That gut instinct! Associated with the colour yellow, the solar plexus Chakra starts in the centre of the belly button and extends up to the breastbone or where your two sets of ribs connect in the centre of your chest.
The 3rd chakra is where your self-confidence, identity, and personal power are born. You know the feeling- when you just know a situation or decision doesn’t feel right for you? Where did you feel those cues in your body? Most people say they feel those types of cues in their “gut.” This one is our personal powerhouse, where we muster all that confidence and wisdom! When it’s balanced, you will feel wise, decisive, confident and powerful.
Think of this as your warrior chakra, like a wise warrior going into battle-they have the confidence to win and the wisdom to know the personal truth he is fighting for. (Think of Tom Cruise in the last Samurai but no blood and gore!) The kind of Chakra you want to rev up before a job interview hey?!
The solar plexus chakra becomes overactive when the power we have over our own lives extends into the lives of others. Examples could be- you may feel quick to anger, the need to control and micromanage, greediness or a lack of compassion or empathy.
On the flipside you can have an underactive 3rd chakra-When our personal power is taken away from us either by another person or through extenuating circumstances, we may be left with a lack of energy in our 3rd chakra. If this happens, you may feel indecisive, insecure, timid and needy.
IN A NUTSHELL: Physical signs of an issue: digestive issues, or imbalances with internal organs like the appendix, pancreas, liver, and kidneys. Overactive: Angry, callus, greedy, controlling. Underactive lacking confidence, timid, insecure.
To Balance an overactive 3rd chakra: Chill! Practice opening up your heart with love and compassion. Meditate on sending love and kindness from your heart to all those around you. Refocus the power you have and see yourself as a beacon of love!
To energize an under active 3rd chakra: To energize your Solar Plexus, think of the things that you know you’re good at. Make a list of your talents and abilities. Feel how the confidence in those talents makes your stomach tingle and vibrate.
Yoga we can do to stimulate:
Kaphalabhati, or Skull-Shining breath, fires up the solar plexus chakra. This breath happens from deep in your belly, builds heat and heightens awareness. Check out this video tutorial if you fancy giving it a go! My favourite yoga pose for this one is Navasana-Boat Pose, connecting and firing up those core muscles around the trunk of the body and lifting with the upper body. So many variations too!
Other info on The Solar Plexus Chakra:
Calming scents: Rose
Stimulating Scents: Bergamont, Ylang Ylang
Meridians: Stomach, Spleen, Liver, Gall bladder, Large and small intestines.