How to balance the sacral chakra

The sacral chakra space, the area about two inches below the belly button, is one that is often overlooked. We tend to hear so much about the root, the heart and throat chakra, they are the big hitters, but so many us are blocked or stagnant in the sacral chakra area. This is often because of its association with creativity.

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We may have been brought up to believe that creativity is solely associated with art. And if you don’t consider yourself artistic, you don’t draw, paint or write music, then you may have closed your mind and therefore your energy off to creativity. We are all divine beings in a human experience and without exception, creativity, and the power and vitality of the sacral chakra are available to all. We are all creative beings as our birthright. You may just have to apply self-compassion and self-enquiry to find yours.

Tap into your Creativity

Take a long hard look at yourself, from childhood to now and maybe pick up a pen and write out all the hobbies and pastimes you have or had, and even subjects you enjoyed in school. Then make a list of things friends and family ask you to help them with now. Some examples here is that you might be go-to person in your circle to decorate a venue for a party, help write a CV or pick out an outfit for a special occasion. Maybe you put great playlists together or know where to source the prettiest wallpapers and interior items and are known for your gorgeous home. Rediscover or simply appreciate these gifts, whatever they are baking, colouring, planning parties, making Halloween costumes, whatever it is for you, make time for it.

Reproductive health

We can’t talk about creativity without the literal interpretation – the creation of life. The sacral chakra resides in our pelvis and permeates the womb space. Becoming a parent is the ultimate act of creation and creativity. But whether you choose not to reproduce or life just turned out that way, this connection still exists, as potential, even if you are not a mother or father. For women womb healing or practices can be really helpful to tune into that part of yourself. Cycle syncing and tracking your menstrual cycle and planning your exercise, work or life around those times may help manage your energy levels, expectations of yourself and the ebb and flow of prana (life-force) in the sacral chakra.

Get creative

Move your body

All forms of dance are wonderful for the sacral chakra. Whether its ballet, Zumba, or belly dancing, or freestyling around your kitchen to the radio! Dance like no one is watching. Of course, yoga asana, can sometimes resemble a dance, a rhythm and flow, so this counts too. If you were raised in a culture where you don’t hit the dancefloor without “a drink taken” or you’re a little more reserved, I suggest you step out of that comfort zone and try ecstatic dance. It is a completely sober activity, sometimes combined with plant medicine like cacao, and very freeing. Everyone is doing their own thing, no right or wrong, in their own space, just moving to the music. In my experience, everyone is in the music, their own internal world and not there to judge your dance moves. This would be my biggest recommendation to contact to the sacral chakra.

Hips don’t lie

There is power to be found in stillness too. While movement is essential for the sacral, arguably more so than for any other chakra, introspection and calm are required also. Yin yoga is a style of yoga asana where we hold the poses for long periods of time, less a dance than vinyasa, more of a pause. Yin yoga poses where we focus on the hips and pelvis are particularly potent. By holding poses like Butterfly, Pigeon, and Dragon, you create space for deep release and reflection. These postures encourage the flow of life force to the sacral chakra and its physical areas of representation and invite emotion that may have been suppressed, or held for a long time causing stagnation, to rise to the surface.

From my experience as a student, a practitioner and a teacher, these are the poses where tears may come. Not from a physical over-exertion or pain (we should NEVER push ourselves that far in yoga) but from emotional pain and release. I always tell my students – yoga does not put an emotion into your body, it helps you process what is already there. It sometimes requires a little bit of bravery to face that. Crying is a release. Knowing when to move and when to be still are yin and yang components to a balanced sacral chakra.