MANIPURA, the solar plexus chakra

This sequence balances MANIPURA, the solar plexus chakra also called the navel chakra. Manipura is the third chakra represented by the color yellow because it corresponds to the notions of fire, sun, personal vitality and strength and is associated with the digestive organs and the pancreas.

When Manipura is balanced, we feel serene, we have mental clarity, we are open to others and notice the immune system is stronger and adapts more easily.

Conversely, when this chakra is unbalanced, we are all the time in doubt and stress, we have a loss of self-esteem and therefore no ability to move forward and the digestive system is problematic.

During the practice and execution of the postures to awaken the Manipura fire, one must set up the Ujjayi glottic breathing . Ujjayi breathing should be done with the exhales as long as the inspirations by reducing as much as possible the tensions in the throat and by releasing the tongue on the lower palate, the mouth closed and the jaw relaxed. The breath should lengthen like a thread of oneself with a slight sound vibration. This breathing, depending on the mastery of the students, determines the pace of the practice and improves the quality of the breath from the coarsest to the most subtle.