The chakra system is an intricate and very extensive network that is intimately connected with your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Gaining an understanding of how each induvial chakra functions and how it interconnects can enhance your ability to respond to life experiences with conscious awareness, rather than acting on autopilot.
You can envision the seven leading energy portals known as chakras like spiral vortex's within the body beginning at the base of your spine extending upwards just above your head. In this article we are going to over how to heal the solar plexus chakra located at the T5-T9 location of the spine.
What is the Solar Plexus Chakra
The solar plexus chakra, also known as the manipura chakra is found above the navel and below the chest. It's yellow, and you can think of this chakra like a furnace of your personal power and home to authenticity and sense of self. This is because it is associated with the element of fire and and 'samana' prana, a type of vital energy.
What is the Solar Plexus Chakra Responsible For
The solar plexus chakra is responsible for confidence, self-motivation, and a clear sense of purpose. It is said that the soul purpose of he solar plexus chakra is to identify and develop self-worth, self-empowerment, and purpose for yourself. So, by focusing on these three attributes, it can help explore your meaning and purpose of life.
When the Manipura Chakra is balanced, it manifests as a strong sense of confidence, self-motivation, and a clear sense of purpose. However, exposure to negative energies can disrupt this balance, leading to issues such as low self-esteem and problems with control and assertiveness.
What Causes Solar Plexus Chakra Imbalances
Solar Plexus chakra imbalances come from different types of environmental factors. Depending on what you are exposed to or engaged in your day to day activity, everyone's emotional state in the solar plexus chakra can vary. However, there are general feels that are observed as an imbalance or possibly overactive.
Just like anything you read online, as you go through this list and something sticks out to you, ask yourself if it is too little or too much of something to do a self assessment and really find out what resonates with you and what doesn't. Because whether you doing a self assessment for this chakra or any other, the center can be overactive (too much) or underactive (too little).
Emotional and Mental Signs of Solar Plexus Imbalance
- Self-centeredness
- No sense of identity
- Powerless
- Need to take care of others
- Taking in more than one can assimilate and utilize
- Too much emphasis on power and recognition
- Anger and Fear
- Feeling of hatred
- Insecurity and low self esteem
- Rigid and controlling behavior
- Unhealthy attachments to people in your life
- Rigid and controlling behavior
- Self-victimizing mentality
- Lack of motivation and direction
- Have a hard time setting boundaries
Physical Symptoms of Solar Plexus Imbalance
- Digestive problems
- Eating disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Excessive weight gain
- Ulcers
- Diabetes
- Issues with the pancreas, liver, and colon
- Heartburn
- Sensitive or bleeding gums
How to Heal the Solar Plexus Chakra
When you have a balanced and figure out how to heal the solar plexus chakra, it can take time for long term layers, though you can have instant results. Keeping in mind that one thing may work for you, but other thing may not work for another so it's important to read through all the way until the end to see what fits your personality.
Ultimately, with a balanced solar plexus chakra you want to gain a sense of personal identity, empowered to take action on your goals and dreams, have good digestion and a healthy metabolism. Trust me when I say having control over your emotions is a healthy way to heal your solar plexus chakra.
Be Aware of Your Will Power
Throughout life, you will inevitably encounter various challenging and unpleasant situations. These experiences, particularly through the lens of the solar plexus or the Manipura Chakra, can often evoke feelings of victimization and powerlessness.
Though, recognizing and embracing these feelings is crucial as they help you connect with your inner needs, becoming the catalyst for activating your will.
You can think of your will as the amalgamation of your mind, actions, and the conscious direction of your desires. It is dynamic and ever-changing, serving as the primary tool through which you shape your future through.
So, through having healthy solar plexus chakra involves a shift in perspective moving away from seeing yourself (or playing) as a victim and embracing the role of the creator of your own reality.
When you start to view each challenge as an opportunity to unlock your highest potential and fulfill your desires, you tap into the true power of the solar plexus. This perspective shift is fundamental in awakening your strengths and harnessing your personal power to its fullest extent.
How to Determine if You are Giving Your Will to Some One Else
Materials needed:
- Journal/Paper
- Pen
How to Perform Activity:
In your mind, think of the very last time someone asked you to do something and before even saying yes to doing the activity, you already instinctually knew you would have preferred to do something else, or not helped at all and gave your attention away that you could have used for self-care or another task.
Example: your sibling asked you if you would like to go out for a walk in the morning on your day off. Though, after looking at your calendar you realized you had breakfast scheduled with a friend that would conflict in time. You would feel bad saying no to your sister, so instead, you asked your friend if you could me about an hour after you originally had planned.
If this scenario to determine where you will power is you can ask these questions to self assess where your will is within the action.
- Am I doing this to please?
- Am I scared of consequences?
- Am I out of touch with myself?
- How can I address these issues?
Once you determine where your will is, it is easy to decide on who your will is serving.
- Did I do this to be liked by everyone?
- Am I trying to look good or keep peace?
- Am I avoiding responsibility?
- Am I trying to remain invisible?
- Is pleasing lowering my self-esteem?
When you are completed with the self assessment:
Review your answers and see where you can add in a little change for the future.
The goal here is to become aware and empower yourself to choose where your will is and who it is serving. When you begin to harmonize with your will with communication and trust you become empowered with a new vibration that will make your aura and frequency just a little more brighter starting to feel it from the inside out.
Boost Your Self Esteem when You Feel Powerless
Understanding Self Esteem
Self-esteem plays a crucial role in how you perceive and interact with the world. It is intricately linked to elements like willpower, vitality, and self-discipline.
When your self-esteem is high, you will that it manifests as confidence, assertiveness, proactivity, discipline, and a zest for life. On the flip side, low self-esteem is characterized by doubt, blame, and a loss of personal identity. Have you experienced this or can relate?
Understanding the Feeling of Powerlessness
When you experience feeling of powerless, it can be described as a sense of lacking strength, power, or ability. These states of being often stem from ignorance about how to respond effectively and positively to situations. It can also be due to a lack of self-awareness.
So, as you gain awareness, you increase your understanding of what feeling powerless is, even as it is happening in the present moments. As you grow in awareness, it fosters personal growth and the expansion of personal power. Thus, knowledge, especially self-knowledge, becomes a key factor in reclaiming and enhancing your sense of power and self-esteem.
Finding the Balance and Right Technique to Heal the Solar Plexus Chakra
Whether feeling powerless, low self esteem, or even low energy, you want to bring more fire element to the solar plexus and what better way that to do a quick and easy breathing technique that may just change your life. Stick with it because it because practicing the breath of fire yoga technique, known as 'Kapalabhati Pranayama' in traditional yogic practices, is primarily aimed at detoxifying the body.
This powerful breathing exercise focuses on expelling toxins and unwanted chemicals from the body's cells. However, its benefits extend far beyond detoxification.
Key health benefits of the Breath of Fire include:
- Expanded Lung Capacity: This practice significantly increases lung capacity by activating the deepest parts of the lungs, which are typically underutilized in regular breathing patterns.
- Strengthened Vitality and Nervous System: Regular practice of the Breath of Fire not only enhances your vital strength but also fortifies the nervous system, contributing to overall physical and mental resilience.
While the Breath of Fire yoga technique offers numerous benefits, it's important to note that it may not be suitable for everyone. Certain individuals should avoid this breathing practice due to potential health risks. These include:
- Pregnant Individuals and women mensurating: Due to the intensity and nature of the Breath of Fire, it is not recommended for those who are pregnant or women who are on the first, second, third day of their moon phase.
- People with Respiratory Infections or Disorders: Since this technique involves vigorous breathing patterns, it can be challenging or harmful for individuals with respiratory issues or infections.
- Those with Heart Conditions: The rapid breathing involved in the Breath of Fire can exert additional stress on the heart, making it unsuitable for individuals with heart-related health concerns.
- Individuals with Spinal Disorders: The physical nature of this breathing exercise may exacerbate spinal conditions or disorders.
It's always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional or a qualified yoga instructor before beginning any new exercise, especially if you have existing health concerns or conditions.
These benefits make the Breath of Fire a valuable practice for those seeking to improve their respiratory health, detoxify their body, and bolster their nervous system.
Breath of Fire
First, find your rhythm and then continue to the technique. If you pregnant or on your first, second of third day of your moon phase, please perform longer deeper focused breathing and not fast quick paced breathing.
Before you begin:
- Recognize your breath and start with long deep breathing to become aware of your abdominal and diaphragm muscles and your breathing mechanism.
- Make sure that as you inhale you tummy expands out, and on your exhale, your tummy deflates like a balloon.
- To help you, place one hand on your chest, and another hand on your belly. Feeling your chest expand up as your belly expands out, and your chest effortlessly move down as your belly deflates.
- Perform this a few times until you get the hang of it and feel ready to perform breath of fire.
Breath of Fire Technique
- Close your eyes
- Roll your eyes up and in gazing at the center of your forehead, the third eye
- Slightly lock your chin in, lengthening the spin
- Place your hands anywhere that feels comfortable for you. Like on your lap, thighs, knees, in a mudra, etc.
- Perform equal inhale and equal exhale out your nose with a rapid pace, pumping from the naval.
- Perform for 3 - 5 minutes
- To end, inhale deep, hold, gaze up and in to your third eye, squeeze your sex organs gently, squeeze everything, tongue at the roof of your mouth, and exhale after holding as long as you can.
Laughter
The last thing I want to mention is laughing. Which may seem so easy, right? But the reality is, not everyone finds a reason to laugh. So, the best friendship advice I could possible give is to not take things too seriously. Trust me, it can be super tough at times, but when you do, you lose touch with your power. Laugh through hard times because it gifts you the control control of any situation.
I learned this lesson a long time ago when I first got into practicing Reiki and I saw my RMT at the time for a session. And after that session, she told me, "expectations are premeditated disappointments".
Now, I can't remember where she said that phrase came from, but its something that I personally have been living with since 2013. And anytime I find myself in the thick of disappointment, anger or hurt, I generally ask myself if I put expectation to whatever outcome or event. Typically, the answer is yes for me.
Let me know your thoughts on this technique and phrase, too.
Distant Reiki for the Solar Plexus
Distant Reiki is a cutting edge approach that my be easy for you to engage whether you are going full in taking a meditation, sitting on your break at work, to play in the background to enhance your personal sacred practice.
Final Thoughts
By understanding and working with the chakras, you can significantly improve your mood, free your mind, and move closer to the best version of yourself. This journey involves tapping into the subtle energies of your body and learning to harmonize them, enhancing your overall well-being and personal growth. Because by the end of the day there are many ways to engage and know how to heal your solar plexus chakra when you are feeling out of balance. This is the very place for transformation and growth to happen.
About the Author
Hi! My name is Cassandra, but feel free to call me Cass. I consider myself lucky because I got to marry my best friend, I love cats, and journal every day. I am here to talk about all my favorite niches that I eat, live and breathe, passionately about between Reiki, Chakras, Meditation, Breathwork and Aromatherapy. Not to mention, I am certified in all categories and working with clients since 2012. I discovered the value of showing up for myself in some way every single day and these methods and information shouldn't be kept a secret anymore. I am ready to share this wealth of knowledge in the Aquarian age we live in today. The time is now to become the first rate version of YOU. Let's get you there together 💖
Oh wow! I wasn’t aware that chakras had something to do with one’s endocrine system. As you mentioned, the solar plexus chakra has an important part in our self-development and self-worthness, but how can we be able to determine how our chakras are developing themselves when we can’t connect with the specific aspect of what they’re supposed to be working with. For example, self-worth, how can one be able to feel that sensation?
Hi Stephanie!
I love this question! One… Because it makes me think. Haha!
There is a self-worth theory that states self-worth is determined mostly by our self-evaluated abilities and performance in one or more activities that we deem valuable.
It sounds so silly, but I wish I could honestly say that me telling someone that being a person and being alive is enough for self-worth, but at the end of the day only you know what is true to you. And no matter who you are, you must genuinely FEEL something inside you to believe it to be true. To add it to your story.
You decide what a life is. You decide what is worth remembering; you determine what you are going to do to earn and truly feel that feeling.
Because again, at the end of the day, what matters is how you feel about yourself when you are by yourself.
There are clues that people can tune into from day to day actions that can help determine is a low self-worth. These can include :
Continually wanting to please others, allowing others to treat you poorly, or have negative self-talk. Thinking you do not deserve much and neglect your own needs. Someone may feel lethargic or even stop striving for their dreams and goals. Someone may also measure their self-worth by outside influences.
No matter what the external, self-worth is a hard sensation to describe. What it feels like to me may be entirely different for you or to your best friend. Though, what I can advise is that the feeling will feel like a home sensation within. Everyone’s home is different, and that is what beautiful in this.
Feel free to reach out with any additional questions. I would love to hear about your journey and your success!
All the best,
Cass