Yoga for Healing and Well-being
Week Three: FIRE
Once we feel safe, grounded, deserving of being alive in this body on this Earth (EARTH element), and we learn to receive life’s nutrients and flow with the blessings endowed upon us (WATER element), our energy is freed up and we are able to act with clarity, vitality, and vibrance. We are able to burn up old patterns quickly and our life-force is not drained by damaging habits of mind and body (FIRE element).
Affirmations: I am passionate, luminous, and vibrant. I fully digest life’s experiences and integrate the nutrients and lessons. I am constantly evolving. Transformation is natural and healthy. When needed, I am assertive about my boundaries. My vision is clear. I express anger in healthy ways, without harming myself or others.
BODY: Hips to heart - solar plexus, adrenals, eyes, feet
NERVOUS/ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: Adrenal glands (action and rest, motivation, energy/depletion)
CHAKRA: Manipura
SEED MANTRA: Ram
SYMBOL: Fiery red inverted triangle
SENSE: Sight
“Only when the sadhaka (spiritual practitioner) reaches manipura are they able to visualize the infinite state of consciousness which is no longer gross and empirical. It stretches before them endlessly, full of beauty, truth and auspiciousness. In the face of this vision, all their views are completely changed. The personal prejudices, complexes and biases drop away as the endless beauty and perfection of the higher worlds dawn within the consciousness.”
Manipura means “city of jewels” in Sanskrit, symbolized by a ten-petaled yellow lotus containing a fiery red inverted triangle. It is said to be located behind the navel on the inner wall of the spinal column. It is related to the processes of heat regulation and digestion. Fire in Sanskrit is agni, which also signifies the digestive fire - both literally and symbolically or energetically.
While the heart is related more to Anahata chakra, the electrical pulse of the heart and the warmth of our love are both functions of fire element. The feet are also related to Manipura chakra because they are the organ of action. Swami Satyananda says the eyes and feet “are closely linked in the sense that vision and willful action are interdependent.”
The purpose of this course is not to stimulate a kundalini awakening by any means, but rather to cultivate gentle healing by way of deepening our understanding of the elements and their energies within us.
Having said that, it is helpful to know that the yogis of certain lineages might say that true awakening happens at Manipura chakra. After the energy of kundalini has spiraled from Muladhara through Swadhisthana, it bursts from Manipura to the crown, awakening true consciousness.
I believe that in the context of our humble practice, we may strengthen this energetic center and find within us a luminous, calming, and pervading warmth that clarifies our vision, opens our hearts, and guides our footsteps.
Balancing FIRE energy
+EXCESS FIRE+
angry, reactive
harsh
ambitious
impatient
-DEFICIENT FIRE-
indifferent
dull/disengaged
weak digestion
conflict-avoidant (at one’s own expense - sometimes not true to self)
-BALANCED FIRE+
passionate and energetic
constantly evolving
clear and bright
driven, goal-oriented
sequence
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Video
Round Three
Round Two
Round One
