Find Your Creative Spark with These 5 Yoga Asanas
“It takes practice to hear your true desires. Your passion will often come as a whisper or serendipitous event that reminds you of what’s important and what makes you happy.” – Eckhart Tolle
The sacral chakra – Svadhishthana – means, “the dwelling place of the Self.” It’s located just below the belly button, in the lower part of your abdomen.
If you’re able, place your hand here for a moment and just breathe.
Notice how this space fills with air as you inhale.
Notice how it contracts and empties as you exhale.
Feel the warmth of your hand as it rests on your lower belly.
See if you can relax your shoulders and your neck a little more as you do.
When you’re ready, close your eyes, and bring your awareness and your mind’s eye to this space in your body.
What do you see?
Is there anything you feel here? Physically or emotionally or otherwise?
Take a few moments.
Before continuing further, maybe take note of anything you picked up on as you brought your awareness and your breath to this space in your body. It could be a simple thought, an emotion, a visual… Notice if any of the information you read about here, aligns with your experience.
Let’s begin.
Vital Life Force of Creation
This space, this chakra, is the center of your creation. Of your creativity and sexuality, manifestation and intuition. This is the birthing place of your spirit in this life – no matter your gender.
The sacral chakra is the energy center for the vital life force energy – prana – within you, which is also known as the energy of circulation. Fittingly, the element associated with the sacral chakra is water, and the color: orange.
This chakra is called “the dwelling place of the self” as it is all about your own personal expansion and exploration – and then expanding that out into the world through your creations. The energy that resides here is always assisting you in letting go, accepting change, and transforming your life for the better… think deep Pisces and Scorpio vibes.
Experiencing from Your Sacral Chakra
The sacral chakra – seeing as it is associated with the element of water and is located in your lower abdomen – corresponds with the liver, gallbladder, hips, spine, reproductive organs, kidneys, and bladder. It helps keep the energy flowing and circulating within your body, preventing stagnation.
In terms of the physical world, the sacral chakra is your creation of it. It is what you decide to birth into this 3D reality – whether that’s literal children, or a passion, a career, a new way of being… truly whatever you want it to be.
If the world is your canvas, your sacral chakra is the paintbrush.
Thinking and Feeling from Your Sacral Chakra
While it may not seem super obvious, the sacral chakra is about more than just the physical creations, manifestations, and expressions of your life.
Another reason why it is referred to as the “dwelling place of the Self” is because this is also the chakra where our minds, thoughts, and awareness settle. It is tied to our conditioned beliefs, our deepest secrets and perceived shadows, our upbringing – and the thoughts and beliefs we’ve constructed from it.
This is part of where the transformative power lies.
You create and expand and transform through the power of the sacral… after you deconstruct, remove, and transcend. And as most of us are well aware, this continues to happen over and over and over again throughout this one life.
Through the destruction comes the creation of something more aligned, more suited, and more fitting.
Through the layers we find depth — about what we truly desire. What we want to create within our lives – within ourselves.
And we find the beauty that was always there, but maybe overlooked, ignored, dismissed, or minimized.
No shame or judgment. Just come back to embodiment.
Balance vs. Imbalance of the Sacral Chakra
When your sacral chakra is balanced, you not only experience a kind and loving relationship with others, but also within yourself. Your creative expression is tuned in and turned on and you enjoy the pleasure of creating and discovering new ways of expressing yourself.
When balanced, there is an overall sense of well-being and knowing you are cared for and provided for.
Similar to the root chakra in a way, but with a twist. The sacral chakra encourages you to connect with and heal your inner child, and give yourself the permission to allow your inner child to be seen and expressed.
When imbalanced, you may find yourself feeling emotionally unstable at times — either over-identifying with your emotions, or unable to identify them at all. There may also be a sense of lacking creativity or even pleasure in creating, or a disconnect within your personal and intimate relationships.
Here are some other symptoms associated with an imbalanced Sacral Chakra:
Chronic lower back pain
Sexual issues
Hip issues
Anemia
Joint problems
Low energy levels
Spleen and kidney issues
PMS
Addictive behaviors
Feeling disconnected from the world
Depression
Coming Back to Balance in Your Sacral
The laundry list of symptoms may not feel too great to go through, especially if you can relate. But we’re not about that fear mongering over here.
I mean, c’mon. We’re human!
I would find it more hard to believe that there are people out there who never experience imbalances in their lives – in the sacral or otherwise!
So don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. There are plenty of ways and practices you can little-by-little start incorporating into your daily routine if you’re looking to balance your sacral chakra.
Affirmations for the Sacral Chakra
I’m healing old wounds from past relationships.
I release trauma & keep the blessings.
My emotions are free-flowing & balanced.
I allow my creativity to flow through me freely.
I am a creative being.
I have boundaries that protect me.
I am fulfilled in my passions.
I embrace change as a healthy part of life.
Breathwork for the Sacral Chakra
To balance your sacral chakra, practice Left-nostril Breathing, called Ida Nadi. This breathing technique will help to open up the second chakra and bring forward lunar energy. Your left side of the body is associated with your feminine and creative side, so this breathing technique will activate your creative side.
Begin by closing your right nostril with the first two fingers of your right hand and inhale and exhale through the left nostril only for at least 8-10 breaths.
Asanas for the Sacral Chakra
When incorporating yoga asanas for the sacral chakra, you’ll want to focus on poses that create a spinal twist, activate the spine, and open & lengthen the abdomen & hips.
Here are a few you can begin incorporating into your practice today:
Reverse Warrior Pose
Beginning standing, place your right foot at the top of your mat, toes pointing to the top of your mat. Your left foot is behind you, parallel to the back of the mat. Your front heel should intersect your back arch. Sink your hips low and create a right-angle bend in your right knee. As you exhale reach back and place your left hand on your left leg as your right hand reaches for the sky. Keep your core engaged and chest reaching for the sky as well.
Pigeon Pose
From downward-facing dog, inhale your right leg to the sky, as you exhale, bring your right leg through and into Piegon – placing your right knee behind your right wrist and allowing your hips to sink down toward the mat. Keeping your hips level with each other, inhale and lift your chest. As you exhale, bring your chest toward the mat in front of you, resting your head on a block, your hands, or the mat.
Goddess Pose
Begin standing with your legs wider than hip-distance and your toes turned out slightly at an angle. As you inhale, reach up for the sky. As you exhale, sink your hips down toward the mat into a sumo-squat-type position. Your hands can open, come to your hips, or wherever you choose to put them.
Squat Pose
Begin in downward-facing dog. Bring your right foot forward, to the outer edge of your mat with your toes pointing out at an angle. Bring the left foot to follow and allow your hips to sink down toward the mat and into a low squat. Hold here for a few breaths.
Bridge Pose
Begin laying on your back with your feet planted on the mat hip-distance apart. Plant your palms alongside you. As you inhale, press into your feet and lift your hips toward the sky. Holding here for a few breaths, continue to draw your glutes together to support your lower back, and your feet and knees hip-distance apart as you reach upward.
Deconstruct, Create, Transform, Heal
The sacral chakra – like all the other chakras – is not static. It moves and changes and flows right along with you. Sometimes it becomes more stagnant while other times it is more free-flowing and expressive.
Wherever you are in your journey, we’re here to support you. Check out our weekly classes, workshops, and other offerings to help you along the way of your unique journey toward healing and well-being.
