Last week we took a look at the root chakra and explored the ways in which your feelings, behaviours and relationships are affected by this chakra. Today we are going to examine the sacral chakra and discover certain ways in which you can work to balance this energy centre.
The Sacral Chakra
The sacral chakra, or the second chakra, is found just below the navel. This energy point is connected to creativity, sensuality and sexuality.
When the flow of energy through your sacral chakra is flowing without being inhibited by a blockage, then you will find that your relationships feel positive and nurturing, and also that you are better able to accept change within these relationships.
Other people are likely to notice when your sacral chakra is balanced as you will radiate warmth and extend abundant affection to those around you. They will be able to sense your emotional stability and appreciate your genuine friendship.
When your sacral chakra is out of balance and the energy flow is under-active as a result, you may begin to develop attachment issues and find it difficult to understand boundaries within your relationships. You may also begin to feel as though you are more sensitive than you usually are, and that you misinterpret comments from others as criticism or judgements. You may also be more hesitant to trust than you might usually be. This can then cause ongoing and far-reaching problems in your life and you may start to experience feelings of isolation and unhappiness.
On the other hand, when this chakra is over-active then you can become more prone to emotional dependance on others. Your feelings may seem more powerful than usual as it becomes harder to control your emotions.
Balancing The Sacral Chakra
As we discussed in our previous article on balancing the chakras with coloured clothing, the sacral chakra is most closely connected to the colour orange. You may find that when you wear orange coloured clothing that you feel better able to express yourself to those around you.
In addition to wearing orange coloured clothing you can also find other ways to enhance how prominently this colour features in your life. There are many delicious orange coloured foods that you should aim to eat at least one of each day. So, fill your cupboards with oranges, satsumas, nectarines, peaches, carrots, sweet potato and butternut squash!
Experienced yogis will already know that a great deal of our physical and emotional tension is contained in the hips, and this is directly connected to the presence of the sacral chakra in this area. When you engage in hip-opening yoga poses you will be encouraging the correct flow of energy through this chakra. It is a great idea to choose one or two hip-opening poses, such as Bound Angle Pose or Frog Pose, and hold them for between five and ten breaths at least once a day.
Boosting the flexibility and openness of the hips through hip-opening yoga poses is an amazing way to heal the sacral chakra. However, toning the muscles in this area through targeted exercises can also help. There are several abdominal exercises that you can engage in daily in order to tone the muscles in this area, such as sit ups and crunches. Although, if you would rather stick to yoga then poses such as Boat Pose and Plank Pose are fantastic for toning the abs!
