The Stomach Chakra, or Manipura (meaning 'lustrous jewel'), is connected to your emotions and will power. This Chakra is associated with fire. The fire of digestion and of the will. By balancing the Stomach Chakra you work to achieve harmony between the emotions and the intellect, transforming yourself into a dynamic, creative individual.
Links to Minor Chakras
The Stomach Chakra links to several minor Chakras. These are the Solar Plexus Chakra (Diaphragmatic Chakra) associated with personal attitude to health, the Navel Chakra, which stores emotions, and the Kidney Chakra. It also governs the nervous system, stomach, liver and pancreas.
Chakra Characteristics
Balanced Chakra
Too Open
(Excessive Energy)
Blocked
(Deficient Energy)
Centred
Connected
Gentle strength
Good-humoured
Respectful
Balanced
Pragmatic
Considered
Happy
Over-emotional
Irrational
Manipulative
Sarcastic
Controlling
Angry
Workaholic
Judgemental
Dissatisfied
Easily distracted
Lethargic
Insecure
Lacking humour
Subservient
Needs reassurance
Lazy
Sycophantic
Miserable
Working the Stomach Chakra
The Stomach Chakra is connected with expansion and transformation, and you can work with it to widen your outlook or to stimulate your energy levels.
Stimulating with Exercise
To stimulate a sluggish Stomach Chakra, sit with your back straight. Take a deep breath and relax the muscles of your abdomen. Then quickly snap in your abdomen 10 times, causing short sharp exhalations of breath.
Notice the Benefits
Repeat this exercise 10 times every day and night and you will soon notice your stomach feeling more active. Sit-ups and running are also good ways to stimulate the Stomach Chakra.
Calming with Aromatherapy
If your Stomach Chakra is over-active exercise will only stimulate it further. In such circumstances a relaxing bath with aromatherapy oils will be much more appropriate.
Add a few drops of a soothing oil, such as chamomile or lemongrass, to the bath when it it nearly full. Then take time to just relax in the water, letting your body slow down.
Sheer Calm
Luxuriate in the bath and let your Stomach Chakra grow calmer.
Relaxing with meditation
If your Stomach Chakra is out-of-balance, leaving you feeling weak, try this simple routine. Stand comfortably and visulaise a golden glow emenating from your Stomach Chakra, and spreading to fill your aura with golden light. Now slowly walk around the room, saying "I will be balanced" as you take each slow step.
Golden Energy
Keep the image of the golden glow filling your aura as you do this. Continue for five minutes, and do this exercise daily to balance and strengthen the Stomach Chakra.
Calming with Mantras
An overactive stomach can cause you to take short cuts in directing excesses of energy, for example, into anger, sarcasm, rudeness and other forms of anti-social behaviour. If you are suffering from a general impatient frame of mind, repeat this calming mantra for a few minutes when you are getting ready for the day's activity. "Calm, balanced, focused". Whenever you find yourself getting annoyed or stressed, say it silently in your head until you calm down again.
Positive Progress
Persevere with this mantra, and you will soon find that your external environment becomes easier to cope with.
Conditions Relating to the Stomach Chakra
Conditions to Treat
Conditions to Avoid
Bad self-image
A bad self image can be helped with colour therapy, meditation and exercise.
Ulcers
Can be stimulated by an over-active stomach, seek medical advice.
Excess energy
To balance this use meditation, oils, reiki, exercise and crystals.
Diabetes
This condition can be serious and you need to be calm, not stimulated.