The root chakra is an energy center located in the base of the spine. The root chakra resonates with the color red. Spiritually and emotionally, the root chakra It is related to our basic survival instinct, our confidence, our sense of feeling grounded, and how we deal with conflict. When energy is flowing through it properly, just as the name suggests, the root chakra gives us a sense of security, stability and foundation.

The root chakra is linked to the parts of our body that give us stability and strength and that helps us survive as human beings. The body parts associated with the root chakra include the adrenal glands (which produce adrenaline, the hormone that plays a part in the flight or fight response); as well as the perineum, anus, large intestine; and the bones, with an emphasis on the spine; The root chakra is also associated with the legs and feet as they connect our physical bodies to the our planet, the earth, just like the roots of a tree.

And just as the root chakra is related to the parts of our body that give us stability, a balanced and open root chakra helps us to feel grounded and stable emotionally and spiritually. An underactive or overactive root chakra can play a part in psychological and physical conditions related to not feeling secure or supported. Spiritual/emotional signs that there may be an imbalance of the root chakra include anger issues, fear, insecurities, feeling ungrounded, abandonment issues, not being able to make your own decisions, depression, anxiety, hypochondria, addictions, phobias, apathy, lethargy, panic attacks, eating disorders, and obsessions.

Physical signs that there may be an imbalance of the root chakra include being overweight or underweight, hemorrhoids, arthritis, constipation, lower back pain, and knee troubles.

Simple everyday events and interactions with people can be the trigger to upset the balance of the root chakra. However, feeling triggered is often a symptom of a larger issue. These issues can stem back to childhood issues related to family instability or feelings of abandonment, or it could be recent life events such as ending a relationship or losing a job.

Understand that you must be aware of your emotional reactions when you feel them and aware of any physical manifestations of an imbalance in order for these methods to be effective. Also, make it a point to consistently practice those chakra balancing exercises until you feel a change. Even though you will have to reconcile the core issues that contributed to the imbalance, once you start doing these simple practices, the deeper meaning of your root chakra blockage will be revealed to you in a loving way that will not be painful but liberating. Remember: Chakra balancing is a work in progress.

Simple ways to re-balance your root chakra are to walk barefoot, go outside and spend some time in nature, and gardening. Body massages, with a focus on the lower back and feet, are also great ways to free up blocked energy or to calm overactive energy.

Eating root foods can also help balance the root chakra. Root foods are the ones that grow underneath the soil, such as potatoes, carrots, beets, and onions. Also, since the root chakra resonates with the color red, eating red foods can be beneficial as well. This include cherries, red peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, pomegranates, and red grapes.

Another thing to do is to incorporate red into your day-to-day life. Wear red items of clothing, or add red items to your home décor such as a chair, a rug, curtains, bed sheets or a red floral arrangement to put on your coffee table.

You also can balance the root chakra by sitting quietly for a few minutes each day and simply visualize the color red. Meditating while holding crystals, carrying crystals in your pocket or purse as you go about your daily activities, and wearing crystal jewelry is also a great way to balance your chakras. In the case of the root chakra, red crystals such as garnet, carnelian, red jasper, and red tiger’s eye are effective. However, black crystals are also powerful for grounding. Some black crystals include Apache tear, black tourmaline and hematite. Bloodstone, which is a green stone with spots of red hematite, is also a good root chakra stone, and so is labradorite, which contains many colors on the spectrum and therefore is thought to affect the root chakra and other chakras, as well.

Finally, each chakra vibrates to a specific frequency and resonates with different sounds. Therefore, one way to tap into the sound vibration of the root chakra is to listen to binaural beats made specifically for that chakra.