Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura
The center of Power and Will.
The fire within you burns through all the blocks and fears.
This is where the “fire in your belly” term derives from.
When balanced, it brings confidence, energy, and identity. Healthy flow allows you to control your destiny, feel your power and accomplish your dreams.
On the other hand, an overbearing solar plexus chakra (one not in balance with the other chakras in your system or one where your energy is solely focused) can result in obsessive-compulsive control.
You can do whatever you want to do.
So go forth and control your destiny and happiness – you deserve it!
When the Solar Plexus Chakra is Blocked
Your confidence may be shaky if there’s a blockage around the Solar Plexus Chakra.
If only a minor backup exists, there may only be insecurity in one area.
However, a more extensive blockage can cause generalized self-esteem problems.
For example, you might be haunted by thoughts that you are not good enough.
Or, you may feel unable to draw valuable lessons from life’s challenges.
When the Solar Plexus Chakra is unbalanced, you can suffer from low self-esteem, have difficulty making decisions, and may have anger or control issues.
Physical difficulties associated with a blocked Solar Plexus Chakra may include tummy aches, such as digestive issues or gas, and troubles with memory.
It’s not just feeling bad about yourself, but it also may lead you to express apathy and procrastination outwardly or that you can be taken advantage of quickly.
Some of the most common Sacral Chakra problems and symptoms include the items on this list:
- Boredom
- Feeling easily offended
- Lack of creative inspiration
- Fear of change
- Guilt about the past
- Low self-worth
- Jealousy
- Addictive behaviors (including the unhealthy use of drugs or alcohol, but also extending to excessive spending, sexual compulsions, gambling problems, and overeating).
Physical manifestations of a troubled Sacral Chakra include the following:
- Low energy
- Reduced
- libido
- Bladder discomfort
- Worsened allergy symptoms
Balancing the Solar Plexus Chakra
Healing the solar plexus requires honesty about all the parts of yourself you want to change.
Worthiness is not possible without bold self-acceptance.
Here are ways to balance your Solar Plexus Chakra.
Physical:
- Bring on the core work.
- Yeah, there's a reason core work is so tricky!
- You burn through some of your self-limiting beliefs whenever you do crunches or bicycle curls.
- So set yourself up in a forearm plank, engage your core muscles, and hold it longer than you think you can.
- Set a timer for 90 seconds, but when the timer goes off, stay in the pose.
- Whenever you think it's impossible to keep going, keep going!
- Aim for three minutes and build up to seven.
Mental:
- Make friends with your inner critic.
- Make a list of all the ways you judge yourself.
- Include everything about yourself you don't like and the typical circumstances where you judge yourself harshly.
- Then, close your eyes and visualize yourself as a teenager.
- Silently tell your teen self that they are perfect as they are.
- Go through each item on the list and silently tell your teen self that all of these qualities are welcome.
- Thank your inner critic for protecting you all these years, then acknowledge that you no longer need that protection.
Emotional:
- Try this mirror-gazing exercise.
- Stand in front of the mirror, look yourself in the eyes, and say the following words to yourself out loud over and over, getting louder each time:
- I AM enough.
- I AM worthy.
- I AM capable.
- I AM powerful.
- The louder you raise your voice, the more uncomfortable the exercise becomes.
- Don't let the discomfort stop you.
- Keep raising your voice until you scream at yourself in the mirror.
Spiritual:
- Practice the breath of fire.
- Breath of Fire is a kundalini yoga practice powered by the solar plexus.
- It is a rapid, continuous breath through the nostrils with the mouth closed.
- The inhale and exhale are equal in length, with no pause between them (approximately two to three cycles per second).
- Start by sitting tall, lengthening the space between your navel and your heart.
- Then, powerfully expel air through your nose on the exhale by pulling the navel point back toward the spine.
- On the inhale, allow the upper abdominal muscles to relax, the diaphragm to extend down, and the breath to flow in effortlessly.
- Start with three minutes and work up to seven.
Solar Plexus Chakra Advice
Trusting your *gut knowings*, cycling, hiking, sports, leadership roles, photography, trying new things, solitude, feeling connected to a more profound purpose/spirit, oneness.How to Open the Navel Chakra
- Put your hands before your stomach, slightly below your solar plexus.
- Let the fingers join at the tops, all pointing away from you.
- Cross the thumbs. It is vital to straighten the fingers.
- Concentrate on the Navel chakra located on the spine, a bit above the navel level.
- Chant the sound RAM.