The Second Chakra - Svadisthana

Element: Water

Colour: Orange

Gemstones: Emerald (to calm) fire opal, carnelian, orange calcite, yellow topaz. Moonstone & aquamarine to balance.

Emotion: Joy, enthusiasm.

Oils: sandalwood, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang,champaca

Body Sense: Taste

Mantra: “May I be at home and at ease in my body and find balance between myself and others.”

Sanskrit seed symbol: make the sound ‘VAM” (pronounced Varm) while focusing on your chakra.

The second chakra (or sacral chakra) is called Svadisthana. It is located in the lower abdomen, about an inch below the navel and is also known by other names such as; the spleen and navel centre. Svadisthana can be translated as ‘one’s sweetest abode’ or ‘one’s own place’.

This chakra is connected to sensuality, sexuality, emotions, intimacy and desire. Svadisthana is linked to the adrenal glands that lie above each kidney. Their function is the production of adrenaline, cortisol and aldosterone.

When the First Chakra, Muladhara, reacts to stress, the message is passed onto the second chakra triggering the release of adrenaline, and thus hormonal changes in the body. This chakra is also associated with assimilation of food, the reproductive organs, and the kidneys. 

When the second chakra is under-active, symptoms may include: sexual inhibition, a fear of pleasure,  shyness, fearful, guilty, passionless, and resistance to change. Physical symptoms could be: discomfort in the lower back, hips, and reproductive organs; urinary tract and/or digestive problems, as well as menstrual issues.
 
An over-active chakra may present as overly emotional behavior, poor sexual control or addiction, or poor boundary setting.  This can also show up as being overly emotional and caught up in the drama of life.
 
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you truly love. It will not lead you astray. " ~ Rumi
 
To balance the chakras you can practice specific yoga poses to encourage balance, use oils for the 2nd Chakra (inhaled or anointed), lay specific gemstones directly on your chakra and/or  visualise a wheel of light in the chakra’s colour (orange), spinning in a counter clockwise direction to cleanse and in a clockwise direction to strengthen.

Another way to balance Svadisthana is to be creative. This could involve singing, something cultural like visiting an art gallery, musical or play. You could put hand to paper and paint, draw or even write a poem! Movement in the hips and lower abdomen encourages balance of the second chakra, so fluid dancing is magic as is yoga.

Beneficial poses to practice are:

·      Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)

·      Dancers Pose (Natarajasana) 

·      Revolved Triangle (Parivrtta Trikonasana) 

·      Extended Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvottanasana)

.     Boat Pose (Navasana)

.     Seated Forward Bend (Passimottanasana)

.     Supine Bound Angle (Supta Baddha Konasana) 

.     Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

.     Cat Pose (Bidalasana)

.     Extended Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana)  

 

Questions to ask your-self related to the root chakra:

  • Do you feel you have an adversarial relationship with money?
     
  • Do you feel closed off from your relationships?
     
  • Do you feel that you can never get enough from your relationships?
     
  • Do you feel your creativity is blocked?
     
  • Do you tend to feel jealousy or guilt in relationships?

 

Next month: The Naval or 3rd Chakra/Manipura

Chakras 1 : Find out about The First Chakra at Spirit Yoga news/blog here.

Chakra Jewellery: http://www.chakra.net.au/
 

Article by Martine Ford