In class for the past month, we have been learning about our roots and how strong roots allow us to RISE. In Ayurveda, the fall and early winter are Vata season characterized by wind, wet and cold (click here for a short quiz to find out which Dosha is predominant in your body). Many of us may find the winds of busyness, perfectionism, anxiety arising in our minds. The antidote to all of this cold, erratic, movement is to Slow Down, to Ground Down, to Root Down and find the structure, routine and warmth in our lives. Our Root Chakra, Muladhara in Sanskrit, forms the foundation or support for our bodies and the flow of energy that we need to thrive...to Rise. We need strong, secure, supported, deep roots to form the container for all that grows "above"..... our creativity, our will, our hearts, our voice, our intuition, our vision and dreams. Signs that your roots are lacking are anxiety, disconnection from your body, lack of focus, poor boundaries. We can also have overly developed roots showing up as materialism, over-eating, fear of change, and overly strict routines. Following are ways to bring balance to your Root Chakra:
*Create healthy boundaries, routines and structure
*Spend time on the earth, in the garden, walking in the forest, walking barefoot, feeling the earth below your feet, smelling the earth, eating whole food from the earth...preferably warm during Vata season
*Quiet, stillness, meditation, slow down, Restorative
*Self-care, self-nurturance, warmth, tea, massage, whatever makes you feel nurtured and cared for
*Yoga poses focused on feet, legs, strong base, forward folds
We will continue to practice supporting our roots in class this week and the months to come. If you're interested in learning more about the chakra system, I can highly recommend the book Eastern Body, Western Mind, Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to Self by Anodea Judith. Learning how to better take care of my mind and my heart as well as my body, has made a profound impact on my life and the lives I touch. My hope is to share some of what has helped me find and support my roots which allow me to RISE and which also remind me that I Belong....I Belong to Myself!
Namaste
For Belonging
by John O'Donohue
For Belonging
May you listen to your longing to be free.
May the frames of your belonging be generous enough for your dreams.
My you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart.
May you find a harmony between your soul and your life.
May the sanctuary of your soul never become haunted.
May you know the eternal longing that lives at the heart of time.
May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within.
May you never place walls between the light and yourself.
May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world to gather you, mind you, and embrace you in belonging.