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Intro to Chakras: Our ROOTS

With it being a few weeks since my last entry, there's probably no need to explain that 2017 is already panning out to be a busy year.  Filled with lots of work, Eli & family-time, and of course teaching (along with practicing) yoga - it's hard to find the extra minutes to sit down and type something worthwhile and meaningful.

However, teaching yoga two times a week (and starting last Saturday, now three times weekly) I do spend parts of my weekends (during Eli's short naps of course) planning & creating awesome themes and music playlists.  It has been so much fun to tap into my creative brain again and share the positive classes I construct.  And not to toot my own horn, but my Spotify playlists are also pretty amazing if  do say so myself  (Check out my Spotify profile abbie028).  

Along with my playlists, I love to create unique themes to go along with my music.  And while I was planning one of my most recent classes, I had the grand idea to do a continuous theme over the next 7 weeks, and go through each of the major chakras  one-by-one.  What are chakras you ask?  According to yoga tradition, there are 7 major "energy bodies" located at different areas of our spine. Each one is associated with different emotions, colors, elements, functions...each one even has its own color to represent it.  With this past week being my first in the series, I discussed MULADHARA, otherwise known as the ROOT Chakra.

Optional breathing exercise: As you bring more awareness to your breath  (starting or ending our practice) I offer you the opportunity to notice the ground beneath you today...while always present, at this moment bring extra attention to it....I invite you to Notice which parts of the body that are physically connected to the earth, and the spaces that are not.....Without judgement, notice what you notice. (Silence /breaths) ....this earth this support, feel it lifting you up as you confidently are able to let go....inhale receive, exhale give back..

The Root Chakra, MULADHARA, is located at our tailbone, the base of the body, and is signified by the color red.  It represents grounding and support (which, I don't know about you guys, but in our crazy world seems hard to come by)!



When you practice yoga, it is definitely important to focus on your foundation in your asanas/postures. As teachers, we cue students into poses from the ground up, "root to rise."  This sets you up for the most success.  For example, if you hear "Crescent Lunge" in class and are only told what to do with your arms, what about your feet?!  As a result you could A) End up in a completely different posture altogether, or B) accidentally injure yourself if  you aren't supported properly by your bottom half.  See what I mean?! Foundation is important.  Even in life, you have to "work your way up" or start from Point A to get to Point B.  Don't rush into anything.

"We all have an innate sense of grounding and connected-ness...it's just a matter of tapping into it!"

 The element of this first Chakra is Earth. While earth's gravity is able to ground us physically, there are other things that can do so mentally.  Shifting our focus/energy to courage & strength; rather than fear, stress & anxiety is a good start.  How do we obtain more positive outlooks? Only when our basic needs are met--when we know we are safe, secure, taken care of, and most importantly (in my opinion):  LOVED.

"I am always safe & protected at the center of my being."

Below are positive affirmations I found online that I shared with my classes last week to sum up the first chakra:
I AM.
I am safe.
I am secure.
I am grounded.
I belong in this world.
I have all that I need.
I am where I need to be.
I am at peace with my surroundings, with the people & with the events that occur.
I trust more and fear less.
MULADHARA.
I.AM.

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*Continue to follow back each week as I go through the remaining chakras along with my classes.  My hopes are to learn more about the chakras myself so I can in turn educate my students and give them something more to take away from practice.


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