In the fifth of our series on Chakras (the energy centers of our body), we move to Vishuddha: the throat chakra. Vishuddha is our power of communication. It’s how we speak, how we find our voice, and how we sing and praise, but it’s also more deeply about understanding which means it’s also about listening.
Located in and around the throat, Vishuddha is actually the connecting chakra between our lower body (our physical being) and the root, sacral, solar plexus and heart chakras, and our higher chakras – the Third Eye and Crown. If you are physically in great shape but not in touch with your thoughts and spirituality, your ability to communicate might suffer, and vice versa. Vishuddha connects your basic human and physical needs with your higher wisdom and consciousness.
Signs of a strong Throat Chakra include the ability to speak clearly, to debate respectfully, to listen compassionately, and to respond productively. A strong Throat Chakra also means a stronger self-esteem and helps with public speaking and performing.
Signs of a weak Throat Chakra might inhibit your ability to speak clearly, or to muffle your voice, or suffer from stage fright. You might not be comfortable defending yourself or expressing your opinions. Or, to the opposite degree, you might ramble or dominate the conversation, or use inappropriate language that doesn’t benefit your argument.
Physically, those with blocked Vishuddha energy might experience thyroid problems, gum disease, frequent sinus infections or TMJ issues.
There are many yoga positions that can help to strengthen and support your Throat Chakra including Adho Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Facing Dog), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose), and Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand). But what we encourage in this blog is about much more than the poses. We want you to use your Throat Chakra to enhance your Throat Chakra!
How do you do that? First, by breathing. Use your pranayama and Ujjayi breath. Strengthen your inhales and exhales, build strong lungs by holding breath, and by breathing when faced with challenges (rather than immediately firing off a response).
Use your Throat Chakra by chanting. OM is not only a perfect and simple chant, but chanting OMॐ creates a vibration at 432Hz: the same vibrational frequency found in all living things in nature! We align ourselves with the lifeforce energy of all natural things when we are in the same frequency. What word or phrase do you like to chant?
Strengthen your Throat Chakra by speaking only the truth, and in the kindest way. That includes the words you speak to yourself, and even nonverbal language. Speaking openly and honestly is a gift and when you use that gift, you will also find yourself understood and appreciated.
And you can use your Throat Chakra by singing, or even humming. You don’t have to be the greatest singer in the world to use the power of song and lyrics to enhance your own Throat Chakra. You can even just sing in the shower!