Spleen Chakra

What Does Spleen Chakra Mean?

The spleen chakra is the second of the seven major chakras, located in the lower abdomen between the root and solar plexus chakras. The spleen chakra is the energy center that focuses on creation, intimacy and enjoyment. It affects the reproductive organs and digestive tract.

The spleen chakra is also known as the sacral chakra or by its Sanskrit name, svadisthana.

The spleen chakra is represented by the color orange and is drawn as a six petaled flower with a moon crescent inside. The bija mantra associated with the spleen chakra is Vam, chanting Vam is believed to help bring the spleen chakra into balance. In yoga, the spleen chakra is stimulated by poses involving movement in the hips and lower abdomen, such as cobra and revolved triangle poses.

Yogapedia Explains Spleen Chakra

Each chakra is an energy center that is believed to affect the body on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. On the physical level, the spleen chakra activates energy for the kidneys, bladder, lower digestive tract and the sexual/reproductive organs, as well as the lumbar plexus. On a mental/emotional level, the spleen chakra is associated with emotions that impact relationships – sensuality, self-acceptance and intimacy. It governs how the individual relates to others and what such relationships mean to them.

Imbalance in the spleen chakra is thought to be a contributing factor to eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, urinary tract problems and impotency.

Yoga poses that activate the spleen chakra include:

• Cobra pose (bhujangasana) – This back-bending pose opens the spleen chakra as the pelvic region and abdominal muscles work to decompress the lower back.
• Extended side angle pose (utthita parsvakonasana) – In this pose, the spleen chakra is the center of balance and energy. Because this pose creates a straight spine and opens this chakra, energy flows uninterrupted through to the spine.
• Revolved triangle pose (parivrtta trikonasana) – This pose has some of the same benefits as postures for the root chakra, but the twist focuses the energy on the spleen chakra region, massaging the digestive and reproductive organs.
• Dancer's pose (natarajasana) – Holding this balancing pose centers the energy in the spleen chakra region and allows it to flow from the chakra throughout the abdomen.