Unblock the throat chakra
The throat chakra is the fifth energy center from the bottom, located at the neck, in the region of the cervical vertebrae, and it extends from the shoulders to the medulla oblongata (part of the brainstem).
Some of the main functions of the throat chakra are communication, purification, creativity, and expressing your authenticity. The throat chakra is the center of sound and speech.
This chakra holds your ability to fearlessly communicate your authenticity. A healthy throat chakra will allow you to express yourself and tell the truth with integrity.
Your ability to communicate things clearly can determine the quality of your life's experiences.
One of the main causes of blocked throat chakra is not thinking, speaking and living in accordance with your true and authentic self.
When your throat chakra is blocked, you experience symptoms of social anxiety, shyness, lack of confidence, inability to trust others, hopelessness, mood swings, and fear of speaking.
Let's take a look at some of my favorite healing methods for unblocking your throat chakra:
1. SPEAK & USE YOUR OWN VOICE
The best ways to use your own voice are to speak, hum, sing, laugh, shout and say mantras.
Chanting mantras is an excellent method for balancing the throat chakra and toning the vocal cords. The sound vibration of the mantra “HAM” corresponds directly to this energy center.
The best way to chant this mantra is to try it at different levels and see which one feels most cleansing for your throat chakra. You're looking for a sound that vibrates at the highest frequency, and can be associated with a feeling of liberation and openness.
Chanting is another great way to release blocked energy from your throat chakra. This is a very liberating practice, one that many of us do in the shower or in the car. If you enjoy singing, do it more often and maybe even try it with others at your next karaoke party.
If singing isn't your thing, try shouting. Screaming is a primal way of getting in touch with the pain you have repressed and may be consuming you from the inside out.
Crying has scientifically proven therapeutic value and the ability to release any emotional blockages trapped in your throat chakra. If you're worried that people will view you as totally weird, try screaming into a pillow, alone in the car, or in a secluded spot in nature.
You can also work with your throat chakra by speaking mindfully.
Each time, before speaking, ask yourself these questions in your mind:
- Is what I'm about to say the truth?
- Is it necessary for me to say this?
- Why is it necessary to say this?
- Is what I am about to say hurtful or harmful?
With this in mind, you can regularly practice speaking openly, honestly, and respectfully with others.
Finally, let's not forget the importance of listening in communication. Active listening is a sign of respect for another person. It can build strong relationships and is an invaluable communication skill.
Let me give you some quick tips on how to become a good listener:
- Make eye contact.
- Face your interlocutor.
- Stay present and focus on what is being said.
- Nod your head.
- Wait for the speaker to stop before speaking.
- Repeat what you heard.
- Ask questions.
2. LISTEN
Sound and vibration are the essences of the throat chakra. So sound therapy is a fantastic way to work with your 5th chakra.
Sound healing is a practice used for thousands of years that uses a variety of sounds, rhythms and frequencies for sound healing:
- Vocalizations
- Drumming
- Chord forks
- Didgeridoo
- Gongs
- Wind chimes
- Singing bowls
- And many other instruments
Since all sounds exist at different frequencies and your body also emits its own waves, sound therapy works by matching these waves to each other and synchronizing your brain (for example, binaural beats).
There are musical and sound frequencies created specifically to open this energy center. Sounds tuned to the frequencies of 384 Hz and 741 Hz are considered most beneficial for throat chakra healing.
Throat Chakra Affirmations
Try some of these powerful affirmations for the throat chakra, which can be used throughout the day or during your meditation to strengthen this energy center:
- I hear and speak the truth.
- The truth sets me free.
- I am open and honest in my communication.
- I live an authentic life.
- I express myself with clear intention and with confidence.
- I am an important voice in the world, and my voice is heard.
- What I have to say has value to others.
- I love sharing my experiences and wisdom.
- I know when it's time to listen.
- I feel safe and trust others to allow me to express myself truthfully.
- By speaking my truth, others find a path to their truth.
- I live in my truth, I communicate my truth, I am the truth.
Throat Chakra Yoga Poses and Neck Exercises
Yoga is a great way to work the throat chakra, as certain physical postures (asanas) will allow you to open your shoulders and release tension in your neck.
Yoga also improves the circulation of oxygen in your body, as most yoga exercises involve working with your breathing.
Here are some of the best yoga positions for opening the throat chakra:
- Neck rolls and stretches – these are great warm-up exercises before your yoga session because they reduce tension in your upper back, neck and jaw. Each of these areas can hold enormous amounts of stress and requires daily stretching.
- Cat-Cow Pose (Bitilasana Marjaryasana)
- Seated Cat-Cow Pose (Upavistha Bitilasana Marjaryasana)
- Fish Pose (Matsyasana)
- Cobra pose (Bhujangasana)
- Sphinx or half-cobra pose (Ardha Bhujangasana)
- Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana)
Throat Chakra Breathing Exercises
Breath of Fire
One of the best breathing techniques for your throat chakra is fire breathing, also known as Kapalabhati Pranayama.
This is a powerful detoxifying breathing technique, which involves a series of short, powerful inhalations through the nose (the exhalation is passive). Breathing fire is very often practiced during kundalini yoga exercises. It helps increase blood flow to the center of the throat, detoxifying the body and bringing more clarity to your mind.
Kapalabhati is an intermediate breathing technique, and it is not recommended for people with certain health conditions. Please consult a doctor or qualified yoga teacher before trying this technique.
Lion's breath
Lion's Breath, also known as Simha Pranayama, is another powerful breathing technique that can improve blood circulation and strengthen your throat muscles.
Here's how to practice it:
- Sit on your knees with your back straight and make yourself comfortable.
- Take a deep breath into your belly.
- Exhale all the oxygen through your stomach and make an audible “Haaaa!
- Keep your tongue extended as far as it will go during the exhale.
- Try to keep your eyes focused on the center of your third eye, between your eyebrows.
- Hold the final position for 20 to 30 seconds before breathing again.
- Repeat this breath for 3 to 5 rounds, intending to release all toxins from your body and heal your throat chakra.
Alternate breathing through the nostrils
Alternate nostril breathing, also known as nadi shodana, is a cleansing breathing technique used to release stuck energy channels in your body and calm the mind.
Nadi shodana will fill your heart center with oxygen and allow you to feel a gentle sensation of freshness throughout your body.
Here's how to practice alternate nostril breathing:
- Sit with your back straight.
- Take the index and middle fingers of your right hand and fold them toward your palm.
- Use the right thumb to close the right nostril and inhale slowly through the left nostril.
- Pause after inhaling and plug the left nostril with your ring finger.
- Exhale slowly through your right nostril.
- Keep your ring finger in the same place and inhale through the right side.
- Close the right nostril with your thumb and exhale through the left.
- Keep your thumb in the same place and inhale through your left nostril.
- Alternate breathing through the nostrils
Throat Chakra Meditation
Throat chakra meditation can help you speed up the process of purification and healing of this energy center.
During this mediation, you will imagine the vibrant color blue and focus on the element ether (space) associated with this chakra.
Let's get started:
- Sit with your back straight and relax your body by taking a few deep breaths.
- Once you are completely relaxed, close your eyes and feel the space in the body by slowly moving your attention from the lower body to the head.
- Start with the feet, then the legs, stomach, chest, arms, throat, and finish with the top of the head (this technique is known in meditation as body scanning).
- Once you have completed the body scan, begin to connect with the space all around your body - start in your room and begin to stretch it in all directions, towards infinity.
- Spend a few minutes floating in the vast sea of light, enjoying the silence and bliss of infinite space.
- As you sink into this meditation, gently move your attention to your throat chakra and imagine a blue circle of energy in the middle of your throat.
- Continue breathing into your throat center and expand this circle with intentions of truth, authenticity, and trust – feel free to use some of the throat chakra affirmations from this article.
- Enjoy the healing energy that emanates from your throat space and leave all worries behind.
- Stay in this state for at least a few minutes to integrate this transformative energy.
- End your meditation by placing your left hand on your chest and saying the words: “The truth sets me free!”
Stones and crystals for the throat chakra
The dominant color of the throat chakra is light blue/turquoise, so the most effective stones for balancing your 5th chakra are usually blue (clear).
You can learn more about throat chakra stones here.
Now, let's take a look at some of the best stones for balancing your throat chakra.
Turquoise
Typical colors: light blue, sky blue, blue, blue-green, gray-green.
Helps with: self-expression, communication, physical injuries, leadership skills, stress and anxiety, depression, panic attacks.
This magnificent stone will allow you to increase the creative energy in your throat chakra. It activates and harmonizes the throat chakra to promote the articulation of its deepest knowledge. Turquoise can help you overcome shyness and encourage you to express yourself clearly.
Blue Agate
Typical Colors: It comes in a variety of colors.
Helps with: self-confidence, communication, mental clarity, stress and anxiety, public speaking, loyalty.
This soft blue gemstone is considered one of the best communication stones. It will allow you to express your true feelings to others. It can also help you think more clearly and focus on what's most important.
Agate is useful for self-analysis and uncovering invisible issues that might be harming your well-being. It encourages self-acceptance and confidence, as well as expressing one's own truth.
Aquamarine
Typical colors: light blue, blue, green-blue.
Helps with: public speaking, self-confidence, courage, communication, meditation, mental clarity, stress and anxiety, good luck.
This clear, sparkling blue stone can help you overcome your fear of public speaking. Aquamarine activates the throat chakra to its original capacity to express the highest and most authentic truth.
It can help you speak openly and without frustration in difficult situations. For both men and women, aquamarine is also a stone of emancipation.
Aqua Aura Quartz
Typical colors: bright blue, sky blue.
Helps with: communication, self-realization, concentration, mental clarity, wealth and prosperity, spiritual awareness.
You will be enchanted by the shimmering glow when you lay your eyes on the beautiful Aqua Aura Quartz.
Aqua Aura is known as a stone of success as well as a stone of abundance. Aqua aura quartz will also help you understand your own authentic truth, and give you the courage to speak the truth.
Chrysocolla
Typical colors: blue, cyan, blue-green, green, black-blue, brown and rarely yellow.
Helps with: communication, self-expression, listening, awareness, self-realization, stress and anxiety, creativity.
Chrysocolla is a teaching stone that encourages us to share our deepest wisdom so that others can learn from our experiences. This can be demonstrated by lovingly listening to a friend and giving them your ideas or acting as a mentor to a student.
Chrysocolla is an excellent stone for those seeking to develop emotionally and spiritually.
Throat chakra nourishment
The throat chakra is known as your center of purification, so various forms of fasting and detoxification techniques are very beneficial for Vishuddha.
If you are new to healing through fasting, you can start by experimenting with intermittent fasting by gradually reducing the number of hours you consume food.
The throat chakra is also vital to your connection to food. To a large extent, you experience each meal through the throat chakra, with your senses of smell and taste.
The saliva in your mouth allows you to break down various nutrients, making them available to your stomach. The throat chakra governs your ability to choose the right foods for your highest good.
Here are some of the most important lessons from your throat chakra when it comes to food:
- Exchange communications with others during your meals.
- Try eating more slowly and chewing your food.
- Pay attention to your senses during a meal (for example, avoid talking while chewing your food).
- Express gratitude for a meal.
- Choose only high-quality ingredients for your meals (organic, locally grown and from other sources).
The main element of the throat chakra being ether, the best foods to consume are those which make the link between the different elements:
- Marine Plants (Water-Land) – plants such as kelp, dulse or nori are great choices for your thyroid health.
- Soups (Earth-Water).
- Cold-pressed fruit juice (Terre-Eau).
- A variety of ethnic foods.
Throat Chakra Opening Symptoms
Your throat chakra begins to open when you begin to live an authentic life, keep your word with integrity, and say what you feel.
When you finally discover your truth, you will realize that you are beginning to act as a catalyst to awaken other people to their authenticity.
People with fully developed throat chakras have access to a few other throat chakra gifts, such as telepathy (communication across time and space), clairaudience, and channeling.
So how is your throat chakra healing journey going?
