Published 16 September 2024
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Written by The Hormona Team
Reviewed by Anna Chacon
Fact checking standards
Key takeaways
Otherwise known as Manipura, the third chakra in yoga philosophy is the solar plexus chakra. It’s located at the stomach, your navel to be precise and the energy that flows through controls your confidence. Here, you will experience all forms of self-confidence and lack of, including willpower, self-esteem and the ability to find peace in yourself.
The Manipura controls your thoughts, your responses emotionally to things – how many times have you felt butterflies in your stomach or a gut-feeling about something? That’s the Manipura doing its work. The symbolic colour is yellow, meaning stones such as amber and citrine make for effective healing stones.
Focus on the Solar Plexus Chakra
When the third chakra gets blocked, or there is an imbalance in the Manipura, you’ll experience excessive energy or acute lack of energy. If you’re noticing an unnecessary urge to be competitive or discontent with what you already have, this could also be a symptom. Focus on your solar plexus to regain control of yourself: your choices are yours to make.
Solar Plexus Chakra Blocks
When anxiety grips, it grips the whole body, causing ripples throughout your system. That anxious energy will also manifest itself into the Manipura. Weight fluctuations and insecurity and fear will also gather there as a block. Once you know it’s there, you’ll be able to fight it.
Weak core strength can also be the cause for the blockage of this chakra, as can digestive problems and dietary issues.
Healing the Solar Plexus
If you’ve ever heard of the phrase ”fire in the belly” to mean determination and grit, that’s referring to the strength of the Manipura. It’s associated with the sun and fire, hence the yellow colour, so simply bathing in the sun (safely) can expose you to healing power. Soaking in the vitamins with morning sun salutations will heal this chakra. Not only will it focus on core strength, but that all important morning sun intake too.
Aromatherapy is a useful practice to incorporate into your meditation. Take a couple of drops of orange citrus oil on the palm of your right hand. Then pat it into your left hand and open them out in prayer. This way, the essential oil will soothe and support your meditation. Repeat these affirmations to open up your solar plexus:
I am strong, I am powerful, I am confident.
I fully accept myself and I am proud of who I am.
Yoga Poses
Yoga is the best answer when it comes to healing your Manipura. So many yoga asanas focus on the core in some way or another. Do a course of sun salutations outside (weather permitting) to open yourself up to the fire and sun. Warrior pose and boat pose are both excellent ways to test and strengthen your core.
Remember with core strength that endurance counts over everything else. Even if it feels like you aren’t doing much, building up strength each time will count for more than just going into short and irregular bursts of core exercise.
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Written by
The Hormona Team
Reviewed by
Anna Chacon
Reviewed by
Dr Singh is the Medical Director of the Indiana Sleep Center. His research and clinical practice focuses on the myriad of sleep.
