In this article: Discover the best yoga poses for the Solar Plexus chakra and their benefits!
It’s time to unlock the potential of the solar plexus and reap its rewards! Known as Manipura in Sanskrit, your solar plexus is a powerhouse of energy.
It’s said to be the center for willpower, confidence, and mental agility – not to mention controlling your digestion.
To ensure it stays healthy and active, you can try yoga poses that are specifically aimed at keeping your solar plexus firing on all cylinders.
You’ll find strength both mentally and physically while discovering how this ultimately influences your well-being.
Read on to learn more about the third energy center and discover the ten best yoga poses for the solar plexus chakra.
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Table of Contents
Solar Plexus Chakra Characteristics
Color: Yellow
Element: Fire
Quality: Inner Power
Gland: Pancreas
Nerve Plexus: Coeliac Plexus
Body Parts: Digestive Organs, Stomach, Small Intestine, Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen
Physical Ailments: GI Issues, Food Allergies, Diabetes, Gallstones, Ulcers, Hepatitis, Liver Complaints
Signs of a Solar Plexus Chakra Imbalance
When your chakras are working too fast or too slow, this results in an imbalance, causing disruptive energy that can manifest both physically and mentally.
If you are experiencing signs of a solar plexus chakra imbalance, there are several things you can do to help restore balance and bring harmony back into your life.
One of the most effective strategies is to practice mindfulness and meditation on a regular basis.
This can help you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, giving you greater control over how you react in different situations.
Excessive Solar Plexus Chakra
If your solar plexus is spinning too fast, it creates an excess of energy.
Signs of an excessive solar plexus chakra imbalance include excessive feelings of anger, irritability, and aggression.
You may also experience some physical manifestations such as ulcers, liver problems, hepatitis, or other gastrointestinal complaints.
Deficient Solar Plexus Chakra
On the other hand, when your solar plexus is not working hard or fast enough, you may experience a deficient imbalance.
Symptoms of a deficient solar plexus include difficulty making decisions or setting boundaries, poor self-confidence, and chronic stress or anxiety.
Some physical manifestations of a deficient solar plexus chakra include gallstones, ruptured spleen, diabetes, or some food allergies.
10 Yoga Poses For Opening The Solar Plexus Chakra
Now that we know more about the third energy center and its function, let’s find out what are the best yoga poses for opening your solar plexus chakra.
1. Breath of Fire – Kapalabhati
Kapalabhati is a vigorous, powerful pranayama (breathing) practice that strengthens the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and even the heart as it connects us with our inner fire.
It also helps increase lung capacity, making it an ideal pranayama for anyone who has asthma or other breathing difficulties.
The practice itself is simple, but it can be quite intense at first.
With regular practice, however, you will notice that you become stronger and more energized with each subsequent session.
To begin Kapalabhati, sit comfortably in a cross-legged position or on your knees. Keep your spine tall and straight and your shoulders relaxed.
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, allowing yourself to relax and clear your mind.
When you are ready, start by taking a slow, deep inhalation through the nose.
As you exhale, forcefully expel the breath out of your lungs with a quick burst of air.
It is important to keep the inhale steady and natural, so avoid using your abdominal muscles to create the inhalation.
Rather, allow the air to enter your nostrils naturally. Repeat this process several times.
As you get more comfortable with Kapalabhati and the movements become easier, you can increase the speed of your exhale while maintaining a steady, comfortable rhythm.
Continue for one to three minutes before gradually reducing the speed of your breathing and returning to normal.
Have some tissues handy nearby in case you need to wipe or blow your nose following the pranayama.
2. Chair Pose – Utkatasana
Chair pose, or Utkatasana, can help open up the Manipura chakra by bringing awareness and focus to it.
To do the chair pose, start by standing tall and grounding your feet firmly into the ground.
Next, bend your knees and lift your arms up into the air so that your upper arms are in line with your ears.
Then, lean forward slightly as you continue to breathe deeply and draw energy up through your core and into your solar plexus chakra.
Hold this pose for several breaths. You should start feeling the tightness or tension in your lower body releasing.
Your feet and knees should be aligned. Do not have your feet touching and your knees hip-width-distance or vice versa.
Chair pose is a great way to activate and open up the solar plexus chakra and get in touch with your inner strength, power, and confidence.
By focusing on this energy center while doing the pose, you can revitalize both your body and mind and have more control over your life.
3. Plank Pose – Kumbhakasana
Plank Pose, or Kumbhakasana, brings your body into a solid, straight line from head to toe.
This helps activate and balance the solar plexus chakra and creates a fire in your abdominals.
To do this pose, start by standing at the top of your mat with your feet together and your hands at your sides.
Inhale as you bring your palms together in front of your chest, then exhale as you step back into a high plank position.
Keep your arms straight and your heels pressing back.
Your body should form a straight line from your head to your heels, with your shoulders stacked above your wrists and hips at the same level as your shoulders.
Focus on keeping your core engaged while you hold this pose for several breaths.
With regular practice of Plank Pose, you can build strength and confidence in both body and mind, helping activate your solar plexus chakra and harness its energy for self-assurance and inner power.
4. Downward Facing Dog – Adho Mukha Svanasana
To perform Downward Facing Dog, start in a tabletop position on your hands and knees.
Then, inhale as you press into your hands and feet to lift your hips up towards the ceiling and send your thighs back.
You can keep your knees bent if needed or straighten them for a deeper stretch.
Hold the pose for several breaths, breathing deeply and focusing on the energy of the solar plexus chakra.
Practicing Downward Facing Dog regularly can help open and balance your solar plexus chakra, giving you a sense of inner strength and confidence.
It can also improve digestion, increase energy levels, and help with anxiety or depression.
5. Revolved Crescent Lunge – Parivrtta Ashta Chandrasana
Revolved Crescent Lunge is a powerful yoga pose that opens the solar plexus chakra.
Practicing this pose can help strengthen this vital energy center, allowing you to feel more confident, grounded, and secure in yourself.
To perform Revolved Crescent Lunge from Downward Dog, take your left foot forward. Bend your left knee to create a 90-degree angle and raise your arms to the sky in a lunge.
After you’ve found your footing, take your hands together in prayer position in front of your heart.
Take a deep breath in, and twist to the left, taking your outer right arm to the outside of your left thigh.
Keep your back leg straight and your back heel active.
Hold the pose for a few breaths, then inhale and return to standing as you straighten both legs. Repeat on the other side, starting with the right foot forward.
6. Warrior I – Virabhadrasana I
When practicing Warrior I, you focus on activating the solar plexus chakra by breathing deeply and engaging your core muscles to create stability and strength.
This yoga pose also opens your hips, stretches your legs and ankles, strengthens your knees, and improves posture.
To do Warrior I from Crescent Lunge, ground your back foot so that your front heel and back arch of your feet are aligned.
Extend your arms straight above your head and stay active through your fingertips.
Maintain a 90-degree angle in your front leg, keeping your back leg strong and the outer edge of your back foot grounded.
Hold this pose for several deep breaths while focusing on activating the solar plexus chakra.
With regular practice of this pose, you can build confidence and self-esteem while opening up new possibilities for yourself through increased vitality and personal power.
7. Revolved Triangle Pose – Parivrtta Trikonasana
Revolved Triangle Pose is another great yoga posture that activates the solar plexus chakra.
It opens the chest to improve breathing, strengthens your legs, and can also relieve mild back pain.
To practice revolved triangle pose from Warrior I, straighten your front leg and turn your back toes at a 45-degree angle.
Take a deep inhale and reach toward your front toes with the opposite arm, creating a twisted triangle shape. Extend your other arm up to the sky.
Practicing this pose regularly will definitely help you open your solar plexus and promote feelings of confidence and self-assurance.
8. Boat Pose – Paripurna Navasana
Next on our list is Boat Pose. This powerful pose strengthens and tones the abdominal muscles, providing support for your core and improving posture.
It also improves digestion and may help relieve stress and anxiety.
To perform Boat Pose, start in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you, and feet flexed.
Engage your core, bringing your arms either straight out in front of you or along the sides of your body with palms facing down.
Inhale as you slowly lift your legs from your hips, keeping a slight bend in the knees if needed.
Straighten the legs if it’s accessible.
Hold for several deep breaths and then slowly lower your legs and torso back to the ground.
Repeat as many times as you’d like, breathing slowly and deeply throughout.
9. Bow Pose – Dhanurasana
Bow Pose helps open up your third energy center by stretching it and providing a sense of strength and focus.
This pose is more advanced, so I wouldn’t recommend trying it if you’re a beginner.
To practice Bow Pose, start by lying on your stomach with your arms stretched out in front of you.
Slowly reach back and grab the outer edges of your feet.
Then, pull them gently toward your body while lifting your upper body off the ground at the same time.
Keep breathing deeply as you hold this pose for a few seconds, refocusing on the energy of the solar plexus chakra.
10. Seated Twist – Ardha Matsyendrasana
The last pose you can try is Seated Twist.
The first step in performing this pose is to sit down comfortably on the ground with your legs outstretched in front of you.
With your legs extended, bend your right knee and bring your right foot to the outside of your left thigh.
Next, draw your left heel back toward your right hip. You can use a strap or your hands to help support yourself if needed.
Once you are in the correct position, slowly twist your torso to the right, making sure you keep your spine lengthened.
Hug your right knee with your left arm.
Your gaze should be directed over your right shoulder, your focus should be on the energy created in your abdomen.
Hold this position for 30 seconds or longer, then switch legs and repeat the pose on the other side.
Bottom line
As we’ve learned, the solar plexus chakra is intimately linked with our ability to feel confident and in control of our lives.
By keeping this chakra healthy and balanced, we can maintain our personal power and avoid feeling like a victim of our circ*mstances.
The best yoga poses for solar plexus chakra health are those that stimulate or calm this area, depending on what state it’s in.
Now that you know how to identify an imbalanced solar plexus chakra and the best yoga poses to rectify the problem, which ones will you try out? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!
Discover more yoga poses to balance the chakras:
- Yoga poses for the Root chakra
- Yoga poses for the Sacral chakra
- Yoga poses for the Heart chakra
- Yoga poses for the Throat chakra
- Yoga poses for the Third Eye chakra
- Yoga poses for the Crown chakra
