Solar Plexus Chakra

New age Ideas

Manipura means City of Jewels or lustrous gem of the city

The Bija mantra is RAM pronounced RANG.

The element is fire.

The colour of Manipura chakra is yellow, a vibrant and energetic color, reflecting fiery energy. Manipura is our furnace that provides energy for transformation and manifestation.
It has changed from dark blue of classical tantra to yellow, perhaps because yellow is the colour of the sun and fire.

The animal symbol is the ram which symbolizes strength and courage.

Manipura is a lotus with 10 petals.

Manipura is associated with personal power, self-esteem, willpower, and the ability to take action.

Location

It has also changed position from the navel to the solar plexus, just below the rib cage, behind the stomach. The solar plexus, or celiac plexus is complex system of radiating nerves that is part of the sympathetic nervous system, regulating our fight and flight respose. It plays an important role in the functioning of the stomach, kidneys, liver, and adrenal glands. As the physical solar/celiac plexus is a verifiable network of nerves, and Manipura chakra is an energetic concept, I suggest it has moved from the navel to a spot that aligns with the hormonal system and the ideas of the Theosophical society.

Traits of Manipura

The solar plexus chakra is the home of our personal identity.

The energy center that houses the power of the sun to ignite us to fulfill our potential. It gives us courage, personal power, discipline, strength, patience and perseverance to walk confidently in the direction of your dreams and fulfill your purpose in life.

When you cultivate Manipura Chakra, you realize that you have inherent value, that doesn’t depend on external sources of happiness, such as money or your job. You develop your own self worth.

Some emotions associated with this energy center are

• Excitement,
• Happiness,
• Depression,
• Willpower
• Assertiveness
• Discipline
• Self-confidence
• Aggression
• Anger

Short temper is associated with overactive Solar Plexus Chakra while low confidence is because of Under active Solar Plexus. New age ideas encourage balancing of the chakras to balance positive and negative emotions.

New age religion leaves out the ideology of the Hindu gods because western society does not have the connection that the Hindus have with their pantheon of gods.

EXPLORING MANIPURA IN YOUR PRACTICE

Through core awareness, twists, and gentle back-bends in our yoga practice we can build heat and generate energy in this area – stimulating the organs, glands and nerve endings, and balancing the energy of the 3rd chakra.

A yoga sequence for Manipura

Start your practice lying on your back and placing your hands between your lower ribs and your naval. Breath into this area and feel the rise and fall of the breath in the belly.

• Begin with arch and flatten on your back. 
• Twists with knees side to side                          
• Ab exercises   
• Cat cow                                                                   
• down face dog: thread opposite leg under body    
• cobra sequence    
• lunges with twists                                                    
• Salute to the sun x 3                                                
• Forward fold with block with opposite arm reaching up into a twist          
• Chair x 3
• Chair with a twist
• Revolved triangle    
• Eagle Pose
• Garland pose with twist
• Crow pose
• Boat pose
• Matsyandrasana   
• Reclined abdominal twist
• Savasana    
•  Check in with your solar plexus region throughout your practice and feel into the heat and energy move through the area.