What I’m Teaching…The Solar Plexus Chakra

The third chakra is the Solar Plexus or Manipura Chakra. Manipura means city of gems/jewels in sanskrit and represents personal illumination. It’s fitting that it is represented by the color yellow and fire. The solar plexus chakra is located at the navel and includes the ribs, adrenal glands, and digestive organs. A lack of balance in this chakra can lead to digestive problems, anxiety and fear.

“I Do” is the motto of the manipura chakra and this is a chakra of action. It encourages us to move forward, release what does not serve us and encompasses our desires, intentions, personal power, and identity. Essential oils used to cleanse and balance this chakra include saffron, sandalwood, ginger, and cinnamon. We selected the citrine as the crystal to represent the solar plexus chakra, as in increase personal empowerment and confidence. Burning a fiery incense would also help to balance this chakra.

As I was planning the sequence for this chakra, I focused on poses that help promote a strong core or use core muscles. We spent some time flowing from plank to downdog, really putting an emphasis on the core. Later, we ran a flow that prepared for locust and bow, finishing up with sphinx and a gentle crocodile pose.

I had not spent much time focusing on the this chakra in the past, so it was nice to learn more about the solar plexus chakra. Creating a flow that focused on the core, without being too challenging for a gentler class, was an adventure. We moved a little slower, taking each pose and flow in stride, remembering that “I Do.”