My Solar Plexus Summer: Reclaiming My Power and Redefining Myself

My name is Niayai and I love all things yoga and spirituality. During my yoga teacher training, I learned about the 7 chakra system. A chakra is a spinning wheel of energy located in a specific area of your body. They can influence your spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. The chakras send energy through your body and give you life force. You have your root chakra, your sacral chakra, your heart chakra, your throat chakra, your third eye chakra, your crown chakra and most importantly your solar plexus chakra. 

The solar plexus chakra is the third chakra in the traditional 7 chakra system. It is located near your navel, represented by the element fire and the color yellow. The chakra represents personal power, confidence, and self esteem. It is associated with willpower, discipline, identity and transformation. 

This summer, I am making an intentional decision to center my healing around the solar plexus. Ruled by the sun, it feels like the perfect chakra to focus on during the summer time. No matter the season, I am a naturally confident and extroverted person. I am comfortable with change and transformation. And I recognize that focusing on identity work and discipline can help me develop the resilience necessary for the next chapter of my life. 

A chakra can be blocked, underactive or overactive. A blocked solar plexus results in difficulty making decisions, feeling powerless or stuck or lacking of motivation.  An underactive solar plexus results in low self esteem and self doubt, people pleasing and digestive issues. An overactive solar plexus results in controlling behavior, aggression, perfectionism or workaholism. 

When balanced, the solar plexus chakra makes you driven, motivated and able to assert yourself. You are able to shape how you see yourself and shine as your most authentic self to the world. The chakra is the source of your ability to take action and make decisions aligned with your goals. It helps you shape your individual sense of self like your personality, beliefs, and values. The solar plexus is the chakra to help you evolve, overcome and change in the best way possible. 

So, here are some things I have been doing to balance my solar plexus and honor the personal fire within me. Each of these things are activities and rituals known to activate and balance your solar plexus. I encourage you to do one, some or all of them if you’re looking to engage the seat of your personal power this summer too! 

1. I painted my nails yellow. → The solar plexus is associated with the color yellow. With butter yellow trending, I decided to paint my nails butter yellow for a few weeks. The nail polish serves as a daily reminder of my intention to heal my solar plexus chakra. It is a small shift with a big energetic impact. 

2. I have eaten with intention. → Food is medicine and I have focused on incorporating yellow and golden foods into my diet this summer. I have eaten foods like plantain chips, bananas, lemons, corn, squash and chickpeas. These foods not only nourish my body, but they connect with the vibration of the solar plexus chakra  – they’re life giving foods that make me feel better after I eat them. 

3. I’ve taken daily evening walks while it’s sunny. → One of my healthy habits for the month of June is evening hot girl walks. My daily walks in the sun allow me to harness the solar energy at the end of the day. Not only do my evening walks allow me to soak up sunlight and move my body, it allows me to relax and find my center at the end of a long workday. My sunny evening walks have easily become my favorite parts of my day. 

4. I have honored fire with daily candle and incense rituals. → As a part of my evening routine, I light a few candles and incenses on my altar before bed. Not only for ambiance, but to honor fire as an element of transformation and strength. Watching the candles flicker and the scent of the amber wax and smoke fill up my room has reminded me that when I harness my own solar plexus energy, I can make just a big of an impact. 

5. I’ve worn my tiger’s eye bracelet. → Tiger’s eye is a beautiful, brown hued crystal known for its golden bands that mimic tiger’s stripes. It is connected with the solar plexus chakra, making it the perfect stone for aligned action. Tiger’s eye is known for empowering the wearer, protecting oneself and providing mental clarity. I bought my tiger’s eye bracelet from my favorite metaphysical shop, Dancing Moon, and wear it every time I leave my home as a reminder to embody my own personal fire and intentional decision making. 

6. I listened to 528 Hz Frequencies. →  During YTT last spring, I got to learn about sound healing. Frequencies have been an integral part of my healing journey and I incorporate them into my morning routine, evening wind down and meditations. Sound is vibration that can assist in realignment and recalibration. 

7. I practiced solar plexus yoga flows. → Yoga means a lot to me. I use the lessons from my practice in my daily life. I have begun incorporating core-focused yoga flows and solar plexus activating poses on my mat. Each time I practice, I come back to my center and take time and energy to find my center. 

Spending time with my third chakra has opened me up to a season of personal reclamation. I am beginning to redefine my identity to match the highest version of myself. I am making changes in my habits to reflect a life of authenticity, strength and purpose. My inner fire has been burning brightly as I begin to show up as the woman of my dream. I am cultivating deep sense of self this summer and can’t wait to take you along with me on the journey.