Signs Your Root Chakra Is Out Of Balance + 9 Ways Get Back On Track

Here's a quick primer on what the root chakra is, how to know it's out of whack, and how to bring it back into balance.

The root chakra is located at the base of spine, in your tailbone area. It is associated with the color red and corresponds to the Earth element. No surprise, since nurturing this chakra is all about grounding exercises that make you feel confident and secure on your own two feet. Practices like walking barefoot outdoors, doing foundational yoga poses like malasana (garland pose) or mountain pose, and any of the balancing exercises below can help you balance out your root chakra as needed.

Start with the simple meditation of imaging a bright red light at the base of your tailbone. Picture this red light extending down your legs and feet, grounding you to the earth to begin the process of root chakra cleansing and balancing.

I don’t care if you “can’t dance.” Close the door and move your body. This is one of the best ways to become more comfortable in your body; which goes a long way in balancing this chakra. Even better—turn on music and sing along, as singing cleanses your throat chakra for an added bonus.

Many yoga postures are designed to cleanse this chakra. My favorite is tree pose. Here's a step-by-step guide for deepening this pose:

Talk about a wonderful, underrated root chakra cleanser. We are physical animals in addition to being intelligent, thoughtful human beings. Embrace and love your physicality by being completely present as you bathe. Engage your mindful awareness to feel the water dripping down your body and the strength from your legs.

Take this idea of mindfully moving on your walk with you. Concentrate on your foot leaving the ground and connecting to the earth again with each step. You’ll give your mind a break and cleanse your root chakra at the same time. Here are some more ideas for making your next walk more mindful.

Yes, really! My grandfather had a friend that was known for saying, “you can always tell how well a person takes care of themselves by how they take care of their feet.” This might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but loving your feet and taking the time to pamper your physical body are great ways to also care for your root chakra energy.

Since the root chakra is all about feeling at home in your body and in the world around you, meditating out in nature can be a wonderful practice. Take a cue from Emma Mildon, author of The Soul-Searcher's Handbook, and place your feet barefoot on the ground for a quick chakra meditation: Close your eyes and focus your energy on your feet, and how they anchor you to the Earth below. Allow yourself to feel safe and balanced in your own body.

Start your day by saying this affirmation three times, out loud or to yourself. Or, write it down on a sticky note where you will see it often and remind yourself of your solid foundation.

Each chakra also has an associated mudra, or hand gesture, that can help you engage with the energy of that chakra. Take a moment to complete the following root chakra mudra by yoga teacher Andrea Rice:

The root chakra corresponds with our core needs, and it's the energy center that sets the stage for the rest of our chakra healing. Try these nine ideas for tending to your root chakra through dance, meditation, affirmations, and more, and you'll be ready to move on up to the sacral chakra in no time.