Fueling your Fire
Scroll to the end of the post for June’s Playlist!
June 2023 Focus
The Third Chakra: Manipura (Sparkling Jewel) Pt.2
Energy, health, and digestion
In Part one we talked about the identity, and ego aspects of the third chakra and now we will explore how the stomach and digestive elements of the third chakra come into play. Here is a refresher on Manipura.
Manipura means sparkling jewel or jeweled city. The third Chakra is located in your abdominals, stomach, and low back. It is associated with the element of fire and the color yellow. This Chakra develops from 18 months of age to 4 years, as identity and independent sense of self is established. It represents the right to act as an individual. Signs of a healthy core chakra are: confidence, authenticity, integrity, balanced ego, ability to meet challenges, and control without attachment to outcome.
“The first wealth is health. “ – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Water is the most neglected nutrient in your diet, but one of the most vital.” – Julia Child
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist. Probably most of the information I have here, is old news to you. Never the less I want to share the things that I’m working on and the things that have helped me to find balance. Relationships to food can be complicated, I understand that. Here are some reminders about how what you put into your body matters to encourage you on a healthy journey.
Fueling your body- The third chakra relates to your stomach and digestion. You probably notice a difference in energy level depending on what fuel you use. Empty calories vs. nutrient rich foods are going to make you feel rather different. You will also feel different depending on how you eat. You should eat at regular intervals throughout the day. Many people find smaller portions more frequently give a more sustained energy level. Skipping meals, on the other hand, can really mess with your metabolism and cause you to over eat later in the day. When possible you should try not to eat from boredom or for emotional comfort because it creates bad eating habits and the extra calories have nowhere to go. Essentially, you should eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full. That seems simple but only if you are paying attention which with all the busyness of life I know I don’t always do.
What kind of food - You need proteins and complex carbohydrates to power you throughout your day. Food should look like food. The more processed something is, the less you will get out of it. When you can, read the ingredients in a product to see what else you are getting. Is sugar or some sugar variant, like high fructose corn syrup in the first three ingredients? Are there more ingredients you can’t identify than ones you can? Plant based, organic food, as close to the field or garden as you can get it, will give you the most benefit. Small substitutions along the way can also have a big impact. Vegetables and fruits are so important to your health and will make you feel more vibrant and energized. With fresh produce something is always better than nothing:
canned produce > no produce
frozen produce > canned produce
fresh produce > frozen produce
organic produce> nonorganic produce
farm/garden fresh produce > grocery store fresh produce
Water - Drink when you are thirsty. Your body needs water, plain boring water. Again so simple, but only if you are paying attention. Carrying a water bottle has helped remind me to check in with my thirst. Another tip I’ve found helpful is to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, which helps me wake up and it jump starts my metabolism.
Digestion - Pay attention to your bowel movements. Notice how your body reacts to certain foods and adapt if something doesn’t work for your body. Check with your doctor if you have frequent stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea. Proper hydration, enough fiber and physical activity can help keep things regular.
Do Your Best - Ok, that was a whole lot of “shoulds” and I really want to emphasize again that no one has it all figured out. I am not the best example, but I am increasingly aware of what I need. Step one is always seeing where you are first, what are things that work for you, and what are some things you hope to change. A plant based diet is something I hope to one day shift to, but I’m not there yet. In the mean time I am slowly building the recipies for meatless meals that I enjoy. If I meal plan I have a much easier time making good choices throughout the week. Try to make it easy to make good choices. That could mean keeping a healthy snack handy so you don’t drive through on your way home. It could mean not buying the junk food, or if you do, putting it on the highest shelf because if it’s hard to get you you will be less tempted.
Shape - Our culture is so obsessed with body shape, but honestly it’s what inside that matters. If you are healthy, eating well, and moving your body, the cosmetics are just ego. You do not need a 6 pack to be healthy. In fact I know many people who appear thin and strong ( how society sees health), but are very very unhealthy. It is natural and normal to change shape throughout your life and sometimes it’s so hard not to hold that against yourself in a negative way. You can and should set reasonable goals if there are things you want to strengthen or if weight that is challenging your mobility, but those goals need to be set with patience and kindness. Those goals can not based be in shame and should not be inflicted like a punishment. Your body is the fortress you have lived in your whole life. It has protected you and nurtured you and it deserves your respect, care, and love, not disappointment for not meeting imagined standards. All bodies are beautiful and I just had to share this image because truly, EVERYBODY has the right to feel at home in their body.
Here’s June’s Playlist!
