Chakra of the Month - February - Solar Plexus Chakra - Manipura

 

The Chakra for the month of March is the Solar Plexus Chakra, also known as the Manipura Chakra. This Chakra is located in the front of the abdomen and is associated with the color yellow, the element of fire, our self-esteem, the center of our willpower, our choices in life, and the core of our personality. Also referred to as the Third Chakra it is the driving force for life experience and of our identity.

Pictured with ten petals, this Chakra carries the seed-sound RAM. If this Chakra is imbalanced, you may experience emotional outbursts, or the opposite where your reactions are passive or inactive, you may feel stressed or anxious, you might lack physical motivation, and experience digestive issues. This month we will offer different modalities and every day treatments on how to keep this Chakra balanced and its energy wheel spinning!

The Solar Plexus Chakra’s energy is characterized by your strength, your self discipline, your confidence, your personal power, and ultimately your identity. This is the Chakra responsible for transforming your inertia into action and movement, it allows you to meet and conquer life challenges, and it is the core of your personality. The Solar Plexus Chakra feeds one’s direction in life. It embodies your potential and ability to transform thought into action and enables you let your authenticity flourish. The Solar Plexus Chakra gives you the ability to overcome fear, master your thoughts, and empowers you to create the life you want. This Chakra is identified with the color yellow, which is a color that represents energy, heat and life. The Solar Plexus Chakra’s motto is I am my own authentic power.

The Solar Plexus Chakra, also known as the Manipura Chakra, is located just above the naval and is associated with the stomach, the digestive system, the large intestine, and the adrenal gland. Keeping your Solar Plexus Chakra balanced and unblocked will help to keep energy flowing through these vital organs. A physical practice that focuses on the Solar Plexus Chakra can assist in keeping it balanced. When you feel lethargic, confused, weak, embarrassed, angry, or emotional, balanced movement can help to reconnect your body, mind and spirit. Because the Solar Plexus Chakra is located in front of the stomach, balanced movement mostly involves the hips, legs, spine, and stomach, so therefore, taking a walk or a run, straightening your posture, or meditating can all help to keep the Solar Plexus Chakra balanced. Here is a more detailed list of physical practices to help balance your energies:

Practicing balanced, strong yoga poses such as Virabhadrasana I and II (Warrior I and II poses), Navasana (Boat Pose), and of course, Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) help to ignite the fire at the Solar Plexus Chakra. Especially Sun Salutations as saluting the sun directly correlates to the fire within this Chakra. Focusing on the stomach and the abdominals during these poses will help you to attract more abundance, more love, more good health, and more happiness in your life.

This method not only improves flexibility but stability as well, as it focuses on strengthening the torso-stabilizing muscles of the abdomen and the back. Many movements focus on balance and stability.  Pilates will not only help you to connect with your inner fire, but strengthen your core muscles. This method is highly recommended for core and strength conditioning.

This method of treatment is based on unblocking and influencing the body by pricking the skin or tissue with needles to alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental and emotional conditions.

Shake those hips, find your rhythm to the music, and move with grace and balance. What a wonderful way to ignite the fire within your core while expressing your true self.

The Solar Plexus Chakra is associated with our self-esteem, our self-worth, our authentic self, and the driving force behind our identity. Opening your Solar Plexus Chakra allows you to feel the world around you and the fire within you. When this Chakra is balanced, you are in control of your thoughts and emotional responses, your will and drive is focused, and you are at peace with yourself. The term mudra applies to the use of hand gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow. Using a specific mudra during meditation for example, can help to unblock and keep your Solar Plexus Chakra balanced.

Here is a popular mudra you can use while meditating on the Solar Plexus Chakra:

Surya Mudra (Window of Wisdom) is performed by bringing the tip of the thumb to the knuckle of the ring finger keeping the other three fingers stretched but relaxed. The intention of this mudra is to increase the fire element in the body. This mudra represents energy and brings positive change. The gesture improves the metabolism and digestion, leaving the body with a balanced feeling as it reduces heaviness and boosts immunity.

The Chakra for the month of March is the Solar Plexus Chakra, also known as the Manipura Chakra. This Chakra is located in front of the stomach and is associated with the color yellow. Also referred to as the Third Chakra, it is connected to ten major meridians carrying life energies/prana throughout the body. Pictured with ten petals, this Chakra carries the seed-sound RAM. If this Chakra is imbalanced, you may experience emotional outbursts, or the opposite where your reactions are passive or inactive, you may feel stressed or anxious, you might lack physical motivation, and experience digestive issues. Focus on the Solar Plexus Chakra while using the mantra RAM can unblock and rebalance this Chakra, and keep energy flowing through the body. The meaning behind the word mantra can be broken down into two parts, ‘man’ means the mind and ‘tra’ means to transport. In other words, a mantra is an instrument of the mind – a powerful sound or vibration that can be used to enter a deeper state of meditation. The mantra RAM is believed to be the sound form of the Hindu deity, Ramayana Ram who’s inner fire burns away all physical, mental and spiritual impurities. Chanting mantras during meditation can bring on a healing sound vibration. Sound Healing Therapy is thought to clear the subtle energy pathways in the body in order to create a positive change. Chanting the mantra ‘RAM’ during meditation while focusing on the Solar Plexus Chakra can help to balance and unblock this Chakra.

 

The Solar Plexus Chakra is located in front of the abdomen and regulates/stabilizes the digestive system, the large intestine, and the adrenal gland. Fire is this Chakras element. When your Solar Plexus Chakra is balanced, you feel strong, assertive, in control, and at peace. Balance also allows you to enjoy life, embrace your true identity and know your self-worth. Imbalance can manifest in lack of motivation, low self-esteem, emotional outbursts, anger, and digestive issues. Incorporating garden therapy and herbs into your diet help to keep the Solar Plexus Chakra in balance. Here is a list of health enhancing herbs to help keep this Chakra balanced and unblocked:

 

Ginger is empowering and strengthening and will connect you to your personal will power, giving you the courage and vitality to accomplish what you set out to do.

 

Marshmallow Root softens the diaphragm letting you confidently surrender to the flow of life.

 

Dried Pineapple has a sweet, sun-filled flavor that fires up your personal will to follow your life’s desires.

 

Lemon Balm is not only yellow, like the color associated with the Solar Plexus Chakra, but eases stress and anxiety.

 

Milk Thistle is a wonderful natural treatment for digestive issues.

 

Turmeric is also yellow and is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.  

 

The Manipura Chakra or Solar Plexus Chakra is symbolized with ten petals and the color associated with this Chakra is yellow. It is located in the front of the stomach and its element is fire. When this Chakra is imbalanced or blocked, using essential oils can help to release any negative energies that may be causing the blockage. Essential oils can be used as applications and some can also be ingested. Here are a few essential oils that can help to rebalance the Solar Plexus Chakra:

Clary Sage – this warm, musky and slightly spicy oil is both strengthening and relaxing. It is known for its emotionally uplifting effect and as its name implies, it promotes clarity.

Lemongrass – is not only yellow but helps to reduce swelling and fever and relieves digestive pain.

Coriander – helps to regulate and balance the digestive system.

Cedar Wood – this soft, woody and earthy oil helps to reunite the spirit with the senses.

Fennel – according to Ayurvedic studies, fennel is said to balance all three Trodosha (Vata, Pita and Kapha). It has a cooling effect that can help to relieve heat which can benefit an over activated Solar Plexus Chakra. 

 

The Solar Plexus Chakra is the power energy source located above the naval in front of your stomach. The Sanskrit name for this Chakra is Manipura which means ‘Shining Jewel.’ Certain crystals will vibrate with the Solar Plexus Chakra and help to keep it balanced. Incorporating crystals into your daily life can assist you with emotional and physical obstacles. Crystals that can be used for assistance in balancing your Manipura Chakra are Citrine, Golden Yellow Labradorite, Amber, Peridot, Tiger’s Eye, Lemon Quartz, Yellow Jasper, and Yellow Tourmaline.

 

Yellow foods help to balance the Solar Plexus Chakra: lemons, pineapples, yellow peppers, corn, bananas, chickpeas, honey, mustard, zucchini, and curries. Whole grains such as oats, rice and rye also work well to balance this chakra. Nuts and seeds such as flax, almonds, walnuts, and sesame aid in cardiovascular health and reduce inflammation. Lemon and ginger tea is a wonderful drink to help balance this Chakra.

Below is a fantastic and quick pickled zucchini recipe:

2 large zucchini, cut lengthways 2mm thick

1 small red onion, very finely sliced

1 tablespoon sea salt

1 tablespoon mustard seeds

2 cups apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon granulated stevia

2 teaspoons freshly grated turmeric

Place zucchini and onion in a colander set over a large bowl and toss with salt. Sit for 1 hour. Lightly crush the mustard seeds then add to small saucepan with vinegar, stevia and turmeric over a medium/high heat. Stir continuously and bring to a boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool at room temperature. Pat zucchini and onion dry, then place into a mason jar with a tight seal. Pour cooled pickling liquid into the jar and seal. Refrigerate overnight.