How to Heal Your Root Chakra

Co-authored by Emily Christensen and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: April 29, 2022 References

Have you been feeling unmotivated lately? If you answered “yes,” it may be time to heal your root chakra. The root chakra, also known as Muladhara, is the first of seven chakras located at the base of your spine. Think of the root chakra like the roots of a tree. This chakra grounds you to the earth and helps you feel safe and secure. When the root chakra is blocked or imbalanced, it can put everything out of alignment. If you’re looking to heal your energy, take a deep breath because we’ve put together a list of the best ways you can open and balance your root chakra.

1

Spend time in nature.

The root chakra draws its energy from the earth. Taking time out of your day to be close to this chakra’s element can help heal your energy and feel at peace. Kick off your shoes and walk barefoot on the grass, give gardening a try, or go on a nature hike at a local park. Step outside, unplug, and let nature do the rest.^{[1]
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2

Follow a guided meditation.

Heal vulnerabilities with a few moments of silence. The root chakra helps you feel safe and secure, and when it’s blocked or imbalanced, you may feel insecure. A guided, healing meditation focused on visualization can help you feel more grounded in your mind, body, and spirit. Try this meditation the next time you feel low:^{[2]
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- Find a nice, quiet space to sit and close your eyes.
- Focus on your breaths, particularly how they fill your belly. If any thoughts come up, acknowledge them but let them pass.
- Imagine a warm red light glowing at the base of your spine. With each breath, this light grows.
- Send the red light up your spine and through your body, feeling its warmth under your skin.
- When the light reaches your head and leaves your body, open your eyes and focus on how you feel.

3

Do grounding yoga poses.

Reconnect with your strength and the earth to heal the root chakra. Strong, grounding yoga poses are a great way to boost your self-confidence and recenter your energy. You can add these poses to your daily practice, or do them one at a time for a quick break whenever you feel unmotivated:^{[3]
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- Mountain Pose
- Side-Angle Pose
- Warrior Pose
- Standing Forward Bend
- Bridge Pose

4

Diffuse grounding essential oils.

Cedarwood, cypress, and vetiver can balance insecurities. When you’re vulnerable, your body and root chakra go into an emotional “fight or flight” response. These oils will help center your root chakra’s energy in times of panic and provide a sense of security. Set up a diffuser in your office to calm work anxieties, or dab a few drops on your wrists before bed to feel safe.^{[4]
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5

Surround yourself with the color red.

The root chakra’s energy is red. Each chakra has a color associated with it, and being near that color can help heal a chakra. Put on a red shirt, pick out red lipstick, decorate your living space with roses, or watch a red visualization video. The more red in your life, the more energy will flow into the root chakra.^{[5]
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6

Eat red foods and root vegetables.

Beef, red potatoes, and red carrots can help heal your root chakra. These foods are rich with earth’s energy and happen to be the root chakra’s color. Because of this, they fuel your body with the perfect amount of balancing energy for your root chakra.^{[6]
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- When you’re feeling unsteady, try having a steak dinner with a side of roasted root vegetables and quinoa.
- Add spices like cloves and marjoram to give your root chakra an extra boost ^{[7]
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7

Ground your energy with crystals.

Red jasper can help you feel protected. Slip this crystal in your pocket or wear it around your neck when you're feeling insecure or scared. The red color and securing properties are a perfect way to heal your root chakra and help you feel steady again.^{[8]
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- If you don’t have red jasper, try other red stones or crystals like garnet, carnelian, or agate.

8

Focus on the present moment.

Ground yourself by living in the now rather than the past. The root chakra is all about setting a foundation and grounding your spirit. Take a few moments out of your day to center yourself. You can do this by starting a daily gratitude practice. Close your eyes and remember what you're thankful for right now. This can be something small or big—it’s all up to you. Here are some examples:
- “I am thankful for the sun.”
- “I am thankful for my family.”
- “I am thankful for my fuzzy slippers.”
- “I am thankful for the honey in my tea.”

9

Whisper positive affirmations to yourself.

Heal the root chakra with the words “I am.” How you talk to yourself matters, especially when it comes to feeling secure. You can empower your energy and heal the root chakra by talking positively to yourself. This is a simple way to boost your self-esteem and mood. Try saying these mantras the next time you feel stuck or unmotivated:^{[9]
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- “I am strong.”
- “I am capable.”
- “I am worthy of love.”
- “I am moving at a pace that is right for me.”
- “I am proud of everything I have accomplished.”

10

Have a dance party.

Bust a move to get your root chakra’s energy flowing. A stuck, stagnant root chakra won’t get moving on its own, so give it some encouragement. Throw yourself a dance party to feel the ground beneath your feet, let loose, and get excited about life. Movement is a great way to remind yourself and your chakra that you’re not stuck in one place.^{[10]
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11

Practice sound healing.

Play the musical note C or frequency 432 Hz to heal your root chakra. Sound healing is the practice of realigning energy with vibrations. Each chakra has a frequency associated with it, and playing it can help bring energy into a chakra. If you don’t have a musical instrument to play a note or frequency, you can find sound healing audio clips by searching “root chakra sound healing” on YouTube or Google.^{[11]
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