Ever feel like you are in constant flux? Out of balance? Or overwhelmed with guilt and emotion? This drama-queen personification may not be the real you. You may be suffering from an imbalanced sacral chakra!
Let's take a closer look at this energy center, and learn ways to channel those creative energies.
What is the Swadhisthana Chakra?
The swadhisthana or sacral chakra is located around the kidney and genital region. It governs the energy of creativity, pleasure, sex, procreation, control and morality. Dreams, fantasies, and emotions reside here. Its element is water which is fluid, flexible, cleansing, and adaptive.
A Balanced Sacral Chakra
A balanced swadhisthana chakra means you can blossom as a person. You are sensitive, intuitive, idealistic, accept change and can go with the flow. You have dreams and healthy desires, and you use your creativity in a healthy way.
An Imbalanced Sacral Chakra
An imbalance in this chakra can result in constant flux, an inability to ground or set boundaries, and a tendency to become over-emotional and dramatic. Feelings such as guilt, lust, betrayal, and jealousy may arise.
It is difficult to taste life’s sweetness. Nothing is good enough. You feel you have no choice, no ability to change, and no initiative. This can lead to aggression, a false display of emotion, denial of pleasure and fear of sex.
Because this chakra is associated with the cardiovascular, renal, and reproductive organs, an imbalance in this chakra can affect the physical body in many different ways.
Some diseases such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), varicose veins, anemia, kidney and bladder problems, menstrual ailments, impotence arise here.
How do we tap into this energy center?
Visual: The yantra, or visual manifestation of the swadisthana chakra, is a lotus flower with 6 petals. It is associated with the color orange. Study the image by first looking at the 6 orange lotus petals. Then move your eyes to the white crescent moon.
This represents the moon that controls the tides and water, the element of the swadhisthana chakra. Next, look at the animal, the crocodile with with a snake's tail. In Indian tradition, he is associated with Ganga, the personification of the river Ganges. Finally, look at the Sanskrit character, VAM.
Essential Oils: Use Frankincense to zap growth-blocking energy and bring tranquil insight. Patchouli deters dreamy meditation. Jasmine links the creativity of the sacral chakra with love (heart chakra) and spirituality (crown chakra). Sweet marjoram lifts guilt. Cypress helps to move on after a major life change.
Diet: Water, herb teas, and juices are freeing foods that help the kidneys to cleanse and balance the body's water element. Eat sweet fruits like apples, pears, berries, melon, and figs, and vegetables like lettuce, spinach, watercress, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
Movement: Swimming, hula dancing, and yoga asana practice will help support your swadisthana energy. Have fun with your movement exercises, making sure to capture creativity and fluidity with your activity.
Yoga Asanas for Swadhisthana Energy
Utkata Konasana (Goddess Squat): Stand with your feet wider than your hips, toes turned out slightly. Drop your hips low by bending the knees. Bring palms to heart center, pushing the inner thighs away with the elbows.
Hold for 10-15 breaths, dropping the hips low to open the sacrum with each exhale.
Matsyasana (Fish Pose): Lie on your back, zip up feet, knees, and thighs. Place the hands, palm sides down, under the sacrum or upper thighs. Press down with the forearms to lift the chest up, allowing the head to fall back, resting the top of the head on the earth.
Keep the weight on your hands and forearms. Breath deeply to open the chest. Hold for 10-15 breaths. come out of the posture by first pressing the forearms into the mat and lift the chin to chest before gently rolling down to relax on your back.
Do you have a blockage in your swadhisthana chakra?
Here are some questions to ask yourself to help find out if you have a blockage or imbalance in your sacral chakra:
- Am I open to positive change?
- Am I greedy for sensation or experience?
- Is my outlook on life overly emotional? Too negative?
- How can I become fearless without becoming reckless?
- Do I feel overwhelmed or swamped? How can I ground myself?
Try to incorporate the yoga asanas, essential oils, or meditation practice on the swadhisthana yantra into your daily yoga practice to stimulate and balance this energy center.
Take your time, practice patience, and the insight will come naturally. You will soon learn to live with the sensual, creative, and adaptable self you were meant to be.