Swadhisthana

Swadi, what is she talking about? Has she also joined the magical circus of freaks? What does this have to do with sexuality? I'm not on the side of freaks yet; I'm just deep in yogic literature—or I was when I took the yoga teacher exam. Swadhisthana is the sacral chakra, which is supposed to influence sexual problems and sweetness. 

Esoteric anatomy was not easy to chew on. I find it hard to believe, as I usually rely on evidence. I was happy to listen to the lectures and found some sense in the seven chakras used by yoga, but not as much as some of my classmates, who listened to each sentence about the chakras with their eyes and mouths wide open. "Well, I once called the fortune-teller," I thought. I noticed the same in yoga classes. Many learners were interested in chakras and wanted to learn how we can influence them quickly.  

In yoga, there are seven chakras, energy vortices located in the human body parallel to the spine. Each of them covers certain human traits and problems. For example, if we have problems with creativity, the problem after yogic esoteric anatomy lies in the sacral chakra; if we have issues with fear, it is in the solar plexus chakra. Yoga practice teaches us how to balance the chakras and remove the congestion of life energy that flows through them. It is not only yogic practice that balances the chakras; we also need to live in balance (e.g., work/rest ratio).

Chakras were first described in the Upanishads, ancient yogic texts written in the period before Christ. Sages and healers perceived them during meditation; some felt their impact on the body and the personality, and others perceived them through colors and symbols. This is also why we attribute individual colors to them today, but they also differ in the number of lotus petals, the Divinity they represent, or other symbolic signs.  

The sacral chakra, or swadhisthana, is the second chakra that is most often associated with sexuality as well as the joy of life (only a few people know this). It lies above the genital organs, near the first lumbar vertebra, and symbolizes female energy, creativity, and the birth of the new. In this chakra, the connection between the female and male aspect happens, which is also the main tantric feature of this chakra. The goal of tantra is to transform unhealthy urges into sexual energy that can be overcome and receive spiritual growth.

When the second sacral chakra is stable, it allows us to have a healthy view of our sexuality, to seethe from enjoying life, to accept other people with no prejudice, and to be creative and confident. On the other hand, jealousy, fear, and obsession with sexuality are disturbances in the functioning of this chakra. If the chakra is healthy, our sexual and urological organs and a part of the digestive organs are also in tip-top shape.

Why am I even explaining about this chakra and its impact on our sexuality? I have no idea, but some part of me believes that yoga can affect sexuality to some extent. It doesn't work miracles but helps build a relationship with yourself. It is not a sprint but a marathon. Although today, it promises people that with a sequence of certain positions or asanas in yoga, you will achieve a better sex life that will delight you and your partner, this will most likely not work. Or you can use asanas to balance your chakras and seek influence for your sex life within it. If nothing else, the yoga practice will strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and teach you to breathe, which can also be used in any sexual activity. :)

Even today, as a yoga teacher, I do not tackle esoteric anatomy easily, but I meet people looking for an easy fix. In their eyes, there is hope that yoga can quickly cure all problems related to sexuality, only to conquer those positions that are intended for this chakra to get balanced. And I keep disappointing them. If you want to believe in chakras, you need to believe in all of them and not just a sacral one. Only then will yoga begin to affect your body comprehensively, including the sacral chakra.