What is the Solar Plexus Chakra? How to awaken & connect with your Manipura energy

Yoga for Chakras Series 3 - Manipura (Solar Plexus) Chakra

Location – Situated in the upper abdomen, in the stomach area

Association – Stomach and digestion

Colour – Yellow

Element – Fire

Meaning – Personality, confidence, self-esteem, and motivation

Crystals – Yellow Jasper, Citrine, Gold Tiger Eye, Sunstone & Ametrine (all available on our website)

The third of our seven primary chakras, the Manipura (or solar plexus) chakra is associated with our personality and identity, motivation, confidence and self-esteem.

If you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘there’s a fire in your belly’ you’ll know about this chakra, and where it resides. Located above the navel, this chakra is linked with the stomach and digestion. When our Manipura energy is well balanced, we feel empowered, filled with purpose and free to live our most authentic selves.

Misalignment of this chakra can lead to feelings of insecurity or low self-esteem. An imbalance can cause some to take a victim mentality, or conversely have control issues. Physical symptoms may manifest through stomach and digestive complaints, including indigestion, heartburn, constipation or even diabetes.

To help ignite your inner energy, try using some of the following affirmations:

• I love and accept myself

• I honour my power within

• Everything I need, I have within

• I am strong and courageous

Visualise a yellow fire in the stomach, light yourself up and get your inner fire burning by incorporating a few of the below yoga poses into your practice. Awaken your Manipura chakra.

Yoga Poses

Navasana (Boat Pose)

From seated with your palms on the floor by your sides, bring a bend in your knees and bring the feet on to the floor. With the spine long and chest open, start to lean the torso backwards, engaging the core. Take the arms straight out in front of you, palms facing inwards.

Once balanced, you can take this pose further by lifting the feet off the floor, keeping a bend in the knees and bringing the calves parallel with the floor. Draw your thighs towards the torso and flex your feet to further engage the legs. Make sure you’re balanced and not leaning too far back on your bum.

Finally, to really challenge the core, you can straighten the legs out fully. You may feel the core really switched on here. Hold for several breaths before lowering the feet back down and coming out of the pose.

Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

Start lying on your front, with your arms down by your sides. Bend the knees and bring the heels of the feet towards the glutes, keeping the knees hip distance apart. Reach your hands back and take the ankles in your hands.

As you inhale, lift your feet up and away from the bum, as you do so, engage the legs and lift the thighs off the floor. As you raise your legs, lift and open the chest, taking the gaze forwards. Try not to tense the back - and remember to breathe!

Parsvottanasana (Pyramid Pose)

Starting in Tadasana (mountain pose), step one leg back behind you aligning the heels, and angle your back foot about forty-five degrees. Square the hips and make sure the torso is turned over the front leg, and the leg is straight.

Bring the hands onto the hips, and as you inhale length the torso and draw the shoulders away from the ears. As you exhale, hinge from the hips and begin to fold the torso over the front leg, keeping the spine long.

Release the hands down and place them on the floor, or on blocks if your hands don’t reach the floor.

Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Lord of the Fishes Pose)

Start seated with your legs out long in front of you, find your sit bones then bend the knees and bring the feet to the floor. Bring the left leg under the right, bringing the outside of the leg onto the floor and the left foot coming to the right side, by the hip. Cross the right foot over so that it comes to the outside of the left thigh.

Place the right hand on the floor to help with stability. Inhale and raise the left arm up, lengthening the torso. As you exhale turn towards the right. Bring the left arm down, bend at the elbow and take the upper arm to the outside of the right knee. Turn the head to the right so that the gaze goes behind the shoulder.

As you inhale, lift and lengthen the torso, and as you exhale find space to twist a little deeper. Hold for up to one minute then gently return to centre and repeat on the other side.

Balasana (Childs Pose)

From tabletop (all fours), take the knees wider than the hips, towards the edge of your mat. Bring the big toes together. Sit back onto the heels of your feet and as you exhale bring the torso down between your legs and towards the floor.

Slide your hands out along the floor, lengthening the arms out and then bring your forehead down so that it rests on the mat.

We hope you enjoyed our Chakra Series 3, please like and share, so others can benefit.

Have a beautiful day and Always Believe In Miracles.