YOGA Chakras

Understanding Yogic Chakras

Muladhara
LAM

Svadhisthana
VAM

Manipuraka
RAM

Surya

Manas

Anahata
YAM

Visuddhi
HAM

Lalana

Bindu
SHIVOHAM

Ajna
OM

Brahmaguha

Sahasrara
OM

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Muladhara
LAM

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Sandeh

Kundalini
Rebecca

Muladhara (root chakra)

Mantra: LAM
Form: lotus flower with 4 red petals bearing the Sanskrit letters va, scha, sha and sa
Element: earth
Statement: "I need to survive - food, clothing and shelter"
Blocked by: fear (know your fear and transcend it to open up this chakra)
Location : Nong Khai, Thailand

Muladhara (root chakra)
The Muladhara Chakra is represented by a red 4-petaled lotus flower next to the rectum towards the spinal tip. It's associated mantra is LAM.

Muladhara Chakra, through pranayama, develops vigor and body toughness against life's challenges

Foundational Chakra
Muladhara is also the root chakra and provides foundation for all the chakras - best to start developing this chakra before all the others. Analogy: in a building, the foundation has to be done first. The depth and strength of the foundation dictate the stability of the building. Traditionally, the yogis develop the Muladhara before the other chakras. However, in the last decade of paradigm-shifting where new flavors of the month are in vogue, there has been a push for the Ajna Chakra first - this is a big mistake according to the old school yogis.

Primal Instinct
Our primal instinct where our animal fight-or-flight response is centered here. Pranayama focused on the Muladhara develops vigor and body hardness against life's challenges. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, survival first (food, clothing and shelter) before heaven in our minds.

Ancestral Transcript
Our accumulated karmic balance sheet (debts and merits) are stored here. This is. This is where we keep records of our ancestral lineage and together with their survival accounts that make our genetic mold.

What are you Afraid of?
The activation of the Muladhara Chakra is blocked by fear. It is important to understand what your fears are. Afraid of losing your fitness and become debilitated? Afraid of rejection by the opposite sex? Afraid of being outsmarted? Whatever those fears are, flush them down. When you become aware of them, they have already served their purpose and need to be expunged from your system. Then the Muladhara Chakra opens up, clearing the way to the higher chakras.

Pranayama to Awaken the Kundalini from the Muladhara Chakra
This exercise (sadhana) is an amalgamation of full lotus seated pose (padmasana), regulated breathing (pranayama), visualization into existence (bhavana), and breath-hold on the inhalation (puraka kumbhaka) and energy locks (kumbhaka).

In Padmasana facing east or north, holding the Gyana Mudra, set your intention and focus on the Muladhara Chakra. Exhale to empty your lungs. Now, inhale slowly while visualizing the awakening of the Kundalini Shakti in the Muladhara Chakra. As you continue the inhalation, clearly visualize the Kundalini finding its way up, chakra by chakra, along the central energy channel (Sushumna). Synchronize the breathing so that by the time the lungs are fully inflated, the Kundalini is on the very top chakra, the Bramaghuna. Hold the breath in, suck-in the tummy (Uddiyana Bandha), chin to the chest (Jalandara Bandha), and visualize the entire body covered in white light, power and wisdom. AS you begin the exhalation, imagine the Kundalini descending its way down the Sushumna, again, chakra by chakra, until it is back at the Muladhara Chakra. At this point, the lungs should be fully empty with no residual air. Repeat the process. This process will hasten the awakening of the Kundalini.

Notes on Muladhara Chakra

1. Apana - Apana vayu is not acquired from the air we breathe. Apana is energy and resides in the lower part of the abdomen, in the Muladhara, in the descending colon, rectum and anus.
2. Prana and Apana - Prana and Apana vayu are united by Kevala Kumbhaka, Mula Bandha, Jalandhara Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha.
3. Kundalini - Kundalini Sakti is the dormant serpent power, coiled 3.5 times facing downwards in the Muladhara Chakra, located at the base of the spine. An awakened Kundalini goes up to Manipura Chakra but may drop down again to Muladhara.
4. Pranayama - another way to practise Pranayama to awaken the Kundalini, concentrate on the Muladhara Chakra at the base of the spinal column. This is where the Kundalini Sakti resides. Send the nerve-current down the spinal column striking against the Muladhara Chakra, awakening the Kundalini. Kundalini will be awakened quickly if the degree of concentration is intense and if the Pranayama is practised regularly with the prerequisites of yama, niyama and asana.
5. Sushumna - Sushumna is the most important of all the energy channels (Nadis). The nerve-current moves through Sushumna in the spinal canal from Muladhara to crown of the head, Sahasrara.

Supernatural Gifts (Siddhis)
Meditating on Muladhara brings about special superhuman abilities as follows:

1. ability to jump long distances, almost similar to flying (Darduri siddhi)
2. ability to transcend time - present, past and future (Trikala jnana)
3. control over the elements of the earth - becoming air, flesh, water, etc.
4. to slow down ageing and live long (Kayakalpa siddhi) by conserving the nectar of life (amrita)

The 90-Minute Class

1. Introduction - What is a chakra? What is Muladhara Chakra? Why do we need to activate? What are the siddhis associated with Muladhara?
2. Warm-up - stretches and limbering
3. Asana - sqeezing mula bandha on the inhale and releasing on the exhale
   
   1. Malasana from Standing - from squatting, pelvic pull on the way up
   2. Chair from Standing - on reverse prayer hands (optional)
   3. Pendulim - seated, rock the pelvic floor from side to side
   4. One-Legged Cradle - seated, cradling one leg at a time
   5. Pashimotanasana Pelvic Lift - seated with straight legs, straight upright torso and palms pressed by the pelvic side. On the inhale, squeeze mula bandha while hands push against the floor, lifting the pelvic floor up. Exhale, release
   6. Low Lunge - squeeze on pelvic lift on the way up
   7. Warrior I - squeeze on pelvic lift on the way up
   8. Warrior II - squeeze on pelvic lift on the way up
   9. Goddess - squeeze on pelvic lift on the way up
   10. Purvotanasana - squeeze on pelvic lift on the way up
   11. Setu Bandhasana - body arch facing the sky, upper back and heals pressed on the mat, legs are straight
4. LAM chanting - seated, inhaling with butt-squeeze, visualizing light moving up, hold 2 seconds, exhaling, release the squeeze, chant LAM very slowly until air runs out. Hold 2 seconds before inhale. 5 minutes.
5. Savasana - body scanning, 5 minutes

(Jun 23, 2021) after-class picnic with Simona, Nat, Shellot and Muyan

Ending Thoughts
As a grounding chakra, it is relatively easy to spot the Muladhara level of a person. I've met conscious people who seem to live 50,000 feet above sea level and unaware of their spacey state. They are mindful of their breath but miss appointments, meetings and deadlines. Sorry to say, but monks seem to behave like that. Hello from planet Earth! This happens when other chakras were developed first before the Muladhara - there is no solid foundation for grounding. They seem to be oblivious to the demands of reality.

On the other extreme, there are people who can't seem to evolve - they are simply trapped in the dog-eat-dog struggle of daily life and have to constantly fight for survival. They remain reliant in their Muladhara Chakra for their day-to-day survival, but seem to get stuck there.

I believe the ideal balance, and this is what I am attempting to achieve, is to have one leg on solid ground and the other leg on Cloud 9. On one hand, I can still function in society, talk to business people, politicians and householders and deliver my projects on time according to specs. On the other hand, I am also mindful of the path to being the best evolved version of myself, establishing that connection between me and the universe at large.

The Muladhara Chakra is an essential component in the yoga practice for many reasons. It's the foundational chakra that holds stability of the other chakras, it's the seat of the Kundalini Shakti, the seat of the sankini nadi where all 72,000 nadis in the body converge, and this is where the 3 most important nadis begin - Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. Self-realization through chakra awakening begins at the Muladhara Chakra. Without the Muladhara, self-realization is not possible.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

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Sources:

1. Yoga Makaranda 1 by Tirumalai Krishnamacharya
2. Yoga Makaranda II by Tirumalai Krishnamacharya
3. Yoga and Kriya: A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
4. Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Next chakra:

Svadhisthana (sacral chakra)

(May 2020) Located 2-fingers above the muladhara, when combined with pranayama, the body becomes impervious to disease, no fatigue in physical work, peaceful coexistence with wild animals....more »»

Nong Khai Travel Information / Tips

Nong Khai Blogs by TheLoneRider

1. Nong Khai - Chiang Khan Roadtrip June 18, 2020
2. Life in Nong Khai Mar 13 - June 18, 2020
3. Peoplescape of Nong Khai Jun 17, 2020
4. Exploring Nong Khai's Cafe Culture Jun 10, 2020
5. Nong Khai Street Art June 4, 2020
6. Sirsasana A & B May 20, 2020
7. Structured Water, Water Therapy and Nauli May 1, 2020
8. Visiting the Salakaewkoo (Buddha Park) in Nong Khai, Thailand Apr 23, 2020
9. Fitness in Quarantine Times Apr 20, 2020
10. Covid 19: Lion - Buffalo Analogy Apr 13, 2020
11. Covid 19 and the Conspiracies Mar - Apr, 2020
12. Nong Khai with Cheng Mar 18 - Apr ???, 2020
13. Covid 19 and Pranayama Mar 20, 2020
14. Giant Mekong Catfish at the Nong Khai Aquarium Mar 19, 2020
15. Drawn to Nong Khai, Thailand Mar 12, 2020

Travel Tips for Thailand

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