The Source of Your Creativity
In my blog last week, I gave an overview of what Chakras are and some information about the Root Chakra (Muladhara in Sanskrit). I want to continue on that stream of thought and highlight each Chakra over the next few weeks.
To recap briefly. 'Chakra' is the Sanskrit word 'wheel.' The Chakras inside our bodies are seven energy points that line up with our spinal cord and connect to some of our major nerve centres. The Root Chakra resides at our coccyx (tailbone) and is the first Chakra. The second Chakra is the Sacral Chakra (Swadhithana in Sanskrit). It is located just below our navel. The primal statement of the Sacral Chakra is, 'I feel.' With its location so close to our reproductive organs, it should be no surprise that Swadhithana governs our sexuality. What wasn't initially apparent to me was the connection of our sexuality to our emotions. Because of the capacity to create life literally and our ability to experience pleasure through our reproductive process, the Sacral Chakra is where we house our other emotions too. In our Swadhithana we feel the movement and 'flow' of life, our creativity, and happiness. The Sacral Chakra is the centre of our joy.
If your Sacral Chakra is feeling imbalanced, you may experience the following: a lack of creativity and inspiration, lack of motivation, feel emotionally confused, poor sex-drive, and have poor relationships. You may feel your life is hard and doesn't 'flow' easily. You may also have a lot of tension and tightness in your hips and lumbar (low back).
In general, I feel that my Sacral Chakra requires some regular general maintenance. Irritability and feeling that I am unable to start or finish projects are my signs that my Swadhithana is out of whack. I also find my hips need a lot of attention in my Asana practise to feel limber. I use several strategies to keep my Sacral Chakra in check.
Here are some general tips on how to connect with your Sacral Chakra and keep your energy wheel spinning:
This Chakra relates to the element of water, so connecting with water is a great start.
Drink more water
Be in the presence of a body of water (ocean, lake, river, etc..)
Enjoy a bath
Balance your masculine and feminine energies (Here is a helpful article on what that means)
Dance to move energy around the body to let your creativity have an outlet
Remove yourself from toxic relationships
Become aware of negative patterns in your relationships, so you don't repeat them
Yoga Moves:
Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) - Sometimes this is also called the 'Butterly Pose' or 'Cobbler Pose.' While seated, bring the soles of your feet together and allow your knees to open. Drop your thighs to the floor. If it is comfortable, clasp your hands over your feet and draw your spine up straight and tall. With a flat back, you may want to begin folding your torso forward from your hips crease. Try sitting on a chip foam block, folded blanket, or small meditation pillow before entering this pose to keep your lumbar in a neutral position. If your legs do not drop easily to the floor, you may want to put blocks or bolsters under your knees to support the weight of your legs.
Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge) - Starting on your hands and knees, bring your right foot forward in between your hands and place your foot close to your right thumb tip. Your left knee stays on the mat. Ensure your right knee is in-line or "stacked" over your ankle and press your right foot firmly into the floor. Slide your left leg further away from your torso until you can feel a gentle stretch in the front of your hip and thigh. Press the top of your left foot firmly into the mat as you lengthen your tailbone toward your mat and draw your low belly in toward your spine. Make sure your right knee doesn't drift past your front ankle. Raise yourself to stack your torso over your hips and lift your arms so they extend next to your ears. Interlace all but your index fingers, and press up through your palms, drawing your shoulders away from your ears. Bring your Drishti (your gaze) up as you lift from your sternum and breathe underneath your collarbones. Firmly draw your hips in toward your midline as you grow tall through the sides of your waist. Draw your energy up through your index fingers. Hold for 5-10 breaths. Repeat the other side. If you feel discomfort in your knee while it is on the floor, place a blanket under your knee for extra padding. If lifting your torso puts too much pressure on your knees or your hips, you can try resting your hands on your front knee as support to hold your trunk up. If that feels too intense, you can keep your palms planted on the floor. Keep your torso long.
Utkata Konasana (Goddess Pose) - While standing, bring your feet one leg's distance apart. Turn your toes out about 45 degrees. Bend your knees deeply to create a 90-degree angle between your thighs and calves, and press your knees open so that they align with the centre of your feet. Draw your low belly in and your tailbone down. Centre your torso over your pelvis as you reach the crown of your head toward the sky. Raise your arms to shoulder height and bend your elbows to 90 degrees with your palms facing forward and up. Your arms are mirroring your legs. Try to hold this posture for 1 minute. While you breathe here, find organic movement as you shift slightly from side to side, or even forward and back, grounding through your heels and toes. If holding your arms in this way is uncomfortable, try planting your palms together at your heart in Anjali Mudra (Salutation Seal or prayer position).
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend) - Sit on the floor with your legs together and extended in front of your torso. It may be helpful to sit on a blanket, chip foam block, or pillow to lift the pelvis. Lengthen your torso by sitting tall and picturing your tailbone lengthening into the floor. Firm the thighs and press them down against the floor, rotate them slightly toward each other, and draw the inner groins toward the sacrum. Flex your ankles, your toes pointing to the ceiling and pressing out through your heels. Inhale and lift your arms to shoulder height and slightly bent as though you are holding a beach ball between your arms. Lift upward and create more space through your torso, then fold forward from your hips as you exhale. Keep your spine straight as you fold forward until you cannot bend any further. From here, you may bend your spine slightly to extend your hands to your thighs, calves, ankles, or feet. Continue to focus on lengthening your spine as you mindfully inhale and exhale. Be aware that you are not overextending your knees by keeping your knees soft, or even a slight bend in your knees if your hamstrings and calves feel tight. Continue to actively keep your legs engaged by lifting your knee caps and flexing your feet as you draw your torso forward. Take 6 to 8 cycles of breath. Roll up slowly when complete.
Savasana (Corpse Pose) - Lie comfortably on your back. Close your eyes. Bring your legs wide and allow your feet to flop open. Bring your arms by your sides and away from your body. Turn your palms toward the sky. Tuck your shoulder blades underneath you. Tuck your chin slightly into your chest. Make any small movements you need so that you are very comfortable and then become still. Take relaxed, natural breaths through your nose. Remind yourself as you are breathing, "I express my creativity freely. I deserve and attract healthy relationships. I am comfortable with my body."
I hope that you always feel inspired to play with your creativity. Whether you are coming up with a new idea, building, cooking, writing, crafting, or even cranking some music and dancing a little while you sweep the floor, creation is something that nourishes us in a way that is just as important eating and sleeping. Creating is how we express our uniqueness. Like the miracle of creating a new baby, your feelings and how you experience life cannot be repeated anywhere else. Finding ways to share your unique view with the world is your gift. Please generously share it because the world is less complete without your perspective.