How to Unblock the Solar Plexus Chakra
For tension that built up around a specific event, not general low confidence.
Unblocking — as distinct from balancing generally — is about releasing tension the body has been holding since a specific event: a public failure, a controlling relationship, a moment your authority was undermined. The fastest release techniques are physical rather than cognitive: shaking, vigorous exhale-focused breathwork, and movement that lets pent-up energy actually discharge, followed by the standard balancing practices to keep it that way.
This page assumes you already suspect the solar plexus (see our full self-assessment if not) and want the release-focused techniques specifically, rather than the general maintenance routine covered in our complete solar plexus guide.
How to Unblock the Solar Plexus Chakra
1. Shaking (2–3 minutes)
Stand and physically shake your arms, torso, and legs, letting the movement start small and build. This is a body-based tension-discharge technique used in somatic practice broadly, not chakra-specific — but it targets the same physical holding pattern (a tight, guarded stomach) that a blocked solar plexus produces.
2. Sharp-exhale breathwork (3–4 minutes)
Sit or stand, and breathe with a short, forceful exhale through the mouth, letting the inhale happen naturally after. This differs from the slow diaphragmatic breathing used in general balancing — the emphasis here is on release, not calm, and it can bring up emotion; let it.
3. Naming the source (5 minutes)
Journal or think through, specifically: what event or relationship made you feel powerless, controlled, or humiliated. You don’t need to resolve it in this session — naming it is often enough to loosen the physical tension attached to it.
4. Core-strengthening movement (5 minutes)
Boat pose or a short set of bicycle crunches rebuilds a sense of physical strength in the same area, which reinforces the release rather than leaving it just emotional.
When this isn’t the right tool
If the tension traces back to a genuinely traumatic event, this practice is not a substitute for trauma-informed therapy. Somatic release techniques can bring up more than expected; if that happens, slow down and consider working with a professional rather than pushing through alone.
Commonly Claimed vs. Actually True
| Commonly claimed | Actually |
|---|---|
| Unblocking happens in one session | A single session can produce a real physical release, but tension tied to a significant event usually needs several sessions, and sometimes professional support, to fully resolve. |
| You need to relive the memory in detail to release it | Naming the source is usually enough. Re-living it in full detail isn’t necessary and can be counterproductive without professional guidance. |
| Unblocking and balancing are the same thing | Balancing is ongoing maintenance; unblocking is a targeted release for tension tied to something specific. Most people need unblocking once, then shift to regular balancing. |
Tools for This Practice
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Fabulous Frannie 3rd Chakra Roll-On Essential Oil Blend
Applying this before the shaking-and-breathwork sequence above gives the session a distinct start point — useful for a practice you’re doing occasionally around specific tension rather than daily.
Pachamama Essentials Citrine Tumbled Stones (4-pack)
Once the acute release work is done, citrine is the traditional stone for the rebuilding phase — carry one for a few weeks afterward as part of the general balancing routine, not the release session itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Reading
- How to Balance the Solar Plexus Chakra — the complete guide, for ongoing maintenance after this release work.
- How to Clear the Solar Plexus Chakra — for absorbed negativity rather than tension from your own history.
- Which Chakra Do I Need to Balance? — the full self-assessment.
Sources
- Somatic tension-release techniques (shaking, breath-based discharge) as used broadly in body-based practice, applied here to the traditional solar plexus framework.
Chakra balancing is a wellness practice, not a medical or mental-health treatment. If tension traces back to trauma, work with a qualified therapist alongside any of this. Product links are affiliate links: if you buy through them, this site earns a small commission at no additional cost to you.