Vishuddha and Manipura Linking

Kundalini Yoga is an esoteric tradition that teaches techniques to promote the flow of vital life energy (prana or kundalini shakti) through circuits in the body, governing emotions and actions. This specific technique aims to connect two major chakras to facilitate cleansing and opening between them, helping to digest emotions that form blockages to motivation or behavior. Emotions and Motivation, Chakras: Energy Centers in the Body

The theory of Kundalini Yoga says that we have this vital life energy and that as this energy flows through circuits in our body, it governs different kinds of things like emotions and actions. So this specific technique is going to connect two of our major chakras and essentially facilitate a cleansing or an opening between these two things.

The manipura chakra, located at the navel, governs emotions and digestion. Just as digestion metabolizes food and turns it into part of the body, the manipura chakra is also associated with learning, where information from the outside is internalized. Undigested or unprocessed emotions can be addressed through manipura chakra techniques. Chakras: Energy Centers in the Body, Emotions and Motivation

So interestingly enough, the manipura which governs metabolism also governs learning because the information is out there, but for me to learn it I have to take something outside of me and I have to make it a part of me. So a lot of times when we have undigested emotions, unprocessed emotions, the right kinds of techniques involve manipura chakra techniques, because that’s what will sort of allow us to burn up or digest those negative emotions.

The vishuddha chakra, located at the throat, governs the effect on the outside world. It is associated with speech, which can inspire, convince, create problems, or patch things together. The vishuddha chakra is central to success and outward movement. Chakras: Energy Centers in the Body, Emotions and Motivation

So the throat or the Vishuddha chakra is one of these central parts that kind of governs success or outward movement.

Practice:

1. Sit up straight with the spine, neck, and head in perfect alignment.
2. Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
3. While inhaling, feel or imagine a rising sensation (like a cool, blue column of energy) from the navel to the throat.
4. While exhaling, feel or imagine the energy descending (like a warm, orange column) from the throat back to the navel.
5. Continue breathing and focusing on the sensation or visualization of energy moving between the navel and throat.
6. Practice for about 60 seconds, then release the attention from the column and slowly open your eyes.
   This technique, though not scientifically validated, may help digest emotions and free one up to act, in addition to providing the benefits of mindfulness. Kundalini Yoga: Connecting Emotions and Motivation, Manipura Chakra: Digestion and Learning, Vishuddha Chakra: Action in the External World

And so if we look at these two concepts, which once again, there really isn’t any scientific evidence for what we sort of find is that if we’re struggling to act in the outside world, due to an emotion, we want a technique that essentially works on both of these chakras. So what we’re going to teach you today is a form of Pranayam, that sort of a chakra Shuddhi, which means that chakra cleansing practice, and Pranayam means breath practice that sort of ties these two things together and makes their action more harmonious.

Reflective Questions:

• How might undigested emotions be holding me back from taking action in my life?
• What sensations or visualizations arise for me when practicing the vishuddha and manipura linking technique?
• In what ways can I incorporate this practice into my daily routine to support emotional processing and motivated action?