The Root and Origins

Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances. — Maya Angelou

All is in vibration, even in stillness there is vibration and movement. This is what makes change constant. In vibration is a certain rhythm. Everything in the universe follows the Law of Rhythm: The planets orbiting around the sun, the counterclockwise rotation of the earth, the cycle of the moon, the four seasons, the beating of the heart.

While Chi and Prana are not exactly the same, they are both a form of subtle energy that flows within our energy bodies. They cannot be seen or measured yet. As long as Chi or Prana flows freely and is balanced, health is maintained. Off-balance or blocked chi or prana causes disease.

Chi was a word that was originally used to describe that which could not be explained. So what is Chi, and how do we experience it? It is all around us and inside us. Chi is a bridge between the Physical (Yang) and Spiritual (Yin) worlds. It is an activator. It causes flow. It creates force. Chi is how things move. The philosophy behind the concept of Chi is rooted in Daoism.

So what is Dao? It is balance, simplicity, and non-action. Dao reduces excess and supplements what is insufficient. When Dao is present, things move from the extremes toward balance. Dao is an equalizer.

How does this relate to the biological human experience? The Autonomic Nervous System has two parts. The Sympathetic Nervous System and Parasympathetic Nervous System. The SNS is more yang (contracting). It is the body’s accelerator. It is activated by danger or stress, it is responsible for our “Fight or Flight” response. When we inhale deeply, we activate the SNS, when we exhale deeply, we activate the PNS. The PNS is the regulator, it is more yin (expansive). A deep exhale slows the heart rate. If you are living in a constant state of stress for too long, the PNS has to work overtime and becomes depleted. (Yin deficiency) We need balance (there’s that word again) so there is space to love, nurture, and grow.

The Vagus Nerve (Darwin’s pneumogastric nerve) is a primary component of the ANS, and it connects numerous organs. It is thought that this nerve is critical in the expression and management of emotions and that it gives the gut, heart, and brain an intimate way of communication.

This is exciting and empowering. We can alter our inner world and find balance within through food and diet, movement, and meditation. Laozi wrote: “Humanity follows the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows what is natural.” Understanding that order helps us go with the flow, it gives us awareness when we might be off-balance.

It’s no surprise we have total chaos and undoing in our society right now. It’s been a long time coming. The most important thing we can do is take care of ourselves. One way to care for ourselves is through meditation and movement.

The Root Chakra (mūlādhāra) is located at the base of the spine, the pelvic floor, and first three vertebrae. Its element is Earth. Mūlādhāra translated literally is “root and basis of existence”. Our “Flight or Fight” instinct is initiated in the root chakra. It is our base, our foundation (including basic needs like food, water, shelter) It is associated with grounding, stability, survival, vitality, and our emotional needs. When balanced, we feel stable, grounded, and secure. Symptoms of imbalance in root chakra: lethargy, inability to make decisions, depression, disconnection, anxiety, fear, nightmares (emotional manifestations), problems with the colon, bladder (elimination), lower back, legs, feet, eating disorders, prostate (men) (physical manifestations).

Some asanas to help balance the root chakra:

bālāsana: Child’s pose

sukhāsana: Easy Pose (Seated)

mālāsana: Garland Pose (Deep Squat)

uttānāsana: Standing Forward Bend

tāḍāsana: Mountain Pose (Standing)

vīrabhadrāsana II: Warrior 2

setu bandha sarvāṅgāsana: Bridge Pose

śavāsana: Corpse Pose

I offer virtual yoga and meditation sessions via Google Meet, Zoom, and Discord.