5 Yoga Poses to Open the Root Chakra

Sure, it seems easy: simply sit crossed-legged with your hands in prayer. But, as you inhale and exhale, can you relax and sit in simple awareness? There comes the challenge! Through this practice, you’ll improve mindfulness, and create a meditative state that helps you feel grounded, safe, and connected with the root chakra.

Feel strong and powerful while connecting to your root chakra in goddess pose. According to Yoga Basics, the goddess squat opens the hips while strengthening the lower body; the region of the root chakra. Enter the pose standing tall with your feet straddled about 3 feet apart. Turn both feet on a 45-degree angle. With your spine upright, slowly squat down (careful to keep knees above the ankles). Hold as you inhale and exhale, or, turn this into a dynamic dancing goddess pose by swaying your hips.

Take flight in the third of the warrior sequences, an intermediate balancing pose to connect to the root chakra. According to Yoga Journal, standing grounded on one leg will help you connect to the earth while lengthening the spine. 

Enter the pose beginning in Warrior I (virabhadrasana I), lunging forward with the leg bent with the opposite leg extended, back foot in a 45-degree angle. Root down on your forward foot and square your hips. Lean forward and shift weight to your front foot while raising your back leg. Extend the body long while using the inner thighs to keep your balance. Repeat on the opposite side.

What better way to feel grounded than by standing tall in tree pose? According to MasterClass, this pose will balance and strengthen all the parts connected to your root chakra: your groin, thighs, hips, and pelvis. Stand in the mountain pose (tadasana). Place hands in prayer. Shift your weight to the right side and lift your left knee. Place the left foot on the inside of the right thigh, or take it easy by placing it on the outside of the right calf. Stay balanced as you raise your arms in a Y shape like the branches of a tree as your root down into the earth. Repeat on the opposite side.

Ready for a challenge? This root chakra balancing pose strengthens your lower body and is ideal for those who spend too much time sitting, suggested Verywell Mind. Begin in mountain pose (tadasana). Shift weight to the right foot and hug the left knee into the chest. Grab the instep of your left foot with your left hand. Lift your right arm upwards. Now take flight as you lift your left leg behind you, kicking the foot into your hand. Try to keep your balance by finding a focus point ahead. Repeat on the opposite side.

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