Root Chakra Healing: How To Know It’s Blocked And 19 Ways To Clear And Balance It

Do you have a blocked root chakra — or are you here because you’re unsure how to even tell? 

If you’re still learning about the chakra system and its influence on your health, we’re glad you’re here.

By the end of this post, you’ll know how to recognize the symptoms of a blocked or underactive root chakra and how to rebalance and heal it. 

Before long, you’ll feel grounded, energized, and ready for anything. 

What Is The Root Chakra Responsible For? 

The root chakra is located at the base of the spine — the foundation on which you’re sitting right now. The root or “base” chakra is associated with the adrenal glands and is responsible for the connection between your body, the earth, and nature. 

man looking far away in the beach root chakra healing

A healthy root chakra contributes to the following: 

  • Kundalini energy 
  • Feelings of security and safety
  • Greater confidence and self-esteem
  • Improved energy levels
  • Feelings of belonging and acceptance

Because the health of your root chakra is the foundation for the healthy functioning of all the others, maintaining whole-body health means prioritizing your chakra health, starting at the root. 

What Causes Imbalance in the Root Chakra? 

So, how does a chakra — and the root chakra, in particular — become imbalanced? And how do you know if your root chakra is underactive or overactive? 

Let’s start with all the things that can block your root chakra or cause it to become overactive: 

  • Generational trauma — trauma experienced by previous generations and carried in the body
  • Emotional trauma — personal emotional wounds still carried in the body
  • Growing up poor — long-term effects of childhood food or home insecurity
  • Financial insecurity — long-term effects of struggling financially
  • Natural disasters — effects of natural disasters that directly impact your security and stability
  • War — traumatic effects of war and the attending violence
  • Lack of domestic harmony — the deep-seated effects of domestic discord, especially if it involves abuse or frequent arguments
  • Childhood neglect — long-term effects of being invisible to your parents/caretakers and making yourself as “low maintenance” as possible
  • Abuse — consistently abusive relationships or intermittent abuse and disrespect
  • Anxiety — persistent anxious feelings tied to insecurity and burnout

While one form of imbalance is an underactive root chakra, it’s also possible for a chakra to be overactive. A deficient — or “passive” — chakra causes symptoms like anxiety, suspicion, isolation, and withdrawal. 

An overactive one is more aggressive in its effects and more likely to cause agitation, explosive anger, hoarding and greed, and workaholism. 

A deficient root chakra defaults to self-protection; an overactive chakra overcompensates. It’s possible, though, to experience symptoms of both. 

What Happens When Root Chakra is Blocked? 

Understanding how to heal your root chakra starts with knowing how it feels when your root chakra is blocked. Blockage at any of your body’s energy centers has real and pervasive effects on your physical, mental, and emotional health. 

Your root chakra just happens to be the foundation for all the rest. So, a blocked root chakra compromises the balance and strength of every chakra above it. 

Anything that weakens or agitates the foundation affects the entire structure. 

Once the root chakra begins to open, especially after a prolonged blockage, you can expect some dramatic improvements in your physical, mental, and emotional health. 

What Happens When Root Chakra Opens? 

Now that you know the signs of a blocked root chakra, It’ll be easier to notice and appreciate root chakra opening symptoms.

Let’s start with the physical symptoms of root chakra opening: 

  • Tingling sensations — in the root chakra area (pelvic region/lower body)
  • Improved sleep — fewer disturbances and a better sleep pattern
  • More energy — healthier adrenal glands and improved energy flow 
  • Less pain/discomfort — aches and pains fade as your chakra is restored

You may also notice the following mental and emotional symptoms: 

  • Feeling grounded — more secure, more stable, more focused
  • Feeling connected — to your body, to the earth, and to others
  • Feeling more aware — of your body, your habits, and your power

15 Root Chakra Imbalance Symptoms 

So, how does your root chakra let you know something is wrong? 

1. Constipation or incontinence — difficulty digesting your food properly

2. Pain in the lower body — pain in your pelvic region, lower back, legs, or feet

3. Problems with your prostate, colon, kidneys, or bladder — health concerns related to one or more of the organs in your lower body

4. Lethargy/low energy — feeling drained of energy and cut off from energy sources

5. Depression — feeling low in spirits and apathetic about your life and everything

6. Anxiety/feeling insecure or unsafe — feeling worried or on edge, anticipating loss, and grasping for something that you can’t identify

7. Poor focus — feeling scattered and unable to focus on one thing for very long

8. Low self-esteem and self-confidence — insecurity and low energy diminishing your confidence and distorting your self-perception

9. An unhealthy relationship with food — hoarding food or overeating to combat feelings of insecurity or low energy

10. Scarcity mindset — feeling like there’s never enough money, food, or other resources and worrying you’ll run out before you can get more

11. Hoarding or greedy behavior — tendency to cling to things or greedily accumulate things out of fear you’ll run out or not having something when you need it

12. Difficulty connecting with and trusting others — An imbalanced root chakra contributes to dysfunction in your relationships. You’re more likely to withdraw than to confide in others or to risk being vulnerable with them. 

13. Feeling disconnected from your body and from nature — feeling mistrustful or resentful of your body and not making time for self-care or even basic hygiene

14. Inflexibility or narrow-mindedness — clinging to what you “know” even when it’s not helping

15. Stumbling or clumsiness — You might write this off as just how you are, but if you’ve been clumsier than usual (dropping things, tripping over objects, crashing into doorframes, etc.), your root chakra may be a factor. 

If you’re experiencing any of these, remember this is what you’re dealing with right now. It’s not permanent, and it’s not you.

You’re here, ready to learn what you can do today to heal and balance your root chakra and renew your energy. 

You’re the solution — not the problem. And with what you’ll learn here, you’ll move from awareness of the problems you’re facing to mindful and effective action. 

How to Unblock Your Root Chakra

As discussed above, an unhealthy root chakra can lead to several issues that erode physical and mental health — insomnia, loss of willpower, and a weakened immune system.

If a 2017 study has merit, discord in the root chakra may correspond to issues and aches in the inferior hypogastric plexus, the nerve network that supports the pelvic viscera.

Interestingly, the region contains sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers, which are credibly linked to the scientific benefits of meditation. 

If true, the best ways to maintain ideal conditions in the given anatomical region include:  

  • Eating healthy
  • Meditating daily
  • Maintaining flexibility
  • Stretching daily to ensure the body’s muscle fibers stay supple

Alternatively, traditionally spiritual remedies for the root chakra include:

  • Sound meditations focused on the Muladhara Chakra
  • Ritual movement and cleansing
  • Affirmation work that connects you to the greater whole
  • Breathwork and meditations

Root Chakra Healing: 19 Practices to Balance and Restore the Root Chakra 

We’re sharing 19 practices to help you awaken and balance your root chakra and reap all the benefits for your body and mind.  

1. Meditate. 

Grounding meditations are beneficial for this, but any mindfulness meditation that helps you practice conscious awareness of the present moment and calm acceptance can get you closer to a balanced and healthy root chakra. 

Making time for a grounding meditation can help you feel calmer and more at peace. 

2. Add more red to your life. 

If you’re feeling lethargic, try bringing more red into your immediate environment for a grounding and energizing effect:

  • Red throws and throw pillows, vases, wall art, etc.
  • Red flowers or potted plants with red blooms
  • Red candles or candle holders

It can also help to wear more red, either as clothing or accessories. 

3. Eat more red foods.

Eating more red can even help with grounding. Choose from any of the following: 

  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries 
  • Red cherries
  • Plums
  • Tomatoes
  • Red grapes
  • Red peppers
  • Red cabbage
  • Radishes

Don’t forget great root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, red onions, garlic, and ginger. 

4. Use affirmations. 

As with all the practices on this list, it helps to do these with the intention of opening and healing your root chakra. Here are a few to get you started:

  • Right now, I am completely safe;
  • I have plenty of energy today for the things I need to do;
  • I am right where I need to be right now.

5. Try energy healing. 

Reiki, acupressure, EFT tapping, and quantum healing are all types of energy healing that can restore balance and flow to the body’s energy centers. 

Practicing these methods can cause a strong emotional release similar to what you experience when processing your emotions. 


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6. Breathe with pranayama.

Pranayama is more than simple breathing exercises. Prana is another word for Qi (chi) or life force energy.

The purpose of pranayama is to draw in that energy and supply the missing frequency in your biofield — in this case, the color red for the root chakra — using both breath and visualization. 

7. Try mudras. 

Mudras are a form of spiritual healing you perform with hand gestures. The healing is ideal for balancing the body’s energy centers. 

Start with prana mudra, which stimulates the root chakra and awakens it.  For this mudra, join the tips of the thumb, ring finger, and little finger together. The other fingers remain extended. Hold this mudra for 15 minutes a day. 

8. Learn some yoga poses.

Many yoga poses — or “asanas” — are useful for opening and balancing the body’s energy centers, but some are especially helpful with the root chakra. 

woman doing yoga by the beach root chakra healing
  • Tree pose (Vrikshasana)
  • Standing forward fold (Uttanasana)
  • Child’s pose (Balasana)
  • Sun salutations (3-5x)
  • Warrior II pose (Virabhadrasana)

9. Spend time in nature.

Just as spending time with the people you love is essential for building and nurturing connections with them, spending time in nature is vital to that relationship. 

It’s all well and good to say you love nature, but your body knows what’s up if you’re spending precious little time outdoors. 

10. Take a time-out. 

Life isn’t all about work and all the “shoulds” on your list. Every day, you need time to step away from work and check in with yourself

Take stock of what you’re feeling, or you won’t even know when your chakras are unbalanced. You’ll only feel the consequences. 

11. Make amends. 

An essential part of letting go and healing is to make amends for your mistakes that have hurt other people. Until you at least acknowledge the hurt and apologize, you’ll continue to carry that guilt. 

Start by picturing yourself reaching out to someone and saying what needs to be said. 

12. Try therapy. 

Find someone you can talk to about this if you’re still processing the long-term effects of growing up poor or surviving an abusive relationship. It affects you more than you realize. 

A good therapist can help you recognize trauma for what it is and heal from it. 

13. Forgive others.

The ability to let go is essential to a healthy, balanced root chakra. Holding onto anger takes more energy than you can afford, and it blocks you up (spiritual constipation). 

Forgiving doesn’t mean letting someone hurt you again; it means letting yourself heal.

14. Write it out.

Any chakra blockage helps to get the words flowing — either in speech or onto a page. The more you articulate the thoughts circulating in your head, the easier it is to question them. 

15. Get moving. 

Exercise can be a big help, whether you’re just taking a walk outside, doing a workout, or learning some new dance moves. Dance can be especially therapeutic if it involves graceful, flowing movements. 

As with all exercise, remember to breathe. 

16. Declutter your space. 

While this could be more difficult when your root chakra is overactive (and you’re in hoarding mode), ridding yourself of things you don’t need, use or love now can help you feel lighter and freer on the inside — rather than weighed down by nonessentials. 

17. Take a shower.

Take time to notice the flow of the water as it rinses you clean, carrying away soap and other residue and leaving you feeling fresh and either invigorated or relaxed. 

Don’t be surprised if a good shower helps other things flow more easily. 

18. Use grounding crystals. 

Here are some of the best crystals for healing the root chakra: 

  • Red jasper
  • Red tiger’s eye
  • Hematite
  • Black tourmaline
  • Smoky quartz
  • Bloodstone 
  • Garnet
  • Black or red obsidian

If you’re holding a stone in your hand, keep the following in mind: your dominant hand gives energy; your non-dominant hand receives it. 

19. Step outside your comfort zone. 

Sometimes the best way to challenge the fear keeping you in a holding pattern is to do something that scares you. You might be surprised at your own ability to rise to the occasion. Plus, humiliating yourself now and then has a grounding effect. 

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge you need to awaken and restore your root chakra, we hope you choose one or more of the practices listed above and make it part of your daily or weekly routine. 

May the new habits you build lead to success and joy beyond your imagination. 

Your inner root chakra might be disturbed and is causing a mess on the inside. Do these root chakra healing practices to restore your energy.

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