Is Your Solar Plexus Chakra Blocked? Everything you need to know about the Manipura Chakra

What is the Solar Plexus Chakra?

Manipura, or the solar plexus chakra, is the third chakra, located at the navel center. The chakras are energy centers or vortexes that swirl and shape our physical, mental, and emotional bodies.

The 7-chakras oscillate between balance, deficiency, and excess. The practices of yoga, pranayama, and mindfulness create equilibrium and peace within, known as Sattva in Sanskrit.

Manipura translates to a lustrous gem and is associated with the digestive organs, representing transformation in yoga. The solar plexus chakra is associated with the element of fire (Agni).

This chakra represents mastery over one’s personal power, their self-esteem, and life’s purpose.

When balanced, you have consistent and steady discipline, you are ambitious, confident, and have healthy self-esteem. Your internal flame burns bright and is not underpowered or feeling overwhelmed with burnout.

A deficient solar plexus chakra exhibits a lack of fire and tends to avoid challenges that could make one feel vulnerable. You play it safe and follow the rules. No risk-taking can lead to resentment and shame.

When in excess your fire burns too hot, your eternal flame is in overdrive, and eventually leads to burnout.

When your solar plexus is in an excessive state, you feel like you have to be constantly in action. This busyness boosts the ego and creates a false sense of power. You might show dominance through bullying or micromanaging others. Excess solar plexus energy leads to a state of ungrounded spirituality.

As you explore the Manipura chakra, remember you are enough, you did enough, and now you can rest.

Key Elements of the Solar Plexus Chakra:

• Color: Yellow
• Balanced: You are calm and in control. You are confident, but not in an egotistical way. You are assertive, but not aggressive. You speak honestly and with kindness.
• Unbalanced: Your ego is in overdrive. You feel like you need to control everyone around you.
• Sense: Sight
• Element: Fire 🔥
• Location: At the navel
• Essential oils: Juniper, geranium, rosemary
• Stones: Citrine, sapphire, emerald, yellow tourmaline
• Note/Frequency: E | 320 Hz
• Foods: Lemons, bananas, pineapple, corn, squash, turmeric, ginger

Meditation to Learn If Your Manipura Chakra is Balanced

Through personal exploration, you can discover if your solar plexus chakra is in rhythm with your life.

While it's natural to fluctuate from states of equilibrium to disequilibrium in day-to-day life, you can discover if your solar plexus chakra is in sync with your life through personal exploration.

Step 1: Take a moment to rest in a comfortable seated position.

Step 2: Close down the shades of your eyes or simply soften your gaze past the tip of your nose.

Step 3: Take a couple of mindful breaths, noting what it feels like to be still. As you rest here, check in with yourself. Check in with physical and mental sensations.

Step 4: Notice how much energy you have. What thoughts are coming up for you? Does it feel uncomfortable to sit for a moment, with nothing to do and nowhere to go?

Does your to-do list keep popping up in your mind? Does it feel like you have a million and one things better to do than sit here now?

Or do you feel like you need a nap....Yes....Naps...Are....*yawn*.....Wonderful.....Maybe if I could just lay down here and rest......💤😴

Step 5: Remain here for 5-10 minutes, exploring your energy levels and your thoughts.

Step 6: When you are ready, gently open your eyes and notice how you feel.

Step 7: You may choose to journal about the experience to deepen your personal exploration.

Affirmations to Balance the Solar Plexus Chakra

• “I live with abundant energy and vitality”
• ”My willpower is strong and unwavering”
• ”My inner fire burns brightly, guiding my path”
• ”I stand tall, radiate strength, and I am courageous”

Practices to Balance the Solar Plexus Chakra

YOGA

In the physical practice of yoga, you might explore poses that activate the core. These include boat pose, deep twists, and plank pose (shown above).

Flowing practices like Sun Salutations will help to ignite your internal flame (Agni), build resilience, promote confidence, and burn excess energy.

BREATHWORK

Sitali Pranayama: For excess Manipura or too much energy, try Sitali Pranayama, also known as AC (aka air conditioning) breath.

To practice: Find a comfortable seat and close your eyes. Curl your tongue and protrude it slightly past your lips.

Inhale through your tongue, noticing the cold air as it passes across the tongue and into your mouth. Exhale through your nose, keeping the tongue curled. Repeat by inhaling through the mouth and exhaling through the nose for 5-10 breaths.

You can practice Sitali Pranayama when you feel warm and need a quick cooldown.

Breath of Fire: If you lack energy, try Breath of Fire to ignite your flame. In the Kundalini yogic traditions, Breath of Fire, or Kapalabhati is a staple that helps activate the radiant body; works to balance the endocrine system; and boosts energy levels.

To practice: Find a comfortable seat and close your eyes. Direct your internal gaze towards the third eye, the space between the eyebrows, and the home of your intuition. Begin a quick and rapid inhale and exhale through the nose, while ensuring your breath is even.

Work towards adding a pumping action with the belly on the exhale, the inhale is passive.

Try to maintain this breathing practice for 1 minute and build to up to 5 minutes.

MEDITATION

Solar Plexus Chakra Meditation: Set a timer for 3 minutes. Come to a comfortable seat, with a long spine. Place both hands in Rudra Mudra: bring your ring fingers towards the palms and use the thumbs to hold the ring fingers in place.

Extend the arms out to the sides, parallel with the earth. Repeat the following mantra either out loud or internally: “I can, I will, I am.”

Continue to repeat the mantra with your arms outstretched for 2 minutes. When finished, rest with the hands on the lap for 1 minute.

Notice how you feel.