Yogic Anatomy – Second Chakra or Svadhistana

Assuming that the basic tenets of survival are now sustained, we have evolved to become aware of our sensations, feelings and emotions. We experience pleasure, joy and laughter, and share these expressions in the process of creativity, through sexual experience, the arts, creative expression, and nurturing of our children. It is often said that you cannot express the true meaning of joy until you look into the eyes of your own children.

The source of the energy of these emotions and feelings is Chi energy, and creates polarities. Without pain, one cannot experience pleasure, without sorrow once cannot comprehend joy.

This duality, or expression of differences becomes one of the measurements of individual success, and achievement in the modern age. We compare our success and achievements to past experiences, and we always seek to raise the bar. Better sex, more pleasure, fully experience the joy, avoid the pain. In doing so, we push the polarities further away from each other, and setup the cataclysmic yo-yo experience of karma. Our rational mind tells us to avoid pain, and lessons of life are not learned, and in the absence of life direction in the higher chakras, we do not follow our Dharma, our destiny, and instead look for goals in life that are a results of the polarities we have experienced to date – our karma.

Not surprisingly so, the second Chakra or Svadhistana is located in the abdomen, just above the genitals. It is the seat of the emotions, and strongly influences our feelings and our awareness and reactions to them. Many ancient traditions believe that the unconscious mind was located in or near the second chakra, The emotional lessons of life are stored there. When we fully acknowledge these lessons, accept them, we can let these old emotions go, and rebalance. The Chi energy is a very powerful creative energy, and so the stimulus of reproductive organs are awoken from the Chi energy of the 2nd chakra.

Imbalanced, one experiences creative blocks, and may turn to addictions or shallow sexual relationship to try to address this energy imbalance. The molecules of emotions from these addictions helps to diminish the euphoric response as the energy of the second chakra tries to release, and mix with the fire energy of the root chakra. If the evolutionary pathways of the energy is blocked, the energy can become explosive, and result in the effect of the “straw that broke the camels back”, where a small incident triggers a deep traumatic experiences, and shock.

As a survival mechanism, the body shuts down the awareness of these emotions to avoid the pain and trauma, with the expectation the person can resolve at a later date. The person becomes detached, with rigid emotions. Frigidity becomes the order of the day, and the person is burdened with guilt and shame, usually of their own physical bodies, or the functional system of reproduction, excretion or urination. Anorexia and Bulimia are indications of this.

In relationships, they may fail to enforce any boundaries, and be irresponsible in the search for sexual gratification. Long term, the blockages will cause the individual to have problems with the reproductive organs, kidneys, or bladder, the individual may become infertile in the case of the female, or have erectile dysfunction or low sperm count in the case of the male.

In this modern age, secondary problems may be triggered. In the case of a man whose partner is considerably younger or more attractive than them, they may experience conflicts of not being “manly” enough for their partner, causing male self devaluation conflicts, which trigger other conflicts such as prostate cancer in the male. A woman who experiences sexual self-devaluation may develop cervical cancer in the same manner.

Tragic loss of a child, or a business that felt like a child (e.g. “That business was my baby”) can affect the organs of the second chakra. In the case of the male it can result in testicular cancer, and in the female, it can result in ovarial cancer.

The second chakra can be balanced by asanas such as Frog Pose, Cobra Pose, Butterfly, Sat Kriya, Cat-Cow or pelvic lifts, or the Maha Mudra.

The Sat Kriya Workout is an excellent kriya, and should be part of your regular yoga practice, other recommended Kriyas include Sex Energy Transformation, Releasing Premenstrual Tension and Balancing Sexual Energy.

An individual who has a well-balanced second chakra, will have satisfied appetite for life, creative expression, a positive attitude, emotional fulfillment, responsible relationships, and have a relaxed attitude to sexual functions.

The balance can be maintained by daily aquarian sadhana and long chants, which help raise the kundalini energy as it pierces each chakra.