Yoga Postures to Activate the Root Chakra

This chakra is located at the base of your spine and is red in color. It is through this chakra that you connect with the earth's energy and are able to meet your most basic needs, such as food, clothing, shelter and money. A blockage in this chakra can manifest as having constant money worries. You might also feel disconnected from family and friends and lack a sense of direction in life.

There are several yoga postures that can activate your root chakra, enabling you to feel more emotionally grounded and enhancing your material wealth. The two postures I am going to focus on are Tadasana and Warrior 1.

Tadasana, otherwise known as Mountain Pose, is very effective in activating this chakra. Stand with your big toes touching. Lift your toes and lay them back on the floor. Gently sway back and forth and side to side. As you come into a place of stillness, balance your weight so you can feel all four corners of your feet. Suck in your navel towards your spine and imagine a stream of energy flowing all the way up your spine and out through the crown of your head.

Lift your sternum just enough to open and relax your chest. Let your hands hang down by your side. Ensure that your joints are properly stacked, so that the crown of your head is directly above your pelvis. Soften your gaze and focus on a point in front of you.

Stay in this pose for 30 seconds to one minute. As you do so, visualize roots emerging from the soles of your feet, connecting you to the earth's energy.

You can easily transition from Tadasana to Warrior 1. Whilst standing in Tadasana, exhale and place your left foot about three feet behind you. Turn it to a 45 degree angle and place it fully on the ground.

Exhale and bend your right knee, ensuring that it is stacked directly above your right ankle. Place your hands on your hips, making sure that they are rotated forwards. Inhale deeply, raise your arms in prayer above your head and imagine you're drawing the earth's healing energy into your root chakra. It is also useful to imagine your root chakra spinning freely and releasing any thought patterns or negative experiences that no longer serve you.

According to ancient Hindu Yogic Teaching, any stressful or traumatic event that you've experienced can have a negative impact on the functioning of this chakra.

As you practice these exercises, you will develop greater focus and a sense of oneness with the world around you. It is vitally important to balance this chakra first, as it provides you with a solid foundation for healing other areas of your life.

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Pranayama–Breathing Techniques

Pranayama or Breathing Exercise is a age-old technique to bring oxygen to all body parts and to control prana or the vital life energy.It helps in purification of both mind and body as well as in elimination of a lot of diseases.

Kapalabhati

Kapala means “Skull” and Bhati means “Shining,Illuminating”.

Breathing Techniques in kapalabhati

This technique involves strong and forceful exhalations and inhalation just happens.Breathing should be done in a fast manner while pulling in your stomach and exhaling through your nostrils.”Padmasana” is the seating position while practicing this technique.

Duration : 5-10 minutes
When to perform : Before breakfast with empty stomach or 3 hours after meal.

Medical Benefits:

Stress Related Disorders,relieving symptoms of asthma,improving autonomic functions and reducing signs of oxidative stress.It also develops a steady mind,strong will-power and sound judgment and also extends life and enhances perception.

Caution

Many yoga teachers recommend that pranayama techniques be practiced with care, and that advanced pranayama techniques should be practiced under the guidance of a teacher. For example, people with high blood pressure must perform it cautiously or may even have to avoid it. These cautions are also made in traditional Hindu literature. Pregnant women may have to forgo pranayama.

Bhramari Pranayama[Bee Breath]

Bhramari Pranayama is very effective in instantly calming down the mind.It helps to release the mind of anger, agitation, frustration or anxiety.

Breathing Techniques in Bhramari Pranayama

Sit up straight in a well ventilated room with a gentle smile and eyes closed.Place your index finger on the cartilage between your cheek and ear. Take a deep breath in and as you breathe out, gently press the cartilage while making a loud humming sound like a bee.Breathe in again and continue the same pattern for 6-7 times.Observe the sensations in the body and the quietness within.

Medical Benefits:

Instant way to releive tension,anger and anxiety,slight headache,migraines,improves concentration and memory,builds confidence and helps in reducing blood pressure.

Caution

Many yoga teachers recommend that pranayama techniques be practiced with care, and that advanced pranayama techniques should be practiced under the guidance of a teacher. For example, people with high blood pressure must perform it cautiously or may even have to avoid it. These cautions are also made in traditional Hindu literature. Pregnant women may have to forgo pranayama.

Nadi Shodhan Pranayama[Alternate Nostril

Breathing Technique]

This Technique “Nadi” i.e subtle energy channel; “Shodhan” i.e cleaning helps clear out blocked energy channels in the body, which in turn calms the mind.

Breathing Techniques in Nadi Shodhan

Sit straight with a gentle smile and shoulders relaxed .Place your left hand on the left knee. Place the tip of the index finger and middle finger of the right hand in between the eyebrows, the ring finger and little finger on the left nostril, and the thumb on the right nostril. We will use the ring finger and little finger to open or close the left nostril and thumb for the right nostril .Press your thumb down on the right nostril and breathe out gently through the left nostril.Now breathe in from the left nostril and then press the left nostril gently with the ring finger and little finger. Removing the right thumb from the right nostril, breathe out from the right.Breathe in from the right nostril and exhale from the left. You have now completed one round of Nadi Shodhan pranayama. Continue inhaling and exhaling from alternate nostrils.Complete 9 such rounds by alternately breathing through both the nostrils.

Medical Benefits:

Maintains Body temperature,Calms the mind,helps to overcome circulatory and respiratory problems,releases accumulated stress.

Caution

Practice this pranayama on an empty stomach 2-3 times a day.

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