Balancing the Solar Plexus Chakra

What is the Solar Plexus Chakra?

The solar plexus chakra, also known as manipura, is the third of the body’s energy centers. (Check out this post for info on the first chakra and how to balance it.) When it’s balanced, we feel confident and powerful. We are driven and work passionately toward our goals in life. We also have a strong sense of self-worth and self-esteem.

This chakra is located within the upper abdomen and is represented by the color yellow. The energy it brings leads to it being associated with fire. The solar plexus chakra is also linked to the digestive system.

How to Tell if Your Solar Plexus Chakra is Unbalanced

If you’re not sure if your solar plexus chakra is balanced, try asking yourself these questions:

Do I dislike myself?
Do I struggle with finding the willpower to follow through with the things I need to do?
Am I afraid of competition?
Am I too competitive?
Do I enjoy my work?
Do I struggle to feel like I’m good enough?
Do I have a hard time getting things done?
Do I get angry often?
Am I too stubborn for my own good?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your solar plexus chakra might be unbalanced.

An unbalanced solar plexus chakra has also been associated with certain health conditions, such as digestive problems, ulcers, eating disorders, liver issues, adrenal dysfunction, and diabetes. It can also make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.

How do I fix it?

If you’ve read this far and decided that you seem to be in pretty good shape, that’s great! Consider reading the rest of this article anyway for tips on staying in balance.

However, if you’re relating to this article a little too much and think you might have an unbalanced chakra, don’t fret! A few small lifestyle changes are enough to bring you into balance again.

Diet

Due to the association with both eating disorders and diabetes, you should consult a doctor before making any dietary changes to support this chakra. You don’t have to do anything drastic though. This diet doesn’t involve cutting out carbs or counting calories. Instead, this change is so simple that it almost sounds a little silly.

Are you ready?

The solar plexus chakra is represented by the color yellow, so to balance it, you need to consume more yellow foods. This includes lemons, bananas, grains, corn, yellow legumes, yellow pears, yellow peppers, golden apples, squash, rice, and oats. You’ll also want to consume probiotics to support the digestive system. Good sources of these include fermented foods, such as sauerkraut and kimchi, yogurt, miso, and kombucha. Warming spices, such as cinnamon, ginger, coriander, black pepper, turmeric, and cumin, can also help stoke the digestive fire and balance this chakra.

Exercise

While I personally enjoy high-intensity forms of exercise, the best form of exercise for balancing chakras is yoga. For the solar plexus chakra specifically, you’ll want to focus on poses that generate heat and engage the core. Try incorporating some of the following into your practice:

If you don’t currently have a practice, you might consider taking an online class. I’m also currently working on a series of yoga flows to balance the entire chakra system, so check back soon for the solar plexus chakra flow.

Affirmations

Affirmations are great for healing all sorts of issues whether they are physical, mental, or spiritual. You can use them as a focus during meditation or yoga. Writing them in a gratitude journal also works well. For confidence and passion, try one of these: