The area approximately 4 fingers width below our belly button – the area of the womb – is an important area for our menstrual health, creativity and sexuality.

In the Chinese tradition, it’s called the “Dan Tien” (Field of Elixir). And in the Indian tradition, it’s called the “Swadhisthana” (Sacral Chakra).

Physically, the Sacral Chakra governs the lower abdomen, spleen, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, urinary bladders, pancreas, adrenal glands, sexual organs, reproduction and fertility.

Emotionally, it houses our emotional body – the ability to feel and process our emotions.

Spiritually, it’s the source of our intuition and creativity. And it symbolizes our relationship with sex, power and money.

When our Sacred Chakra is balanced we’re able to express our emotions in natural and healthy ways. We’re able to create healthy and intimate relationships. And we’re able to express ourselves creatively, and attract abundance in our lives.

When this chakra is blocked we may experience physical and emotional problems such as PMS, PMDD, period pain, menstrual irregularities, low libido, depression, intense anger or mood swings.

Past trauma or abuse, repressed or inappropriately expressed emotions from childhood, negative beliefs about sex, power and money, and unhealthy lifestyles can all contribute to the blockage in this area.

Unblocking the energy stuck in this area can help heal many of our menstrual and emotional disharmonies. Moreover, it helps us to awaken the radiant goddess from within, so we can shine in our most glorious light.

There are many exercises that can help stimulate and move the energy in our Sacral Chakra. In fact, any exercise that involves moving your pelvis and hips would be helpful, such as hula dancing and belly dancing.

Today, I want to share an ancient Tantra practice – Kegal exercise – to help strengthen your pelvic floor and pump energy into your Sacral Chakra.

This exercise is also called PC Pump. PC stands for pubococcygeus muscle, which is located halfway between your external genitalia and anus. It forms the floor of the pelvic cavity and supports the pelvic organs.

The PC muscle also controls urine flow and contracts during orgasm. If you’re having difficulty finding it, it’s the muscle that allows you to stop urine flow mid-stream. Or you can always take note of it when you have your next orgasm.

The exercise is fairly simple. Anyone can do it.

1. Sit comfortably in a chair or on the floor. Keep your back straight and your body relaxed.

2. Take a few slow, deep breathes in and out of your belly. Inhale, allow your breath to expand and fill up your belly, and exhale, emptying it all out.

3. On an in-breath, tighten your PC muscle. Hold for a moment.

4. On the out-breath, relax it. Focus on the relaxing, and allow your PC muscle to relax completely.

5. Repeat the cycle of inhaling and exhaling, tightening and relaxing the PC muscle a few times.

You can start with 30-50 times a day, and work your way up to 200 times a day. Overtime, it will strengthen your pelvic area and increase the energy flow in your Sacral Chakra.

And the benefits? Improved menstrual health, vitality, creativity, intuition, sensuality and sexual enjoyment.

Personally, I find this exercise a wonderful reminder for me to reconnect with and re-engage my body. It also helps energize me. After 10-20 pumps, I often get an immediate energy boost.

And the beauty is that you can do this exercise anywhere and at any time. Nobody is going to know except you.

Recently I started to do this when my car is stopped by a red light. It’s kind of naughty I know. But I like it!

Recommendations:

If you want a deeper practice, I recommend Maya Fiennes's Kundalini Yoga: Journey through the Chakras. I have her entire DVD set, and have been practicing at home for several years. It's one of my favorite practices.  

You may also want to check out LELO Luna Beads, the World's Bestselling Kegel Exercising Aid. It helps tighten your PC muscles by forcing your body to do Kegel exercises to keep the balls in place. You can increase the resistance over time with two beautifully designed 28-Gram and 37-Gram beads. Check out the reviews.

Check it out, and let me know how it is for you…

* Image credit: Soulstice Healing