Muladhara Chakra, Cedarwood & Prithvi Mudra

Day 1 of our Instagram Challenge #yogaforallsenses . We are 3 hosts so please check out @Iwona_yoga and @malamalamajewelry too! Every day I will talk about the benefits of a Mudra and an essential oil to Support the Chakra we are talking about each challenge day.

Today it´s all about our Root Chakra, Prithvi Mudra and Cedarwood Essential oil:

1st Chakra - Muladhara - The Root Chakra

The sense of smell is associated with the 1st Chakra and it´s corresponding element is Earth. The sense of smell is our first developed and strongest sense. Faster acting than our senses of Hearing and sight, smell is associated with the "fight or flight Response" and correlates to our powerful and instintive emotional guidance system.

ELEMENT:       

Earth
Essential Oils: 

Cedarwood, Cypress, Idaho Balsam Fir, Vetiver, Abundance, Grounding
Location:         

Base of the spine
Balanced:        

Stillness, feeling safe, vitality, good health, grounded + comfy in Body
Excessive:       

Obesity, overweight, material fixations, greed, sluggish, lazy, tired

Deficient:         

poor boundaries, underweight, anxious, restless, eating disorders

Key words:      

Courage, grounding, security, boundaries 

Color:                

Red, respresenting physical Manifestation
Oils applications:
Inhalation, sacrum, back of neck, bottoms of feet, Little toe and pinky finger.

In aromatherapy, inhaling the aroma of cedar essential oil (or absorbing cedar essential oil through the skin) is thought to transmit messages to a brain region involved in controlling emotions.

Known as the limbic system, this brain region also influences the nervous system. Aromatherapy proponents suggest that essential oils may affect a number of biological factors, including heart rate, stress levels, blood pressure, breathing, and immune function. Cedarwood has a wonderful warm, calming, woody aroma.

It is used to calm anger and ease nervous tension and is my favourite essential oil to balance my root chakra. This oil is also used during the practice of meditation and yoga and helps with grounding while allowing communication with the higher realms.  It is relaxing and soothing when used for massage. Cedarwood has long been used as a beneficial ingredient in cosmetic preparations for oily skin. Cedarwood has an approximate ORAC of 1,689,996 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.

Prithvi mudra is one of the important mudras in healing mudras. The practice of this mudra is useful to increase earth element and decrease fire element within the body.

The practice of this mudra increases strength and endurance of your body.

If you are a Kapha deficient person, this mudra is highly beneficial for your overall health. 

Tip of the ring finger touches the tip of the thumb with the other three fingers stretched out

When used as part of a spiritual practice, the prithvi mudra is thought to influence the muladhara (root) chakra, which governs the individual's sense of stability, rootedness and security.

To practice this Mudra sit down in a quiet setting while meditating and focusing on the breath. If possible, this should be done for 30 to 45 minutes a day.