Yoga_Journal_Singapore_FebruaryMarch_2017

56

february / march 2017

yogajournal.com.sg

MANIPURA CHAKRA

KEY WORD Confidence

BIJA MANTRA Ram (pronounced rum)

ASANA Twists.

An imbalanced solar-plexus chakra can manifest as fear and disempowerment,

says Mari. It’s also a space where people we have hurt reside. “In some, an

imbalance in this chakra manifests as aggressive or controlling behavior,

whereas in others it can lead to neediness and lack of direction or self-esteem

to take action,” she says. The goal? To feel comfortable with your own inherent

power, so you can fully step into the ways you can positively impact the collec-

tive without harming others.

ASK Are there areas of your life in which you feel powerless? If so, how

does this manifest? Who do you disempower in order to feel more powerful

yourself?

ARDHA MATSYENDRASANA

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose, variation

Sit on the floor in Staff Pose. Bend your right leg and place your right

foot outside your left knee. Press your right hand against the floor just

behind your right sitting bone, and set your left elbow on the inside or

outside of your right thigh near the knee (depending on how deeply

you want to twist). On an exhale, twist toward the inside of your right

thigh. Press your inner right foot into the mat as you lengthen your

torso. With every inhalation, lift a little more through your sternum;

with every exhalation, twist a little deeper. Stay for 30 seconds to

1 minute, then release with an exhalation, return to Staff Pose, and

repeat on the other side.