Have you ever been told that “There is a light that shines within you”? Well if you have, that person was most likely referring to your Solar Plexus Chakra. This is your fire center -- your very own inner sun. This chakra is designed to help you realize your personal dreams and desires in life, while playing a key role in the foundation of your self-reliance.
When this chakra becomes out of balance, you may be struggling with trusting yourself without the influence of validation from others. You may also be having a difficult time pursuing your goals and making tough decisions.
In this article, we will be discussing five yoga poses that can help you connect to your Solar Plexus Chakra if you find yourself feeling a little out of whack.
First and foremost, the Solar Plexus Chakra is also known as Manipura, which can be translated as “shining gem” in Sanskrit. It is located in the solar plexus area, (above the belly button and below the sternum) making it the third chakra down the spine amongst the seven. This places it in the abdomen region of the body. The Manipura is represented as being a bright yellow color, whose glow is said to warm up the body and shine light on your true path so that you can follow it and feel confident and empowered in your own life.
The solar plexus functions as the energy center, as well as the hub for vitality, strength, and self-actualization. It is in a sense, the very core of who we are. This chakra teaches us about our need to stay true to ourselves and what we believe in. It’s the ability to trust our instincts that connects us to the energy of the Solar Plexus.
Essentially, it's our seed of personal power.
A blocked Solar Plexus Chakra can result in a number of negative side effects, with just a few of these being:
Thankfully, every problem has a solution. This chakra can be cleansed by the use of essential oils, healing crystals (specifically amber, sunstone, and yellow asper), using positive self talk with self-acceptance affirmations, and ~yoga~.
By opening up the congestion in Manipura, you can begin to experience…
Ultimately, a cleansed Solar Plexus results in inner peace and a stronger sense of self.
By grounding down into the base of your palm and the back of your heels, this pose literally shows you how to raise yourself from the ground up. Purvottanasana aligns with the Solar Plexus as it symbolizes the act of supporting yourself through anything life throws at you.
The Reverse Plank Pose can be performed by pressing your hands and feet into the floor, making sure your fingertips are pointing towards the back of your heel. From here, you’ll begin lifting your hips into a sort of reverse table top position with your core and thighs relatively parallel to the floor. Your arms and shins should be approximately perpendicular to each other.
From first glance, it is clear that this pose got its name from its uncanny resemblance to an archer’s bow with the torso and legs representing the body of the bow, and the arms making the string.
The Bow Pose stimulates energy and blood flow to many different organs, but most importantly the liver, which is a key organ in digestion. This makes this pose excellent for Manipura as the Solar Plexus is closely associated with digestion and excretion.
Below the step-by-step instructions for executing this pose:
Balasana is an ideal recovery pose that is encountered in just about every yoga class. In this position, the body is able to release in a well balanced, rounded position allowing for the mind and nervous system to slow down.
Child’s Pose is soothing for the Solar Plexus Chakra when combined with other poses that are deemed to challenge you and require a great deal of strength and concentration.
This pose can be done in the following steps:
There are several variations of this pose, and modifications are even welcomed/encouraged if you find yourself needing it!
The Revolved Triangle Pose is another example of a great position for balancing the Solar Plexus Chakra! It stretches the outside of the hips while simultaneously strengthening and lengthening the back, shoulders, and neck.
This is an empowering pose that makes you feel strong and confident when you may just be feeling anything but.
Parivrtta Trikonasana can be performed by standing with feet spread out in a wide stance while raising your arms at the sides to about shoulder height. From here, you can point your right foot outward and begin reaching down to your ankle with your left arm while turning your torso so that you are looking up at the sky. Your right arm should be following your gaze with the palm turned outward. This pose can be reversed to be repeated on the other side.
Navasana is a yoga pose that really requires you to engage your core to hold yourself in balance and keep you rooted down into the earth through your seat bones. This pose tones the abdominal muscles, which is a key part of the solar plexus chakra. This means that when we practice this boat pose, we are activating the energy from this chakra.
Boat Pose can be performed in these steps:
Like most poses, modification and variations are out there if needed!
Connecting with your Solar Plexus Chakra is a great way to feel strong and confident. Whip these yoga poses out whenever you feel necessary -- you simply can help but feel empowered!
