The term Solar Plexus is often mentioned in a Modern dance or Ballet class. If you have not heard of the term, perhaps you will. This blog will attempt to explain what it is, and how it is used for the betterment of a dancer. Before getting into the definition and it's use, it is important to discuss the main seven Chakras and the Endocrine System.
Endocrine System
7. Pineal Gland
6. Pituitary & Pineal Gland
5. Thyroid Gland
4. Thymus Gland
3. Pancreas, the gut, spleen
2. Male & female anatomy
1. Adrenal Gland
The chakras are Sanskrit for a wheel. These seven chakras are energy centers flowing in and out of the body system. With each chakra there is a gland or glands that coincide with each, called the Endocrine system. On a spiritual path the chakras help individuals check for balance and imbalances within the energy field of the body. When imbalanced, the body experiences a dis ease, or pain, whether emotional or physical, that can be a signal to the glands that healing is required.
The Root Chakra, associated with the adrenal gland, represents the support system. It is the bodies base foundation, grounded in nature. It's color is red, healing stone Gasper, element Earth and musical instrument the drum. If the root system is imbalanced the adrenal gland may not function properly during dangerous situations that require a fight or flight response. This causes stress to the Reptilian Complex of the brain. Training the mind to distinguish between reality and fear, eating foods that are red such as tomatoes, sweet potatoes, red grapes, etc. can raise the frequency of the root chakra and thus putting the foundation back into balance.
The Sacral Chakra, are the male and female anatomy of the Endocrine System. It is associated with self esteem, and loving your body. The Sacral Chakra is the creative life force energy. Artists have been known to be associated with this chakra. Eating foods that are orange, and meditating on self affirmations that you create, raises this frequency in balance with energy flow. The Tiger Eye is it's healing stone.
The Solar Plexus, the third chakra of the seven, is in correlation with the pancreas, the spleen, and all things representing the gut. The Solar Plexus is very powerful, it is connected to your identity as a sentient being. It is associated with intuition, and digestion. An imbalanced Solar Plexus could mean over indulgence, or anxiety. Meditation, listening to string instruments, eating foods that are yellow, such as lemons, yellow peppers, squash, bananas, using the stone citrine, yoga, and a warm fire will open this chakra and create balance and healing.
The fourth chakra is the Heart Chakra, and it's corresponding gland in the Endocrine System is the thymus gland. This chakra takes one from the internal perspective to look outward through giving, and being open to love. It's healing color is green, it's healing stones are jade, and emerald. Listening to the heart chakra string instruments will also do the heart some good. Leafy vegetables are a great source of nutrients to help energetically open the Heart Chakra. Feelings of self guilt or holding onto a past transgression blocks the Heart Chakra energy. Forgiveness, or letting go is another spiritual way of healing and allowing the flow of energy the heart will need to properly function.
The fifth chakra on the wheel is the Throat Chakra, and the thyroid is the aligned gland in the Endocrine System. The throat is the vibratory communication expression that has healing power through words, singing, and laughing. When opened and balanced, it represents purity, and honesty. Along with communication, the Throat Chakra is also open when one is listening, allowing the free flow of information from another. Lying, ignoring, and dismissing the inner voice, creates an imbalance in this chakra. Blue is it's representative color, turquoise is the healing stone, it's element is water, and blueberries will give the Throat Chakra energy.
The Third Eye Chakra, the pituitary and pineal glands. These two glands are most often referred together in the third of the seven chakras and the endocrine system. There function goes beyond the five senses with the ability to question reality. It is intuition, imagination, and the inalienable ability of knowing the inner self. Staying safe in the matrix, not questioning the gut intuition, and despite it's controversy, fluoride calcifies the pineal gland and can keep the Third Eye Chakra closed. Purple is the healing color, blue sapphire and blue tourmaline are the healing stones, the Third Eye Chakra has the element of air and the instruments are the woodwinds. Beet roots, purple grapes, and blueberries will help raise the frequency of this chakra and keep the pituitary and the pineal glands healthy.
When the above six chakras are equal in balance, the seventh chakra, the Crown Chakra, operates the pineal with melatonin to it's full capacity. It unifies all the chakras together in an overall mind and body balance. The balance is of the spiritual self, working in relation to harmonizing with nature. Material, and worldly values are unnecessary when the Crown Chakra is open and energy is flowing properly. The healing element is air, the stones are the diamond, amethyst, and clear quarts, and the healing instrument at 432 Hz is the bell. It has been noted that an individual who has achieved the highest frequencies from opening all seven chakras, needs only air, sunshine, and water to survive. No longer in need of food? WOW!
Taking the time to learn about the seven chakras, you will find an enormous amount of information that was not mentioned in the above paragraphs. With this brief overview of how they work, there purpose, and how you can release the energy flow, we can move on to the topic of the Solar Plexus incorporated in dance classes. One thing you may take away from this blog is that you are already engaging the Solar Plexus in your dance life and may have never known. That is because most of your movement stems from this particular chakra.
The Solar Plexus, located above the navel within the diaphragm, is your central source of power. This power is the birthplace to which all of your movement begins. The movement starts in the solar plexus and your energy then moves outward when limbs, or other appendages are used. For example when you move from en bas 5th position to en haut 5th position, this movement starts at the base of your core, and the Solar Plexus is active. When performing phrases that takes you from a standing position down to the floor and back up again, it is this area that leads you through that phrase. Think about that for a second. Your power stems from your gut. It's your intuition, it's your energy current that transitions you from place to place on a dance floor. This is truly amazing information!
Focusing on your breathing and abdominal muscles, not only is a technical achievement, but imagining that the Solar Plexus has energy flowing in and out of the body, is life changing. This is the stuff that take the art of dance to the next level. Dance is not just a superficial sport, or something you do for recreation, it is a study of life. A dancer has the opportunity to learn so much about who they are. A good class assignment would be to suggest that for thirty days students journal their dance class lessons, and relate it to a life experience. After the thirty days, share some of what they have learned in relation to dance and life. It can be a great inspiration for a good choreography piece, as well as learning something about oneself and others.
On your own time, as a student or in a class you teach, working to open the Solar Plexus as part of your warm up is a good idea. There are many traditional dance stretch and strength exercises one can do to open up this chakra. Yoga has much to offer as well, and is a great regime for all of the chakras. Movement emphasizing the abdominal cavity, movement that involves the core to move in multiple directions, and dance phrases that create limbs to move in opposition of each other, working with the abdominal region will contribute to opening the Solar Plexus. As you develop your dance warm up, think about the breath, the core, and the abdominal muscles. Be creative, incorporate moves you already know. Do a dance improvisation session working in those areas and come up with authentic movement of your own. The web has a plethora of information to offer anyone who is looking for inspiration or education on the chakras.
Understand that dance education is a forever learning process and that there will always be something new to learn. Continuing to take classes, or doing your own research, will manifest in you, a well rounded dancer, educator, and choreographer. Encourage yourself to work on your craft, gathering up information for the betterment of yourself, and then pass that information on to others. A dancers life is for life. It is Spiritual, it is natural, and allows one to experience Freedom.