimulate this chakra's energy.

1. Lesson 2: Chakra 1
Muladhara
(Root Chakra)

2. Muladhara
Muladhara means ‘root support’. At a
personal level, Muladhara governs our
experience and relationship to all our
foundations and supportive structures,
namely body, home, family, occupation,
society/tribe, religion, race, and the earth
itself. As Muladhara chakra governs the
earth element, which is the most fixed in
nature, these foundations simultaneously
provide the most stable ground of support
as well as the most trenchant resistance to
our growth.

3. Muladhara
When Muladhara is balanced, one feels a sense of belonging,
safety, and readiness to meet the challenges of being in a body
and in the world. At a psychological level, the first task of
Muladhara chakra, which as discussed as the first stage view of
human development, is discovering a sense of trust, that the world
is okay and that one truly belongs on the earth, in a family, and in a
society. This fundamental trust and ground of support can be
damaged through any childhood abuse, trauma, severe sickness,
unhealthy attachment, poor parental attunement, environmental
collapse, warfare, neglect, poverty or a belief system which
prioritizes the mind over matter. Such traumas can lead to either
an excessive or deficient condition in the Muladhara chakra.

4. Muladhara
An excessive condition results in a total
preoccupation with self-preservation and control. The
neurotic side of this can show itself in terms of greed,
rage, hoarding, fear of change and spontaneity,
psychosomatic illness, obesity and blatant disregard
for the earth and others. A deficient condition can
create tendencies towards substance abuse,
depression, physical neglect, being very
underweight, self-hatred, suicidal ideation, social
isolation, spiritual bypass, and over-intellectualizing.

5. Muladhara
The transpersonal possibility of Muladhara chakra
is the realization of the interrelatedness of all life. In
seeing that our body and our life are intimately
interwoven with all of existence, the clutch of self-
preservation and greed releases. The full
awakening of Muladhara chakra manifests as a
deep respect and reverence for all of life. As
Muladhara governs our survival instincts, one who
has fully awakened this center conquers the fear of
death, as it is in the full awakening a chakra that it
transcends its original nature and function.

6. Muladhara
Affirmation: I am safe and secure. All of my needs will be met.
Healing Practices: Walking in the sand, Dancing, Gardening, Massage, Meditation
Crystal Therapy: Azurite, Bloodstone, Smokey Quartz, Red Jasper
Nutrition: Red foods, Root Foods, High protein foods(eggs, meats, nuts)
Aromatherapy:Sandalwood, Rosewood, Cedar, Rosemary

7. Muladhara Yoga Poses
Standing Forward Bend
(Uttanasana)
By stretching the legs and
hips, standing forward bend
strengthens the knees and
thighs which allows for stable
grounding and opening of the
root chakra.
Garland (Malasana)
Frequently used to lead into
standing forward bend, garland
pose strengthens the ankles
and lower back to help activate
the first chakra.
Head-to-knee Forward Bend
(Janu Sirsasana)
Benefiting the spine,
hamstrings, and groin
muscles, this pose stimulates
kidney and liver function and
increases energy flow through
the first chakra.

8. Muladhara Yoga Poses
Reclining Bound Angle (Supta
Baddha Konasana)
As you stretch your inner thighs,
knees, and groin muscle, reclining
bound angle pose also stimulates
organ function in the bladder,
kidneys and reproductive organs
which helps balance chakra
energy.
Wide-Legged Forward Bend
(Prasarita Padottanasana)
An asana similar to the standing
forward bend, this position helps
stretch and strengthen the legs
and spine, which helps open
and activate the root chakra.
Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
This pose helps strengthen and
stretch the legs and ankles while
nurturing a strong core.
Mastering this pose will increase
your stamina which is key to
maintaining a balanced first
chakra.