The Chakra Series: Manipura (Solar Plexus)

Where it is: Lumbar Spine, Digestive System, Pancreas

Colour: Yellow

Element: Fire

Mantra: Ram

Qualities: Sense of Self, Will, Ego Centre, Gut Instinct, The Sense of “I”, Enthusiasm, Digestion

This is the third chakra. It is located around the lumbar spine, digestive system, and, specifically, the pancreas. The manipura chakra is the seat of the “self”, the ego, will power, and the place where we digest and integrate knowledge and nutrients. When we have a balanced sense of self, a healthy ego, enthusiasm for life, and when we feel both content in the things we know and don’t know, it indicates a balanced manipura chakra.

Physically, this chakra is associated with our digestive system and the production of food into energy; hence, the fire-y, energetic qualities of this chakra. The organs of digestion are the basic physical parts of this chakra. Specifically, the pancreas is linked to the manipura. The function of the pancreas is to convert food into energy, integrating what we put into our bodies as something useful. Likewise, one aspect of the solar plexus region is to integrate knowledge.

Emotionally, a person can find balance with their manipura chakra by having a balanced sense of self. An off-balance sense of self would be reflected in either an inflated ego or self-consciousness. Feeling confident in who you are as an ego, but also being humble, nourishes the manipura chakra.

Additionally, integration of the external world is a large aspect of this chakra. This comes from both food and knowledge. If you think about how it feels to overeat or to under eat, you know it’s not a good feeling. Offering enough food for your body to digest, but not flooding your system is how you can take care of digestion. In the same way we digest food, we need time and patience to digest information. Being content in what you already know, and not being hard on yourself for what you don’t know is how you can healthily digest and integrate information. When you can allow yourself to be enthusiastic about things you don’t know yet, and enjoy the learning process, you can find balance in your solar plexus.

A balanced Manipura chakra will have these qualities: Strong Sense of Self, Courage to Trust Intuition, Courage to be Spontaneous, Solid in Personal Morals and Ethics

An unbalanced Manipura chakra will have these qualities: Taking In More Than The Body Or Mind Can Assimilate, Low Self-Esteem, Overly Critical of Self, Fear of Rejection, Fear of Abandonment, Powerless, Victimised, Apathy, Repression

Ways to connect with and balance your Manipura chakra:

Yoga Practice: Kapalabhati Breath, Uddiyana Bandha, Bow Pose, Plank, Reverse Triangle, Warrior III, Ardha Matsyendrasana

Affirmations: I value who I am and what I represent. I am motivated in all I do and feel confident in my decisions. I am enthusiastic about what I know and what I don’t know, and I take my time to learn. I listen to my instincts. I treat myself and others fairly.