The Throat Chakra is the fifth chakra and it is the first of the higher or spiritual chakras on the “chakra ladder”. This chakra is located in the region of neck and shoulders and its colour is blue.

The gift of this chakra is accepting your originality, expressing your authentic voice and speaking your truth.

The energy of this chakra allows you to seek knowledge that is true, beyond limitations of time and space, beyond cultural and family conditioning.

The main challenge for the fifth chakra is doubt and negative thinking. When you gain and verify your knowledge through meditation and direct experience, then doubt and negativity are removed.

The “way of the Throat Chakra” is the way of inspired creativity, seeking and sharing of the truth. It is the way of standing up for what you believe, saying no when you need to, and being open and honest in what you say.

The fifth chakra is linked directly to your personal integrity and a sense of honour.

As a communication centre, it not only allows you to express who you are and what you stand for, but also allows you to listen deeply to another. A person with an open Visuddha chakra is a good listener, she enables another person to have the experience of being heard – one of the most profound human needs.

Throat Chakra Affirmations

I am open, clear, and honest in my communication.
I have a right to speak my truth.
I communicate my feelings with ease.
I express myself creatively through speech, writing, or art.
I have a strong will that lets me resolve my challenges.
I nourish my spirit through creativity.
I live an authentic life.
I have integrity.
I love to share my experiences and wisdom.
I know when it is time to listen.
I express my gratitude towards life.
I listen to my body and my feelings to know what my truth is.
I take good care of my physical body.
I am at peace.

Sanskrit name: Visuddha
Element: Akasha
Color: Blue
Shape: Crescent
Petals of the lotus: Sixteen
Seed sound: Ham
Vowel sound: Eee
Rights: To speak
Endocrine gland: Thyroid and Parathyroid gland
Physical association: Throat, ears, mouth, shoulders, and neck
Psychological function: Communication
Identity: Creative identity
Developmental stage: 7 -12 years
Challenge: Lies
Plane: Human plane, where the dark night of soul ends
Planets: Mercury
Deity: Sadasiva, Sakini
Mythological Animal: Elephant, bull, lion
Incense: Frankincense
Herb: Chamomile
Sephira: Geburah, Chesed

Throat Chakra Yoga Poses to Align and Balance Your 5th Chakra

Before you begin to practice yoga, check with your doctor.
Some poses can be challenging for the body and it is best to practice with a qualified yoga teacher. Yoga should never hurt.

The best throat chakra yoga poses are those that open and strengthen the throat area.

Situated at the base of your throat, the Throat Chakra is associated with space ,the ether, or the void. This is the place where nothing exists – only the pure sound of vibration.

According to traditional yogic wisdom, the Universe was created by the sound of “om” and some chakra experts, like Anodea Judith, say that the throat chakra is simply associated with sound. This elemental sound is the cellular wisdom coded into the strands of DNA and RAN locked in the cells of the body.

It is also the emptiness, the void in between the cells, between all the spaces, carrying the wisdom of the universe. It is the space where creation begins.

Naturally then, vocally toning your throat chakra is an incredibly powerful balancing tool. And physically opening the front and the back of the throat chakra is important as well.

The following poses help open and balance your throat chakra:

Plow Pose, Halasana

This posture provides very strong opening for both throat and heart chakras.

Both the throat and the heart are protected in the front and exposed and opened at the back.

This is different from how we usually open the throat or heart chakra. Most of the time we open the front of the body. We are doing something new here. Changing our pattern of opening.

The posture is called the plow pose, because symbolically, we are “plowing” through the field to implant new patterns of behavior which serve us better in our lives.

You may find that you will need a folded towel underneath your shoulders.

1. Lie on your back with your arms by your side. Breathe in.
2. On an out breath, bend your knees and bring your thighs up towards your belly.
3. Engage your core muscles and lift your bottom off the floor.
4. Place your heads on your lower back and begin to straighten your legs upwards.
5. Stabilize in this posture and take a few breaths. Allow your face, scalp, and neck to release. Observe your breath.
6. When you feel you released tension from your face, neck and shoulders and your breathing is even and steady, slowly drop one leg behind your head.
7. If your breath remains steady, drop the other leg behind your head.
8. Hold the posture for few breaths and visualize your throat and heart chakra gently opening to the power and flow of energy.

Fish Pose, Matsyasana

Feel the power of self-expression in your throat. Visualize yourself in a situation where you want to express yourself and your feelings. Feel your own truth.With this throat chakra yoga pose, you open the front of your neck. When you are in this pose, visualize blue light coming into your throat chakra. See your chakra spinning and vibrating with energy.

1. Sit on the floor with your legs fully extended in front of you.
2. Place your hands on the floor behind you, with your fingertips just underneath your buttocks.
3. Slowly move your elbows out of the way and allow the head to go back. Always maintain control, never allow the head to just flop back.
4. Level yourself on the crown so you feel supported.
5. Continue moving your arms out of the way.
6. You can either let your arms rest at your side, or you can bring your palms together over your heart in a prayer position. This will enhance the flow of prana in the upper body.
   

   Cobra Pose, Bhujangasana

   Cobra pose allows for the prana to be directed into the heart and throat chakras, rather than scattered around. This yoga pose also allows for strengthening of the entire shoulder area, providing more stable support for the shoulder.

   1. Lie on your stomach with your feet extended out, the tops of your feet touching the mat and your forehead touching the ground. Your hands are under the shoulders.
   2. Press the tops of your feet into the mat and allow your knees to lift off the ground slightly. Let your pubic bone drop down into the mat to stabilize your lower back.
   3. Take a breath in as your raise your head lifting the upper body using the power of your back. Breath out. Continue engaging your legs and pushing your pelvis into the floor to protect your lower back.
   4. On your next in breath use the power of your arms to lift your body until you have extended as far as you can go. Make sure your arms are not fully straightened as this may hyper extend your elbows and destabilize the pose.
   5. Feel your chest opening and your whole front of the body opening gently. Feel the prana flowing through your chest and into your throat.
   6. Take two to three full breaths in this pose and then release.

 

Source: http://www.chakra-anatomy.com/