Transcription:
Solar Plexus Chakra: The Key to our Power Center and Confidence

Deborah Howell (Host): Welcome to Stoughton Health Talk, I'm Deborah Howell, and I invite you to listen as we get introduced to the chakras. And in particular to the solar plexus chakra, which helps us tap into our power center and confidence. Joining me today is Amy Crull. She's a Reiki master teacher, a yoga teacher, and a holistic health coach. Amy, always a pleasure to have you.

Amy Crull: Yes. Always a pleasure for me too. Thank you for having me.

Deborah Howell (Host): Of course. Now I have recently taken up the game of pickleball, which if you want to play the game well against accomplished players, you really need to feel your confidence on the court. And that's what I'm really excited to learn more about the solar plexus chakra, which can help boost our confidence and open the door to our power center. I mean, who wouldn't want that?

Amy Crull: Exactly.

Deborah Howell (Host): So before we get into the solar plexus chakra, can you give us a quick overview of the entire chakra system?

Amy Crull: Yes. So the chakra system is this energetic body, and extends even further than our physical body. And it incorporates the aura. And these things we call chakras, right? So, the chakras are, when you define them, it means wheel or spinning disc, and that's simply where energy converges in the body. So there's seven major chakras in the body. And, it's that picture that we have seen of people with these rainbow dots going up their spine. Those are the chakras. And what's very interesting about the chakras is they are first mentioned about year 1500. So all cultures around the world referenced the chakra system. So Native Americans, Nordic, all the cultures around the world have mentioned this chakra system. So it's been with us for a very long time.

Deborah Howell (Host): That's incredible. I hadn't realized all the different cultures had embraced this. I thought it was from a specific area.

Amy Crull: So very interesting to dive into the chakra system, the history of it.

Deborah Howell (Host): Yeah. All right. But now let's focus on our friend, the solar plexus chakra. Where would you like to begin?

Amy Crull: So it's located in the body, right below your bottom rib and above your belly button. So this is going to be upper abdomen, and it's going to be those core muscles. So really feeling that inner strength with those core muscles. And then it also incorporates our digestive organs. So you've got your stomach, your upper intestines liver, gallbladder, spleen, the middle of your spine. And then for glands, it's going to be pancreas, so associated with insulin and then adrenal glands also come into play with your solar plexus.

Deborah Howell (Host): Very, very important. They say all things lead to the stomach.

Amy Crull: Yeah, definitely.

Deborah Howell (Host): What else can you tell us about this chakra that makes it so important?

Amy Crull: Okay. So the color with this is yellow. So you're thinking a very bright, vivid, yellow. And yellow, the very powerful, color associated with confidence and this, inner strength it's inner fire, and that we all have within us. The sense is site. So then that kind of leads into how do we see ourselves in the world? This is formed when we're ages, two to four. And what does a toddler do? Like their favorite word is no. So this is where you're really coming into your own identity. Right? You see yourself as your own being you're separating from your parents and, a lot of these phrases, like I can do it. And just differentiating yourself from everybody else that's around you. So very tied into ego.

Deborah Howell (Host): I read, a little cartoon this week that said, do everything today with a confidence of a four year old in a Batman costume.

Amy Crull: I love that. I love that and I wish we could all have a little bit more that.

Deborah Howell (Host): Are there any key words or themes associated with this chakra?

Amy Crull: Yes. So this is what we call our power center. This is where we kind of manifest things into our life. It's our drive. It's how we transform, purify, digest things, great for athletes, great for people who have to perform. Myself, I used to be a, division one athlete. And so I really tapped into this and my life. Characteristics for this area can be aggressive, dominating, temper tantrums, type A personality, competitive, arrogant. And then you have the flip side, low energy week will more passive, poor discipline, poor self-esteem, weak digestion and kind of a victim mentality. So you see how there's all of that tied into the solar plexus. A balanced solar plexus would look like charismatic, responsible, taps into their willpower, confident, a warm personality, a sense of humor. Self-discipline able to meet challenges, you know, all these things that we want to do on a daily basis.

Deborah Howell (Host): It's so interesting because sometimes when I'm on the court and maybe you felt this too, when you were playing, you just simply say the word confidence to yourself and it helps.

Amy Crull: Yes, definitely. Definitely. And just even, for some people it's just tapping into that yellow or putting your hands right on their solar plexus and breathing into that area, just kind of building that fire up there.

Deborah Howell (Host): Yeah, that was my next question. How best can we connect with this chakra?

Amy Crull: Essential oils for this area would be, ginger of course, for digestion and things like that. Any kind of. Also lemon is great here. Sandalwood, purification, purify, things like that. And then crystals, I love tiger eye because tiger eye is just pure confidence, right? If you're feeling a little low on confidence, just keep some tiger eye in your pocket or wear a bracelet of tiger eye. It's amazing how much it will give you strength.

Deborah Howell (Host): I can just feel the power. Just thinking about a tiger. I, in my hand, it's so beautiful and so deep.

Amy Crull: Yeah. So yoga poses that can help would be things that build up your core. So boat pose boat is just where we are kind of sitting And then we lean back and we bring our feet up and balance there, building that inner fire. And then twist. So, anytime we do a twist in the body, whether that's laying on the ground or maybe in chair pose and adding a twist, you're wringing out your digestion. So it's so good to just kind of get that elbow systems moving in the body, clearing them out. So those are really great poses to do for your solar plexus.

Deborah Howell (Host): And good for your core as well.

Amy Crull: Yes, definitely. Because when we feel powerful in our core, we just feel stronger naturally from the inside out.

Deborah Howell (Host): Right. So is there anything else you'd like to add to our conversation today before we sadly, let you go?

Amy Crull: As far as tapping into that solar plexus, Pilates is wonderful. Martial arts is wonderful. It's going to bring in that more soft discipline, and just try and things outside of your comfort zone. Like I think it's so great. You've taken up pickle ball and that's going to be great to just get you out of your comfort zone. Another thing I like to tell people is help others, look for ways that you can just, maybe volunteer at the food pantry and, stock shelves just even once a month, whenever we can do that, it just makes us feel better about ourselves.

Deborah Howell (Host): Hundred percent. There is no glow, like the glow of saying, you know what, just even to ourselves and not to anyone else, but I made a difference.

Amy Crull: Definitely. And that'll just radiate out from you.

Deborah Howell (Host): Right. So how can people get in touch with you, Amy, if they want to learn more?

Amy Crull: You can visit my website at www.speroholistic.com and Spero is S P E R O. And then holistic, H O L I S T I C.com.

Deborah Howell (Host): So once again, it's www.speroholistic.com. I tell you what, this has been so wonderful. Thank you so much for joining us again today with all the richness that you bring.

Amy Crull: Well, thank you very much. You're welcome.

Deborah Howell (Host): And for more information you can head on over to our website@stoughtonhealth.com to get connected with one of our providers. And that concludes this episode of Stoughton Health Talk. Please remember to subscribe, rate and review this podcast and all the other Stoughton Hospital podcasts. I'm Debra Howell. Have yourself a terrific day.