“Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.” – Michelle Obama
Weekly Focus: Manipura Chakra (solar plexus chakra)
Manipura Chakra is the third chakra and is a fiery center of transformation and personal confidence. This lustrous space can help us build determination, self-improvement, and personal strength when directed with care.
Manipura, located about three fingers above the navel, is also known as the “city of jewels,” as it is said to contain the inner fire of the body within this space. Manpiura is all about how we manage and deal with the world around us.
Fire is action and transformation. Manipura encourages us to grow and transform by letting go of what is no longer serving us, allowing a newer, shinier version of ourself to emerge and unfold. This space is also our powerhouse: our center of confidence, vitality, ego, strength, willpower, and determination. We call upon all of these resources on the journey towards are brightest and most lustrous Self!
This Chakra is a beautiful reminder that strength is not only of the physical body, busy also the subtle body. We can find strength in the way we manage and navigate through the world emotionally, the way we find our edges and create strong boundaries, and i the way we ask for support in challenging times.
Here is a simple practice in connecting with Manipura:
- Meditate on your inner fire — come to a comfortable seat. Bring awareness to your belly, and imagine a small flame burning in that space. With each inhale see the light grow brighter, warming your whole being from the center out.
- Burn away what is not serving you — imagine you have a small pile of sticks and kindling. Imagine writing on each stick, something you wish to let go of. Throw the stick into your inner fire and watch it burn away completely to ash. Repeat as many times as you need.
- Release and let go — once you have burned through all of your sticks, imagine a wind blowing away the ash, leaving behind a clear and free space for your fire to burn brightly.
Passive Pose of the Week: Ardha Virasana (half kneeling one leg fold)
Ardha Virasana helps to stoke and stimulate the space of manipura chakra by connecting to the belly.
- Begin sitting on the floor with the legs straight out in front of you.
- Bend your right knee so that you come into a half kneeling position.
- If this feels uncomfortable for the right knee, you might choose to sit up on a blanket or block, to reduce the flexion in the knee.
- Stay in the pose for 5 – 7 breaths before switching sides.
There are several ways to adapt this pose to your needs. You might choose to stay upright with the shoulders stacked over the hips for a more strong and powerful stance. Alternatively, maybe you fold forward over the straight leg in awe of your personal strength and fortitude. You may even be bold and recline back, perhaps leaning back onto a bolster or pillow, to let your inner fire shine out. Wherever you go, be confident enough in choosing the variation that you know will serve you.
Active Pose of the Week: Trikonasana (triangle)
A triangle sits at the center of the manipura lotus, represented here in Trikonasana or triangle pose. Together with svadisthana and muladhara chakras, these three chakras create the lower triangle of the body. Trikonasana is a big and bold pose requiring strength, stability and balance! Utilize your powerhouse to stay active in the pose.
- Begin in a standing Mountain pose (tadasana).
- Step your left foot back about 3 – 4 feet like Warrior 2 legs. Your left toes will point towards the long edge of the mat and your right toes will point forward to the top of your mat.
- Straighten both legs and stretch your arms our to shoulder height.
- Lean forward over the right leg for a big lateral bend. Imagine the sides of the body getting longer as you extend from the hips.
- When you can reach no further, rest your right hand on the thigh or shin of the right leg and stretch your left arm up to the ceiling.
- If it feels comfortable, you can turn your gaze to look up to the top hand.
- Hold for 3 – 5 breaths and switch sides.
Triangle pose is all about the side stretch, but sometimes we find ourselves cutting the side bend short in order to reach for the floor. If you aren’t feel a big opening in the sides of your body and your hip, try adding a block underneath of the bottom hand. Press your hand into the block and see if your can move your ribs further away from your hips each time you breathe. Rather than reaching down with the hands, try to reach away with the crown of the head. How does this change the pose for you?
Join us in class this week to practice building your courage and inner fire. See the full schedule HERE.
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