Teacher Training Tidbits

Root Chakra / Muladhara

Welcome to Teacher Training Tidbits - your bite-sized deep dive into the insights and lessons I teach in Yoga Teacher Training. Here, I break down key concepts, practices, and philosophies into small, digestible pieces that can help deepen your understanding of yoga, both on and off the mat. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or simply a curious practitioner, these nuggets of knowledge are designed to spark inspiration and offer practical wisdom to enrich your journey.

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This post is part of my chakra series. If you haven’t already, I recommend starting with the first one - Introduction to the Chakras - before diving into this one. Even if you’re already familiar with the chakras or have your own practice around them, fresh perspectives can offer new insight and inspiration.

Prefer to listen? I’ve recorded an audio version of this post. And don’t miss the guided meditation at the end to help you integrate what you’ve learned.

A General Reminder

As I mentioned in my Introduction to Chakras post, there’s not just one chakra system. The version I’m sharing in this series is simply the one that was translated into English and became widely known in the West. It’s the one I personally resonate with, and meditating with this framework has been incredibly helpful for me.

That said, I want to gently remind you this isn’t the one right system. If something in this model doesn’t quite work for you, that’s okay. You might find that different colors, elements, or energies feel more aligned in different areas of your body. Trust your experience. Let your practice be personal and intuitive.

Root Chakra / Muladhara

Location

The root chakra, or muladhara, sits at the very base of our energy system. It’s often described as being at the base of the spine, but a more accurate location is the pelvic floor-specifically the perineum, the space between the anus and genitals. This is the foundation of the central energy channel (sushumna nadi), and it’s where our journey toward energetic awakening begins.

Symbolism

The root chakra is associated with grounding, stability, and basic trust. It governs our relationship with safety, survival, and belonging-our most primal human needs like food, shelter, community, and physical safety.

In many traditional systems, muladhara is seen as the root of our entire being, like the soil that nourishes the rest of the body. When this chakra is balanced, we feel anchored, connected, and supported. When it’s imbalanced or blocked, we may feel anxious, fearful, or ungrounded.

Associated Qualities

To keep this series simple and grounded in tradition, I’ll share a few key associations commonly used for meditation and visualization:

• Color: Red

• Element: Earth

• Mantra: LAM (the bija mantra associated with muladhara)

• Symbol: A four-petaled lotus

Signs of Balance and Imbalance

• When this chakra is balanced: You feel a deep sense of safety in your body, a connection to the earth, and trust in your ability to support yourself. You may feel physically strong, financially secure, and emotionally steady.

• When this chakra is imbalanced: You may feel anxious, disconnected, easily overwhelmed, or unsafe.

Philosophy in Practice

This is the most powerful part of yoga: putting philosophy into practice.

The big question with chakras is always-how do I work with these energy centers?

Traditionally, this was done through meditative concentration, visualization, and mantra. In modern practice, we can also engage with these energies through movement, breathwork, self-inquiry, and mindful living. For the root chakra, think grounding postures like child’s pose, malasana, or seated meditation with awareness at the pelvic floor.

This week’s guided breathwork, meditation, and journal prompts are designed to help you connect with the grounding energy of your root chakra and start building safety from within. They’re available to paid subscribers as a thank-you for supporting this work and joining me in bringing the deeper teachings of yoga into everyday life.

We are changing the world-one moment of grounded awareness at a time.