Yoga can be challenging even if you are fit and in excellent health. Yoga is not just an exercise for the body but can be more demanding and challenging for the mental and spiritual levels. It can sometimes take practice connecting to your breath and spiritual side through movement.
Downward Facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana to enter this pose, begin by laying on your stomach on your mat. Your feet should be about hip-width distance apart. Bring your hands to your mat near your chest underneath your shoulders. Fingers should be spread and pointing towards the front of your mat. Focus on your breath; curl your toes as you exhale, raise your upper body from the ground, and straighten your arms. Tilt the pelvis, pushing the root chakra up in the sky. Your heart should be trying to melt into the mat, and your gaze should be towards your belly button. Allow your arms to push the heels towards the ground, engaging the back muscles while keeping the knees straight. You can gently bend the knee if your heels can not touch the ground. Hold this pose for at least 5 breaths, keeping in mind this is a resting pose.
Happy Baby - Ananda Balasana, to enter this pose, begin by laying on your back. Make sure that the tops of your shoulders are as close to the mat as they can be. Rolling your shoulder blades together should help; this usually causes the lower back to lift off your mat, lessen the gap, lift your bottom, and pull the meat of your bottom towards your feet. As you inhale, lift both legs into the air bending at the knee. Grab the outside of your foot, fingers on the sole, and pull your knees towards your armpits. Try to keep your back flat on the ground. Hold this asana for as many breaths as you can. Push for at least five breaths. Challenge yourself by bringing the soles of your feet together and then pulling your feet towards your chest rather than your armpits. Or try to touch your toes to your third eye.
Cow Face Pose - Gomukhasana To enter this pose, cross the right leg over the left leg stacking the knees and bringing both ankles next to the outside hips. Stretching the left arm up, bending it behind the back, allowing the palm should rest on the spine. Stretch the right arm out to the side, then bend it behind the back, allowing the back of the hand to rest against the spine. Try to clasp the fingers of both hands behind the back. If you cannot hold the fingers, this is an excellent time to utilize a prop and grab a strap between both hands. The spine should be erect, close the eyes and focus on your breath. You can stay in this asana for up to 2 minutes—Unclasp your hands and repeat on the other side.
YANTRA, MUDRA, and MANTRAS
There are so many tools that you can add to your meditation that will help you focus on your intention. Yantra's are one of my favorite tools to add to my meditation practices. A yantra is a geometric symbol that represents each chakra. I place a yantra at eye level and focus on the image comfortably. In Hindu traditions, a yantra is considered more powerful than a picture of God. Yantras work as centering devices. They allow you to draw all your inner and outer focus to a still point at the center of your mind. The more centered you are, the less everyday life events disturb you. There are many different versions of yantras. For example, some people use candle flames; it has the same concept of centering. You may notice the images for these blogs and the chakra-specific yantras that are featured images. Utilize these in your meditation practice if they resonate with you and see if you can feel a difference.
Adding mudras to your meditation practice can help awaken and move the prana within your body. Mudra in Sanskrit translates into "gesture" or "attitude" and can is described as a "circuit bypass." Different mudras move energy in different ways.
Yoni Mudra has many variations, all of which connect to the attitude of the womb or source, which is excellent to add to your Sacral Chakra-focused practice. The word yoni means "womb" or "source."
Begin by sitting in a comfortable meditation position with your spine straight. Bring both palms together and fingers pointing away from the body. Keep the pads of the index finger together, turning the little, ring, and middle fingers inward so the backs of the fingers are touching. Next, interlock the little, ring, and middle fingers, bringing the thumbs towards the body, and join the pads of the fingers together to form the base of the yoni or womb space.
Interlocking the fingers together in this practice creates a complete criss-cross connection of energy from the right hand to the left and vice versa. It helps bring balance to all the energies of the body, especially the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Placing the index finger together and the thumbs together brings a further activation and flow of prana. It can help bring more stability to the body and mind and helps develop a deeper state of concentration and awareness. You can even add a mantra such as "I create" or “VAM” to your meditation, one of many mantras that resonate with the Sacral Chakra.
JOURNAL/CREATE ART
We hear that journaling is excellent for the healing process, and we can see why working on the Sacral Chakra. Connecting to and expressing your emotions and feelings is a big deal to this chakra. Creating a safe space where we fully express ourselves without judgment or pressure to understand “Why” we feel a certain way can sometimes come with time and practice. Just release the emotion and give yourself space to feel the release. Releasing control of what we think journaling should look like is a great place to start. I sometimes find it challenging to find the words to express how I feel and resort to art and painting. Sometimes my journal entry for the day looks like I spilled some paint on the pages. But I knew what the paint spilled meant, and no one else would see. I am an adult now. I had to unlearn that someone would break the lock on my diary and read my deepest darkest secrets. So try to have some fun journaling, and express yourself however you feel you need.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Aromatic bathing is another Self Love favorite ritual I practice. I can enjoy and absorb the healing and activating oils by utilizing essential oils in my hot bath, making it a perfect practice before going to bed. Try my Sacral Chakra Essential Oil blend and explore the sensuality of the oils.
CRYSTALS
Add some spice of orange to your life with some Sacral Chakra crystals. A few of my favorites are also available for purchase in my store if you feel called to do more crystal healing.
Orange Calcite is associated with the sacral and solar plexus chakras. It helps shift stagnant or slow-moving energy. It can help quiet the mind and soothe and calm agitated emotions. It symbolizes inner enlightenment and mental growth and can promote development.
Red Agate is associated with the root and sacral chakra. This stone promotes safety, grounding, and vitality. It helps develop a sense of reality and can help improve one's logical thinking, and helps in crucial decision-making. This crystal can help calm and stabilize your inner self while encouraging self-acceptance and self-confidence. It can deflect negative and bitter assumptions. It can help aid in comforting sleep and relaxation. It can help you in finding healing and emotional wellbeing. It can help you open up.
Carnelian is associated with the sacral chakra. It can help promote helpfulness, encourage community spirit, and bring good luck. Great for manifesting your desires. It can even help assist you in finding a suitable mate. It offers additional courage while releasing stress and trauma—a great assistant to your creativity.
I hope all this information is helpful and that you find what resonates and works best for you as you walk your healing journey.