Yoga doesn’t just make you more flexible, connected, grounded, kind, compassionate and well, generally more awesome… if you create a flow with the correct sequenced poses… you can actually gain confidence!
If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out the Base Chakra Guide, Sacral Chakra Guide, Heart Chakra Guide, Throat Chakra Guide and Third Eye Chakra Guide too.
BUT also! We made an eBook where we cover ALL the Chakras in one handy download. It’s a 30 page eBook filled with so much goodness. You can grab your copy HERE!
You see, Yoga postures work with the energy of your body. You move your body in a certain way, bend a certain part, compress a particular organ, breathe a little deeper, you literally change the energetics of your body.
This all happens without you even knowing your Yoga teacher designed it that way!
This is my favourite part about being your MerryBody Yoga teacher. I love to learn what’s behind each pose and not just the muscle that we’re stretching or strengthening. I think about what our #TeamMerryBody students need (emotionally, spiritually and mentally) and then create a flow that makes it happen for them.
The Yoga poses I’m going to share with you today will make you feel more confident.
Confidence is something that I think we could all welcome in more of. That feeling of being able to show up as your most authentic, true self.
Sometimes it’s there and sometimes it’s not. This is why Yoga is such a powerful tool, as it can create more confidence for you when you need it most!
Like before a job interview… a date… the first day of a new job/school and really any other moment in life when we want to feel like OH YEAH, I can do this life thing!
Here’s what confidence is not:
- Confidence is NOT being the loudest in the room.
- Confidence is NOT trying to be someone other than yourself to fit in or be seen.
- Confidence is NOT putting up with someone/something and then exploding with emotion (we’ve all been there!).
Here’s what confidence is:
- Confidence is stepping into a room and feeling calm/excited/grounded to connect with others.
- Confidence is speaking up when you feel the urge and sharing your opinion (in a kind way :P).
- Confidence is walking away when the situation just ain’t your vibe.
- Confidence is saying YES when you mean YES and NO when you mean NO.
- Confidence looks like YOU.
What is the Solar Plexus Chakra?
These 8 Yoga poses below will make you more confident. They focus on the Solar Plexus Chakra, or your Manipura Chakra, this is the space just above the belly button and just below the ribs.
This is your seat of confidence. The place where inner transformation begins. This is your inner fire.
When we stretch, strengthen, twist and compress this area of the body, your energy literally changes and makes you feel more confident. You will feel empowered. Excited about going and grabbing life exactly the way you want to. It’s science yo 😉
Also, if you ever notice when you feel nervous (like before going on a stage and speaking in front of people) that this part of your body begins to move about… ahhh yes, butterflies!
How can we start to awaken, cleanse and align our Solar Plexus Chakra?
With Mantra, Mudra and Yoga postures!
After you do this sequence you will feel strong, powerful and ready to step into any situation.
Before you begin your practice, take a deep breath in through the nose and a long exhale out the mouth.
Write the mantra on your mind, heart, and soul… I AM CONFIDENT.
Let’s do these 8 Yoga poses so you can feel more confident!
I suggest you do them in this order, as it’s progressively sequenced… this flow is from the class I Am Confident inside MerryBody Online Studio!
Yoga Pose to Build Confidence: Matangi Mudra (with Mantra!)
Start your practice with the Matangi mudra (energy seal), clasp all of your fingers together, then release the middle fingers and connect the middle finger pads. This energy seal allows you to create self-esteem and harness your determination.
A mudra is a way you place the hands, or the body, that seals and redirects the prana (lifeforce/energy) within the body. This mudra is directly linked to the Solar Plexus Chakra. Spend a 5 deep breaths here and then you can chant (in your mind or out loud) RUUUUUU-MMMM. This vibration is directly linked to the Solar Plexus Chakra, the RUM vibration encourages your Solar Plexus energy to awaken, cleanse and align. You can also imagine the colour yellow starting to swirl around the mind and body. It’s fun, try it!
This Yoga pose creates confidence: Cat/Cow Breath (or Marjaiasana and Bitilasana).
Hands are directly under shoulders, knees are directly under the hips. Inhale through the nose and arch the spine, shine your heart, gaze up toward the sky. Feel the stretch in the belly.
Then exhale, press the Earth away, puff the back of the shoulders and gaze toward the navel.
This posture awakens the spine as well as stretching and compressing your seat of confidence!
This Yoga pose makes you feel more confident: Twisted Low Lunge (Anjaneasana)
For your low and high lunge (below pose), try and keep the hips square at all times, especially when you twist, the twist comes from the torso. Your front knee should be directly above your front ankle, creating a 90 degree bend. Your feet are on train tracks or hip distance.
As you inhale lift both arms overhead, as you exhale twist to the same side as your front knee, reach both arms out long.
Repeat the breath and movement 5 times on each side.
This is my favourite Yoga pose to create confidence! High Lunge Prayer Twist
In high lunge, inhale the arms go above the head, palms connect, then as you exhale twist toward your front knee. Opposite elbow binds over the front thigh. Press the palms together and the elbow into the thigh to create the twist in the torso.
Ensure that your legs remain switched on. Pull the belly in and up with every inhale and as you exhale, twist a little bit further.
If taking the high lunge option, be sure to really engage the back thigh by lifting the knee cap and pressing the heel away.
Super easy Yoga twist to make you feel confident (Marichyasana C)
Sitting on your booty, with one leg long and the other leg bent with the foot flat… inhale and then exhale twist the torso toward the bent knee, try to take opposite elbow over the bent knee and the other hand behind you as a second spine for support. Hold here for 5 breaths. Focus on lengthening the spine.
Then de-rotate by twisting the opposite way and holding for a further 5 breaths.
A Yoga confidence pose to compress the belly and open the sides… Upavistha Konasana with side stretch variation!
Take your legs really wide, inhale lengthen the spine and then exhale melt the torso forward. Arms can reach out long. For your seated wide leg forward fold, if you’re struggling to fold forward, sit on a blanket or a cushion to elevate the hips slightly. Remember, you can bend your knees as much as you need. Hold for 5-10 breaths.
Take a side, lateral bend and hold for 5 breaths. Repeat on the other side. This feels SO GOOD.
Ok… how do you feel now? From before Yoga to post Yoga? Energised? Excited? Connected? Grounded? Ready to take on the world?
Yep! I thought so… that’s because you’ve just awakened your Manipura or Solar Plexus Chakra. You’ve worked with the energy of your body to create more confidence from the inside out!
You’re pretty much… superhuman!
If you loved these confidence-building Yoga poses and you feel GOOD from doing them, bringing a consistent Yoga practice into your life might be just what you’re looking for.
This is what MerryBody (and me and Emma as your teachers) can create for you!
MerryBody gives you unlimited access to online Yoga, Pilates and Meditation classes. You get access to #TeamMerryBody – a community of supportive, uplifting people with a similar mission. To exercise because it FEELS GOOD and creates JOY. Not for punishment and NOT because we hate our bodies.
You’ll also be able to ask me any questions about your Yoga/Meditation practice (and Emma about your Pilates).
Every day we help Members with their technique and offer advice on how to create consistency and transformation.
I’d love to join you on your journey, you can learn more here – or ask me any questions.
Look forward to seeing you on the mat!
Always merrymaking,
Carla
P.s you might also like these 10 poses to de-stress the mind and body!