From our yoga practice, most of us know and fervently believe that the body, mind and spirit operate as one. By dedicating time and energy to our practice, we inevitably draw closer to the unity – to the perfect, blissful state – that is within us always. For this, and for any effort we make to return to and celebrate our divine nature, we should be applauded. Our yoga practice is always a sweet gift we give ourselves – whether it is five minutes of a morning meditation before rushing the kids off to school or a weekly hatha class we attend.
Integral to a yoga practice is the understanding of the chakra system. Simply put, the chakras serves as the gateways between various dimensions in our bodies: the centers where activity of one dimensions, such as emotion or thought, connects and plays on another dimension, such as our physical bodies. In essence, every emotional experience we encounter relates to one of our chakras, bringing us either into or away from balance. While these energies are subtle, they are incredibly powerful and can profoundly impact our sense of physical and emotional health. Oftentimes we are guided to work with various charkas within our yoga practice, while not necessarily understanding how and why a certain asana evokes a variety of responses.
As a yoga instructor and writer, I have recently become enthralled with the chakra system and chosen to dedicate time, energy and curiosity to stepping through each one. It is my understanding and intention, that every yoga student can reap the plentiful benefits offered by and through a study of this subtle energy system.
The first chakra in our body is called “Muladhara” and corresponds with the element of earth. We oftentimes hear the first chakra associated with survival, grounding, stillness, security and stability. When we feel in balance in Muladhara, we exhibit a strong sense of security and fully claim that we have a right to be here and a right to live well in our physical bodies. The simplest way to acknowledge and celebrate our first chakra is through healing and caring for our physical bodies. By learning to accept the body unconditionally, to really feel it, to validate it in all its exquisite beauty and to love it, we are healing our first chakra.
In the asana practice, we draw attention to our first chakra every time we ground down through our feet, lift our hips into Setu Bhandasana (bridge pose) and draw our knees into our chest. In a gentle hatha flow, we are oftentimes celebrating our first chakra by simply slowing down, attuning to our breath and listening to the intuitive messages of our bodies. Another way we can honor this first chakra is through the art of nurturing. When we dedicate time and energy to the self-nurturing activities of resting, eating well and exercising, we are honoring our physical bodies. Similarly, we are honoring our first chakra every time we choose to indulge in simple pleasures, such as a foot massage, hot bath and wholesome meal of root vegetables and whole grains.
By attending to the physical body, we are practicing grounding in the most fundamental of ways. As you embark upon the journey of yoga, may you explore with curiosity, the ways in which you honor and celebrate your first chakra. Perhaps you might even wear the color red or walk barefoot through some freshly cut grass.
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