First Chakra continued

Located at the base of the spine, the Muladhara, also known as the root or base chakra, helps us relate to life force energy and helps to ground us. “Muladhara” actually means “foundation,” which really tells a lot about this chakra.


This chakra is linked to survival instincts. When our energy flows easily through our first chakra, we feel that we can meet all our needs without worry. When it is blocked, we will start to worry and feel anxious.

The base chakra is what starts us on any new venture and motivation happens because of our base chakra. You will often hear the first chakra referred to as the “tribal chakra,” as it also relates to how we deal with our family or our “tribe.”

The root chakra governs the spinal column, kidneys, feet, legs and immune system, so a blocked chakra can cause physical problems in these areas. Exercises such as power squats and the yoga position known as "bridge" can help to keep the first chakra open and balanced. The warrior position is also very good for stabilizing your base chakra.

First Chakra

Sanskrit Name: Muladhara


Location: Base of Spine

Color: Red

Mantra-LAM

Located at the base of the spine, the Muladhara, also known as the root or base chakra, helps us relate to life force energy and helps to ground us. Muladhara actually means foundation which really tells a lot about this chakra. This chakra is linked to survival instincts. When our energy flows easily through our first chakra we feel that we can meet all our needs without worry. When it is blocked we will start to worry and feel anxious. The base chakra is what starts us on any new venture and motivation happens because of our base chakra. You will often hear the first chakra referred to as the tribal chakra as it also relates to how we deal with our family or our “tribe.”

More on Meditation

In Buddhism, meditation is often enhanced by meditation or singing bowls. As the name suggests, these instruments are bowls that produce a clear vibrant tone when played. The soft, continuous singing sound is produced by rubbing a mallet around the rim, much the same way a crystal goblet can be made to ring by rubbing a finger around its mouth.

The mallet can also be used to gently strike the side of the bowl to produce a ringing like that of a bell.

Meditation Continued

Meditation has other benefits. It is almost impossible to fully focus on two things at once and a mind that is completely absorbed in the feeling of each breathe, or in the vibrations of a chant cannot also be focused on its own troubles or unhappiness.


Meditation will not fix the cause of our problems but it can help us to adjust our own attitudes and responses. As Sri Swami Venkatesananda said, “A problem that is forgotten does not exist, unhappiness that is forgotten is happiness. It can come back again, but never mind.” A person who is unhappy all day but who takes 20 minutes to meditate and clear his mind will find that for those 20 minutes at least, his unhappiness is gone. “That is marvelous; the unhappiness was a mental state, nothing more than a mood.”

Meditation

Meditation

Meditation is the millennia-old practice of calming the mind through prayer, chanting, focused breathing or other means. Every religion has its own form of meditation---Catholics recite the rosary, Muslims pray toward the east five times each day and Hindus chant the word “om.” While the ways and means are different, the goal is the same – to relax and free the mind, opening our consciousness and bringing us closer to the divine.