How to Hold Your Own In a Boxing Match: AKA A Beginners Guide to the Root Chakra
Ok. I haven’t actually taken up boxing, nor do I have legitimate advice when it comes to the physical sport of boxing. I’m a yoga teacher. With a two-year-old. Boxing sounds ridiculous. But, I DO have experience and insights on what to do when you feel like you are in metaphorical boxing match - whether that be with yourself or someone else.
Take Gabby, for example. Gabby felt terrible and nervous every time she was around her doctoral academic advisor. She’d say the wrong things, give the wrong answers (even though she knew the material) and she would get frustrated with herself. Her advisor would act a bit terse and would make a slightly condescending comment, which led Gabby to feel more frazzled and she’d stammer even more. Then her advisor would question whether Gabby knew the material. This played right into an internal story that Gabby felt like a fraud. This terrible feedback loop was leading her to act unlike herself in the presence of her advisor, further corroborating her internal story that she must actually be a fraud.
By the time Gabby came to me, she was in a chronic state of fight or flight, having panic attacks, experiencing chronic tension in her back, and had no idea what to do: Drop out of school? Change programs? Change her life’s work? Punch her advisor in the face? Stay and endure? It felt like an impossible position. We determined that she truly loved the research and the knowledge, that she wanted to stay at that school, and she didn’t want a felony charge on her record. Then, we did some coaching around her thoughts and turned to….the chakras.
I’ve been teaching and doing yoga and energy work for over 10 years. Believe me (and any massage or physical therapist out there) people hold their thoughts, beliefs, life experiences, and souls in these physical bodies. I’m not going to get into my philosophy or defining chakras in this post, but I am going to say that chakras provide a road map in our physical bodies for understanding the intangible aspects of being human: our potential, our blocks, our emotions, our thoughts, our healing, our purpose.
In Gabby’s case, I started with the root chakra. Gabby, had some strong thoughts and patterns around being a smart female in the presence of authority figures. She was unable to stand in her own power around her academic advisor.
To help you understand why I started with the root chakra, let me give you a wee bit of background on the root chakra. The basic issues associated with the root are instinct, safety, survival, grounding, family, security, boundaries, fear, life’s work, and new beginnings. Family and societal (or tribal) beliefs are stored in the root chakra areas of body. These areas include the tailbone, large intestine, pelvic floor, adrenal glands (fight or flight), back, pelvis, leg, knees, feet and bones.
The root chakra deals with foundation and stability - literal and metaphorical.
A person can change his or her life by looking at the wisdom in their first chakra and seeing where they may be blocked or held back by beliefs tied to societal pressures, family loyalty, or expectations that are no longer serving their highest good.
In Gabby’s case, we did a combination of connecting to and strengthening the physical body (the placement of her feet and legs and how she literally stood and carried herself in the presence of authority figures). At the same time we uncovered old beliefs that no longer served her while adding in other life coaching exercises and energy work to bring her mind and spirit up to speed with what she truly wanted in her life. With a lot of practice, body and mental awareness, and reminding herself of her purpose and gifts in this world, Gabby, shifted this energetic boxing match with her advisor and, ultimately, her Self. She ended up standing up for herself, having a good working relationship with her advisor, and is currently finishing up her PhD.
If you are curious as to whether you might have a blockage in your root chakra that is currently affecting your life here are a couple questions you can ask yourself:
Do you trust that life supports you?
Are you missing healthy boundaries?
Do you feel like you are safe (financially, physically, emotionally, etc)?
Are there areas in your life where you feel there is never enough (financially, materially, emotionally, support, spiritually, etc)?
Do you feel like there are areas in your life where you have no control or choice?
Do you trust yourself to make supportive, healthy decisions?
Are you able to easily make decisions?
Do you make most of your decisions out of fear?
Sometimes it is difficult to see our own blocks and everyone will have unique ways that blockages show up. Getting perspective and insights in a neutral, supportive space can truly change the way you see yourself and interact in the world. If you feel like you have questions or need more support in this area contact me for a free 20 minute Clarity Session.
I’d love to hear, in the comments, if chakras are new to you and how you have weathered any boxing matches - mainly of the metaphorical kind;-)