Cold and flu season is coming up so let's talk about the Vishuddha Chakra or Throat Chakra! As you might remember Chakras are energy centres in the body and their flow of energy can influence us both on a physical and emotional level.
You can read up on the Root Chakra, Sacral Chakra, Solar Plexus Chakra and Heart Chakra here in case you've missed them.
The Vishuddha Chakra is located in the throat area and governs the neck, throat, vocal chords, tonsils and ears on a physical level. When he energy is balanced we have the ability to listen deeply, express ourselves in healthy and positive ways and speak with a clear and strong voice.
When the Throat Chakra is open and balanced our words are kind, clear and truthful. We can express ourselves with a vibrant and strong voice and also have the ability to listen! We are as comfortable with silence as we are with speaking. When Vishuddha energy is deficient or excessive we might be afraid to speak in public or talk too much without really saying anything!
If you're a writer you might suffer from writer's block and generally feel stuck when trying to express yourself creatively.
Signs for Vishuddha imbalance:
- You find it difficult to speak up when you are with other people
- You have an eating disorder or speech impediment
- You are stressed
- People complain that you don't listen and dominate conversations
- You want to improve your communication skills
Physical Signs
- problems with the neck
- problems with the thyroid and parathyroid glands
- problems with ears and auditory system
- problems with tonsils, mouth, teeth and gums
How to work with the Vishuddha Chakra
One way to work with the Throat Chakra is to practice the Humming or Bhramari Breath. Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Breathe in and on one long exhale make a humming sound. You will feel the vibrations around your face, sinuses and brain. Repeat for 4-6 times. This pranayama exercise can help to reduce anxiety, tension and insomnia.
Vishuddha Chakra
- Colour: Blue
- Sound: HAM
- Element: Ether / Space
- Yoga Poses: shoulderstand, lion's pose, neck stretches
- Mudra: chin mudra, thumb and first finger together
- Yantra: sixteen Petal Lotus, crescent moon
- Animal: Airavata (white elephant with seven trunks)
Source: The Essential Guide to Chakras, Swami Saradananda
I found the pranayama exercise really helpful for me this week leading up to a job interview, I tried to do it regularly whenever I was starting to feel tense 🙂