Express Yourself: Understanding the Power of the Throat Chakra
What is the Throat Chakra?
The Throat Chakra, or Vishuddha in Sanskrit, is the fifth energy centre present in your body, located in your throat or neck area. It is widely acknowledged to govern your ability to express yourself, speak your inner truth, and acts as your body’s communication hub. Thus, it is as much about speaking out (about yourself and others), as it is about listening and being heard.
The throat chakra is the gateway between the lower body chakras and the head chakras and helps bridge the gap between heart and mind.
This chakra is linked to the colour Blue, which promotes feelings of tranquillity, peace and relaxation.
How do you know if it is blocked or unbalanced?
When this chakra is unbalanced you might find you have a harder time trying to communicate effectively, or even finding it hard to speak up for yourself. Another symptom of an underactive throat chakra is feeling insecure and even silenced, or like you can’t share your feelings and emotions. This can negatively affect your mental health, decreasing your confidence.
The opposite is also possible, you might have an overactive throat chakra which can cause oversharing, gossiping, and being too dominating in conversations. Or it might present itself as not paying attention to others, listening or interrupting.
Physical symptoms of an imbalanced throat chakra may include throat pain, mouth sores or ulcers, jaw tension, and thyroid issues.
How to nurture the Throat Chakra
1. Communication and Self-Expression:
Engage in open and honest communication with others. Express your thoughts, feelings, and desires in a respectful and assertive manner. Practise active listening to improve interpersonal communication and don’t be afraid to discuss any misgivings, such as not being outspoken enough or overstepping, with people closest to you.
2. Creative Expression:
Engage in creative activities that resonate with you, such as journaling or writing, singing, painting, dancing, etc. These activities can help unlock self-expression and enhance the flow of energy through the throat chakra, helping you also feel freer whilst also improving your mood. It could be something as simple as playing some music whilst you shower and singing at the top of your lungs, taking some painting classes, or writing a few things throughout the day that resonate with you.
3. Mindful Breathing and Meditation:
Practise deep, conscious breathing exercises and meditation to calm the mind, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being. Visualisations and affirmations that focus on the throat chakra can also be beneficial. For example: “my voice is powerful and full of truth”, or “I speak with confidence”, it might feel a bit silly at first but small things like this can have a huge effect! If you are after any meditation apps, have a look here.
4. Practice throat and neck focused yoga poses:
Yoga has a very tight relationship with our chakras, and as with other energy centres, there are several poses or asanas that can help balance your throat chakra. Those focusing on the throat and neck tend to be particularly useful, for example fish pose, cat/cow or cobra will help extend your neck.
Another useful asana to know in connection to the throat chakra is Lion's Breath (Simhasana). This is a breathing exercise combined with a yogic posture that helps release tension in the throat and encourages self-expression.
Start in a kneeling position, then sit back on your heels. Place your palms on your knees and take a deep breath in.
As you exhale, open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue, and let out a long "ha" sound while looking upwards or towards your third eye.
Take a few normal breaths, then repeat the Lion's Breath exercise several more times. Each time you exhale, let go of any tension or stress, allowing yourself to feel more open, liberated, and expressive. Conclude with deep breaths: After practising Lion's Breath, take a few deep breaths in and out through your nose to calm and centre yourself.
5. Include more colour blue in your life:
Blue is associated with the throat chakra but also with feelings such as serenity, inspiration and wisdom. Many like to use blue gemstones such as blue lace agate, lapis lazuli, or aquamarine to support the throat chakra.
In the theme of blue, have a look at our blue yoga mats, the perfect way to create a calming and serene space for a moment of pause.
The throat chakra is a powerful energy centre that has a profound impact on our ability to communicate and express ourselves authentically, and thus helps us deal with everyday life and stress. By nurturing and balancing this energy, we can tap into our inner voice and speak our truth, building a stronger self and growing our confidence. It also allows us to connect with others on a deeper level and cultivate creativity.
Remember that working with the throat chakra is a personal journey, and it's important to listen to your own intuition and needs. Each individual's experiences and challenges with this chakra may be unique.
Embracing practices that support the throat chakra allows us to navigate stress more effectively, fostering a sense of inner peace, resilience, and overall emotional balance. If you are struggling with self expression and this is deeply affecting your mental health, please reach out to your GP or visit Mind charity for more information.
To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org or visit some branches in person. You can also call the Samaritans Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day)..
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