Manipura , our third chakra, our sun centre between the navel and the diaphragm, the whole Core of the Body, practising with intention and integrity.

Physically, our whole torso, a cylinder, front, back, sides, top, and bottom. Our spine, ribcage, shoulder girdles, pelvis and the muscles surrounding the pelvis and spine, not just our superficial vertical 6 pack rectus abdominis, but the deep abdominal and lumbar spine muscles obliques, Transversus abdominis, quadratus lumborum, psoas, mulitifudus all important in providing stability of the pelvis and lower spine. Most importantly our respiratory diaphragm, the top of our core and our pelvic diaphragm, or pelvic floor muscles forming the floor. Our core and Manipura connect at Uddiyana bundha, our abdominal energetic lock.
More than just muscle, our organs – stomach, bowel, pancreas, liver, spleen… the food we eat….also our brain/ gut connections -Serotonin, a mood stabiliser is found mostly in the gut.
Our diaphragm, ‘the core of our being’, the top of our core, how we breathe is more important than a flat tummy. Mind you, if we ‘just’ breathe well, we will have a flat tummy!
-Manipura, our holistic awareness – being centred energetically, emotionally, mentally , spiritually.

Manipura, the Gateway of the Sun, between Thoracic 12 and Lumbar 1, behind it on the spine is the powerful Ming Men acupuncture point – the seat of Qi.

The Solar plexus has been described as the ‘belly brain’, literally a grey mass of matter that looks like the brain, a large network of sympathetic nerves and ganglia located in the p behind the stomach and encompassing the Celiac plexus, affecting the digestive system, and the Lumbar plexus responsible for the spine and circulation of the legs.

Manipura chakra helps us live our lives effectively, so that with effort, we can achieve what we want,

relating to self-esteem, will, warrior energy, it gives energy to our digestive system, aiding metabolism. The mind body connection is evident in Manipura – a confident posture, a calm effective breath low into the abdominal area gives us a strong balanced core.

Manipura energy may be deficient when we feel cold and slow, apathy and lethargy, depression and anxiety causing withdrawal from life, fear and stress causing digestive upsets and eating disorders.

An excess of Manipura can cause fiery energy, aggression, difficulty work in a team, perfectionism, restlessness, feeling hot, eating too quickly, avoiding spicy foods. On the other hand, our inner fireplace deals with our doubts and weaknesses!

A healthy, spirited third chakra enables us to go with our ‘gut feelings’ so we make the right decisions, becoming more confident and responsible. Manipura gives us “get-up-and-go” enthusiasm for life, a place of our deep belly laughter, warmth, ease – sukha – this is important – being able to let go of self control if it is so exhausting it becomes  detrimental to our health! Taking time to find our ‘inner sun’, our deep inner strength that guides us through life.

The energies of two basic functions meet at Manipura – the reception of energy ( Prana – our life force that we absorb with oxygen that we breathe and food that we eat) and the elimination of waste ( Apana). Manipura gives light and energy and removes toxicity and pollutants. Prana and apana are also important spiritually – through certain advanced yoga techniques (Kriyas – moving the abdominal wall without breathing / Agni Sara /Solar Energiser.

Practise Surya Namaskara