Solar plexus chakra healing is the practice of restoring balance to Manipura, the third chakra located in the upper belly, which governs confidence, willpower, self-esteem, and personal power. Its Sanskrit name, Manipura, means “city of jewels”, and in the seven chakra system this centre is seen as the seat of your inner fire: when it is balanced, you feel capable, decisive, and comfortable in your own skin; when it is blocked, self-doubt, indecision, and digestive tension often follow. This guide explains what the solar plexus chakra is, how to recognise imbalance, and the most effective ways to heal and empower it at home or with a practitioner.
The solar plexus chakra, known in Sanskrit as Manipura, is the third of the seven main chakras and sits in the upper abdomen, in the area of the stomach and diaphragm, just above the navel. The name Manipura comes from two Sanskrit roots: mani, meaning jewel or gem, and pura, meaning city or place, which is why it is often translated as “city of jewels” or “lustrous gem”.
The solar plexus chakra is associated with the colour yellow and with the fire element. In traditional iconography it is pictured as a lotus with ten petals, with a downward-pointing triangle, the symbol of fire, at its centre. Its bija mantra, the seed sound used in chanting, is RAM. The centre is linked to the digestive organs, including the stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas, and it is said to rule the parts of life that shape your sense of self: confidence, identity, willpower, and the courage to act on your own behalf.
The chakra system has its roots in Indian spiritual tradition. References to energy centres in the body appear in the Vedas and the Upanishads, and the most detailed descriptions come from tantric literature and Kundalini yoga, which map the subtle body with great precision. In that tradition, the navel region has always been treated as a centre of vital power, the place where the inner fire of digestion and transformation burns.
Modern chakra healing draws on these ancient teachings, though the psychological meanings and healing techniques used today are a contemporary interpretation. What is consistent across traditions is the idea that Manipura is the centre of personal power: the place where you develop identity, make decisions, and stand up for yourself. In the classic model, it sits between the three lower, survival-oriented chakras and the three higher, more spiritual ones, and is often described as the bridge between them, the place where raw energy becomes conscious action.
In chakra philosophy, the solar plexus chakra governs your sense of self and your ability to act in the world. When it is balanced, it shows up as:
Because it is linked to the stomach and the fire element, the solar plexus chakra is also connected to how you digest life, not just food: how you process experiences, metabolise stress, and transform challenges into growth. Practitioners often say that people with a strong Manipura have a natural presence, while people with a weak one tend to fade into the background or overcompensate with control.
A blocked, underactive, or overactive solar plexus chakra can show up in many ways, and the signs are both emotional and physical. Common signs of an underactive solar plexus chakra include:
An overactive solar plexus chakra shows up differently: a need to control everything, perfectionism, competitiveness, arrogance, or bursts of anger when things do not go your way. If many of these patterns sound familiar, our guide to the signs of blocked chakras covers the wider picture across all seven centres.
Practitioners believe the solar plexus chakra becomes blocked when your sense of self is undermined, especially in childhood or during periods of intense stress. Common causes include:
These are traditional and experiential explanations rather than medical diagnoses. If you are dealing with anxiety, depression, or persistent digestive symptoms, it is always wise to speak to a doctor or mental health professional, and to treat chakra work as a complementary practice rather than a replacement for care.
Solar plexus chakra healing is about reconnecting with your inner fire. Because this chakra is linked to the fire element, most healing methods involve movement, breath, and consciously rebuilding self-trust. Here are the most effective approaches:
A simple solar plexus meditation can be done anywhere and takes about ten minutes:
Practised daily, even for five minutes, this meditation is one of the most reliable ways to strengthen the solar plexus. To understand how this centre fits into the whole system, read our beginner’s guide to what chakra healing is, and for the centre just below it, see our guide to sacral chakra healing.
People who work on their solar plexus chakra most often report:
These benefits are subjective and are not medically proven, but they are widely reported across traditions. Because the solar plexus sits at the centre of the seven chakras, balancing it also makes the lower chakras feel more secure and prepares the way for the heart, throat, and higher centres to open.
Self-practice is the foundation, but a practitioner can go deeper. During a chakra healing session, the practitioner assesses your energy centres and uses techniques such as Reiki, crystal work, sound, or guided visualisation to release blockages. Sessions are gentle: you lie down fully clothed, relax, and the work is done with hands placed on or near the body, or from a distance in online sessions.
If you would like a reading that looks at your energy body as a whole, our psychic reading page explains how intuitive readings work and what to expect. To book a session or ask questions, use our contact page, and for citrine, tiger’s eye, and other supportive stones, browse the shop to support your home practice.
The solar plexus chakra, or Manipura, is the third of the seven chakras, located in the upper belly near the navel. It is associated with the colour yellow and the fire element, and it governs confidence, willpower, self-esteem, and personal power.
A blocked solar plexus chakra usually feels like self-doubt, indecision, and a fear of standing up for yourself. Physically, it is often linked to digestive discomfort, a nervous stomach, low energy, and tension in the abdomen.
It depends on the person and the depth of the imbalance. Some people feel noticeably more confident within a few days of daily practice, while deeper patterns from long-term criticism or shame may take weeks or months of consistent work.
Citrine, tiger’s eye, and yellow jasper are the crystals most commonly recommended for the solar plexus chakra. Citrine is the favourite for confidence and motivation, while tiger’s eye is popular for grounded personal power.
Boat pose (Navasana), warrior poses, and gentle seated twists all open the solar plexus by engaging the core and bringing awareness to the abdomen. Any pose that strengthens the belly supports this chakra.
The solar plexus chakra’s seed mantra is RAM. Chanting it slowly while visualising yellow light at the navel is the traditional way to activate and balance this chakra.
Yes, in chakra philosophy an imbalanced solar plexus is closely linked to anxiety, especially social anxiety and worry about how others see you. Balancing it tends to bring a calmer stomach and a stronger inner sense of worth.
Yes. Core yoga, fire breath, affirmations, the RAM mantra, yellow foods, and daily meditation are all effective self-healing methods. A practitioner can help with deeper blockages, but daily self-practice is the real foundation.
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