Rigging Question: Location of Root bone

Hi, my team and I have been working on creating a turn based tactical strategy game for the past few months. From what I've read along with much trial and error I've come to the conclusion that no animation data should be applied to the root bone.

So I guess my question would that if I am rigging a character would it be advisable to even just place the root bone outside the character so that there is no way for the root to change locations? Or is there anything special I should worry about with the root?

We've run into a lot of weird issues specifically with a character doing some yoga poses where he puts his head between his legs and suddenly the root direction arrow in the preview screen will flip out and some of the animations won't even play (the character looks like he's all tied in knots)

I can provide the animations in question as well if anyone would like to take a look at em'