A territorial separation is the most primal, deep seated conflict that man can experience, it is below feelings and emotions. It is rooted in the primal energy, that core essence that ensures the survival of the human race. For the man is it most strongly experienced when his home is threatened. For a woman, it is the separation of her sexual partner, the seed bearer for her children.
Through a chain of meaning and evolution of the times, we tie many aspects of normal life to these conflicts. For a man, concerns about not being able to pay the mortgage, the family home being repossessed by the banks, issues over money, career, finances or even attachment to possessions (a car, boat, painting, gadget or club membership) can create this type of conflict. For a woman, fear of her partner leaving, mistrust of her partner, or conflicts related to trust and loyalty may cause this imbalance.
The physical manifestation of this conflict in the body is at the base of the spine near the genitals. The location is called the Root Chakra or Muladhara and the imbalance is felt as a sickness in the lower abdomen (sick to the gut), heat in form of indigestible anger, or dull aches and pains in the renal or urinary tract.
The person will have a feeling of not belonging, or life feels like a burden. With an unbalance, the behavior becomes irrational and intense. Skin irritation and digestive/eliminative issues occur and can lead to compulsive, often self-harming behaviors or sexual perversions. Indigestible anger can cause cancer of the gut, appendix and colon, renal problem and urinary tract problems. If the conflict cannot be resolved, the person may even lose their will to live. The person may be attracted to the color red, or may wish to wear red to attempt a forced re balancing of the chakra.
Even though the problems seem real, it is an illusion of the mind, based on attachment and on the chain of meaning we give the physical world. As we experience life, we ask the question “What does this mean?” We find or create answers, and build up a chain of meaning (whether true or not) during life. Every possession or technology we acquire, and every relationship we make gives us the potential (but not the obligation) to create this type of conflict or imbalance.
We can balances the root chakra by working yogic asanas or postures into our daily lives, through awareness, normal exercise or by consciously working through Yogic Kriyas or sets. The asanas that help the root chakra include the following:
- Crow Pose
- Chair pose
- Body drops
- Frog pose
- Root lock or Mulbhandh
- Lying on the stomach
- Feet kicking the buttocks
Excellent Kriyas for the root chakra include :
- Healthy Bowel System
- Flexibility and the Spine
- Disease Resistance & Heart Helper
A person with a balanced root chakra, will exhibit qualities of being grounded, and down to earth, as opposed to “airy-fairy” or with their “head in the clouds”. They will be centered, loyal, stable, and will have healthy bowel and digestive system.
Because the organs and glands of the root chakra are all related to the elimination of waste and toxins, we should promote the consumption of non-processed foods, such as organically grown fruit and vegetables, beans and pulses, and lots of clean water. Eating processed foods, and hard-to-digest foods such as red meat, alcohol and processed fats (trans fats), and eating to excess greatly strain the organs of elimination, making the body more susceptible to imbalance.
To maintain balance, work toward non-attachment to possessions, technologies and relationships (“I am”, not, “I want”), operating from a neutral mind, through meditation, and listen to the dull aches and pains in your body, and take the time to resolve these pains and conflicts.
Copyright © 2008 CityGuyYoga
