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The Kandasana Pose - more energy in the root chakra Kandasana is a challenging pose in which the soles of the feet are seated, with the knees bent and the body facing the body. To understand this pose and its effects, you should also familiarize yourself with the term Kanda. There is an area below the Muladhara Chakra called Kanda. Kanda is of great importance in both Kundalini Yoga and Hatha Yoga . Various exercises like Kandasana aim to activate this area. Learn more about this pose below. Kanda - where the nadis meet Kanda has various meanings in Sanskrit. On the one hand, kanda means a root tuber, a bulb, or an onion. On the other hand, kanda also means section, chapter, or book. In Kundalini Yoga and Hatha Yoga, kanda refers to a place in the body where the energy channels, the so-called nadies, converge. You can locate kanda somewhere between the genitals and the anus, at the level of the perineum. Kanda is described as having the shape of an egg, rising from the pelvic floor to the navel area. It is up to 25 cm in size, but some texts describe it as even larger. Kanda is seen as a subordinate chakra . Various yoga poses aim to activate kanda and bring energy to the muladhara chakra. Siddhasana and Kandasana, among others, are aimed at activating this area. The Japanese, incidentally, locate the so-called hara in the area of kanda. Kanda is so important because not only is this area where a large number of nadis converge, but it is also the most important energy center in the entire body, which also roots the person in the here and now. Kandasana - how do you assume the pose? Kandasana is a fairly challenging yoga pose. Before performing Kandasana in your preferred pose, take a moment to relax. Sit on the floor, open your legs, and stretch them out. Then bend your knees and open your hips. Your heels should be close to your perineum. It's important that your knees stay on the floor. Now, take your left foot with your left palm and your right foot with your right palm. Lift your feet and pull them toward your body. The ankles should be turned upward—which includes a corresponding movement of the hips and knees—so that the outer part of the knees is pressed against your chest and toward your navel. Press your feet firmly against your chest, with the soles facing toward your body. Then remove your hands and leave them folded at your chest. Keep your back straight and hold the pose for about 30 seconds. Then, gently and slowly lower your feet back to the floor using your hands. Beginners to Kandasana can first perform a preliminary exercise. Here, you sit on the floor and stack two yoga blocks in front of you. While bending your legs, spread apart, place your feet on the two yoga blocks with the soles facing upwards. You can lift your bottom off the floor during this exercise. Effects of Kandasana In a spiritual practice, Kandasana activates the root chakra as described above. The root chakra, or Muladhara, is considered to be associated with a person's overall health, passion, survival, and progress. Activating this chakra helps you become rooted, literally, in life and the world. The root chakra affects the entire lower body. Kandasana is associated with supporting sexual function and can therefore help alleviate disorders in this area. Kandasana also stimulates all organs, such as the kidneys and bladder. Kandasana is also said to help calm the mind. Overall, this exercise can help stabilize you physically and mentally. Image © fizkes / 123rf.com

Muladhara Chakra - the root chakra What are chakras? The term "chakra" translates as "wheel" and refers to energy centers, which also run in a circular pattern. Chakras can be open or closed and are considered centers of subtle life energies. These are repositories of energy forces and energy centers. A chakra is a state of consciousness and conveys a feeling of joy or bliss. A goddess or god reigns within each chakra, with each chakra represented by a specific animal species. A chakra has a fixed number of petals, which represent the nadis. Colors, mantras, and bijas address the individual petals. What is the Muladhara Chakra? The Muladhara Chakra is one of the seven main chakras and is located in the lowest region, which is why it is also called the root chakra. The name Muladhara Chakra is composed of mula (root) and ahara (support). The chakra is located at the very base of the spine. The inner color of the Muladhara Chakra is yellow to ochre yellow and is said to represent the color of the earth. The Muladhara Chakra is the seat of the earth element, which is called Prithivi Tattwa. The root chakra has four petals, which are also called main nadis, i.e. energy channels. The petals of the chakra are red, and the yantra is a square. The elephant-headed god Ganesha rules the chakra and symbolizes endurance, blessings, firmness, and the beginning. The god Brahma is the creator and also rules the chakra, which is why the chakra can be considered the root chakra of all creation. The goddess in the Muladhara chakra is Dakini, who sits on a red lotus. The goddess Dakini sometimes shines in white, but mostly in red. Her beautiful face with three eyes is complemented by four arms, a trident, a staff, and a skull. Similar to the god Brahma, the goddess is often depicted with a drinking vessel and a swan. The Muladhara chakra controls the sense of smell, which absorbs odors via particles. The chakra animal is the elephant. No wonder: This is the heaviest and largest mammal in the world. Interesting facts about the Muladhara Chakra The Muladhara Chakra is endowed with particularly positive qualities. The qualities most commonly attributed to the Muladhara Chakra are balance, endurance, calmness, consistency, thrift, a sense of reality, common sense, and adherence to principles. The motivations of the Muladhara Chakra are eating, sleeping, and drinking—in other words, everything related to self-preservation. At the apex of the Muladhara Chakra is the Brahma Granthi, which represents the difficulty of transitioning from a physical to a subtle perception. The chakra can be activated in various ways. The chakra can be strengthened with special meditations. These primarily include visualizations of mountains, trees, and roots. Strengthening can also occur through affirmations such as "I am well-rooted" or "I find access to my roots." The same applies to special pranayamas and mantras . Performing the required meditations requires time and experience. With increased concentration and a trained body and mind, the effect of meditation can be significantly increased, leading to a better connection to the chakra. The Muladhara Chakra is the foundation of the human energy center. The Muladhara Chakra is the origin of the Kanda, the root tuber. The chakra is the origin of the three main nadis, which is why the released energy travels up the subtle spine. As the seat of the human cosmic energy, the chakra is exceedingly powerful. It must be extremely strong for the powerful Kundalini to rise within it. Image © zhanna26 / 123rf.com