Root Chakra

Here lies your sense of security, belonging, well-being, physical health, and prosperity. It serves as the foundation for every other chakra above, similar to the root of a tree. It is imperative for this chakra's energy to be strong, steady, and balanced. The associated element with this chakra is earth. The associated sound for this chakra is, LANG (rhyming with song). The affirmations to use with this chakra would begin with "I am" which can symbolize you merging with your intent.

Awakening:

This is the resting place for your kundalini energy. Any physical action can aid with the awakening of this chakra such as vibration, movement, touch, and exercise. Once healed you will notice an increase in your confidence, vitality, and general energy. You will fear less while gaining more trust in yourself.

Health issues when Blocked:

You may experience insomnia, endless dieting, eating disorders, excessive weight loss, constipation, any disorders of the large intestine or problems related to the bowels; pain in the feet or legs, hip pain, any disorders of the bones, skin problems such as lesions or breakouts.

You may suffer from arthritis, or osteoporosis. Other possible conditions relate to tightness, lower back problems, constipation, or even difficulty having an orgasm. People who get sick often have first chakra blocks and generally are low on energy.

Psychological Issues when Blocked:

These issues correlate with fear, insecurity, flightiness, anxiety, inability to focus, disorganization, poor self-discipline, poor boundaries, poor sense of self, financial problems, separation, and dissociation with the body.

A very common issue is the lack of trust in others, which may result from abuse or any type of childhood trauma; Being neglected or experiencing the absence of a strong bond with a parental figure, along with constantly feeling unsafe in your environment while growing up.

At times these individuals may prefer to detach from life completely hence avoiding friends, missing deadlines, or even losing track of their belongings; In other words, dissociation, which is a disruption in an individuals memories, identities, or perceptions of their direct environment.

Potential addictions that may develop would be towards food, alcohol, and even work, which can be a result of multiple unbalanced chakras but inevitably the first chakra due to the intention to disconnect from who you are or in attempt to temporarily forget some things that may be difficult to face.

Healing when blocked:

Dissociation usually seeks for treatment by mental health professionals. It is imperative for people with blocked root chakras to pay attention and contribute  more to basic self care attributions such as hygiene, decluttering their home, paying some bills, and getting into regular routines and each of these can provide a big difference.  

Eating protein, root vegetables, red fruits (beets, parsnip, apples, & pomegranates) getting massages, physically exercising, grounding more often, spending more time outdoors, laying on the ground, and doing yoga poses that emphasize a firm base, all contribute to the healing of a blocked root.  

Traits when overloaded:

This usually results from too much routine and too little flexibility with not enough change or boundaries; simply being too steady without any spontaneity. This can be caused by experiencing overly strict upbringings, preventing from getting the chance to even think about making any changes.

Can also result from fear becoming way too dominate to where it completely dictates all of your choices; holding you back from certain choices you internally want to make.

Health Issues when overloaded:

A common health issue would be obesity. The root chakra receives strength from food intake and some individuals tend to go overboard, over eat to feel heavier hence feeling more secure. This may get to a point where losing weight would feel like a threat to their own safety.

On the other hand, people who aren't over weight but still have an overloaded root chakra may tend to exercise too much and focus so much on having a healthy body that they may completely neglect certain other aspects of their lives.

Other physical health risks would also be having stiff ankles, knees, and hip joints; excessive fatigue; sluggishness; heavy plodding gait; foot pain such as plantar fasciitis; and the feeling that you just cant get moving.

Psychological issues when overloaded:

These individuals often feel the need to hoard certain things such as possessions, and money. They would focus so much on getting and keeping that they completely disregard any thought of giving or sharing to others.

They may have such an extreme desire to be in control and have order that they can unknowingly prevent themselves from receiving actual genuine relationships with others.

Some other traits would include materialism, inability to be generous, workaholism, obsession with routines and security, fear of change, and overly strict boundaries/refusal to be open to others. The addiction to the energy sabotaging habits prevent us from accessing our full vitality, and leads us to feel exhausted, scattered and dull.

Healing when overloaded root:

Make the change in activity and try moving around more often. Physical motion contributes with the circulation of the energy throughout the body. You can move around in your living room, go walk through your neighborhood or even take a hike in nature.

Earthbound people often have a hard time with movement and flexibility so with bringing back to balance, a main goal to keep in mind would be to increase overall movement with the physical body. On the other hand you should decrease your movement if too active; attempt to slow down, becoming more centered and in the moment.