Everything You Need to Know About the Throat Chakra (Vishuddha, the Fifth Chakra)

“Could you speak louder, please?”

Or: “Nothing to add? No questions?… Okay, so, let’s move on…” 

Do you often get questions like these? You want to say something, but you *just can’t*. You’re too afraid what you have to say isn’t “smart” enough, you think people might judge you, and expressing your *true self* makes you anxious. If that’s the case, your throat chakra might be blocked. In this post, we share *everything* you need to know about the throat chakra and the best ways to access its full potential. 

You ready? Let’s dive in!

The Throat Chakra (Vishuddha) at a glance

The throat chakra is the fifth chakra in our chakra system (made of 7 main chakras in total) coming from the ancient Ayurvedic medicine. Each chakra has a different purpose and qualities. The word ‘Chakra’ means “spinning wheel” that can either spin too fast (be overactive), too slow (underactive) or just at the right pace (balanced).  

In Hindu, they call the fifth ‘Vishuddha’ and it translates into ‘purity’ or ‘purification’. Yogis believe this chakra goes from the base of the throat to the center of the eyes. You’ll see it represented by the blue color which links to the vibration & frequency of the chakra. 

The Vishuddha symbol consists of 16 petalled Lotus on the outside and an inverted triangle in a circle on the inside. The sixteen petals of the throat chakra lotus are often decorated with 16 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet (vrittis). The syllables of this alphabet reflect the essential energy that comes from the petals. And the vowels? As the throat chakra is the first point of entry into our pure consciousness, these are believed to be the language of spirit. 

What is the role of the fifth Chakra in our lives?

The fifth chakra helps us to stand in our true honesty, express ourselves authentically, and even manifest our wildest dreams with the power of words. If we’d like to better express ourselves, stand up for what we want, and fearlessly communicate our feelings with others…Balancing our throat chakra might be a great place to start!

Once we vocalize what we really desire we face our truth, we let go of our societal conditioning, all the “shoulds & shouldn’ts”, and tap into our true human potential. 

Signs and symptoms your throat chakra is blocked or out of balance

So, what does a blocked chakra look like? According to the ancient tantra philosophy our chakras are like ‘wheels’ of energy that can either spin too fast and get overactive (energy overflow) or be too slow and underactive (not enough of this energy). 

Signs of an overactive throat chakra

GossipingHard time listening to others and focusing on what they’re sayingJumping into other people’s speechToo much complainingTalking too much without letting others talk

Signs of an underactive throat chakra 

Difficulty to speak up for yourself and communicating your wants and needsBelieving you’re not in charge of your destiny. Instead, you follow all the ‘shoulds & shouldn’ts’ just like society conditioned us to do. Feelings of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteemBecoming timider

If you notice you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, your throat chakra may need some extra love & attention. Here’s how to get into your chakra healing journey. 

How to heal, open and balance the Throat chakra

Choose any or a variation of these techniques to realign this chakra and keep it balanced.

A healing visualization for the Throat chakra – Sit down in a quiet space, and slowly observe your breath while taking deep conscious breaths. Notice your body and visualize your breath as a cooling blue ball of light. Next, imagine this ball clearing space for you to speak and to be heard. If you lose your focus, don’t worry. Try again and practice a few rounds. After regular practice, your focus will improve and this will get easier to do. Beneficial foods for the Throat chakra – To heal your throat chakra, treat yourself with beverages such as coconut water or herbal teas and fruits like apples, pears, and plums. According to the ancient Hindu teachings, these are great for realigning the fifth chakra. Throat chakra affirmations and meditation – Affirmations teach us to use the power of words with intention and clarity. This in turn can stimulate Vishuddha, our center for clear & intentional communication. Experiment with one of these affirmations and pick one that resonates with your most authentic self! Once ready, add it to your morning meditation, write it into your journal or just play with what works best for you. 

Here are the best throat chakra affirmations: 

I speak my truth freely and openly.Being honest will free me from my current situation.I alone am accountable for expressing myself clearly.I am safe and trust others to allow me to express myself truthfully.My honesty attracts what I deserve.

If you wish to make these affirmations even stronger, combine them with the throat chakra mantra “ham”! Ayurvedic medicine experts say mantras produce healing vibrations in our bodies and each one targets a different chakra. To balance your Vishuddha, chant the sound “ham”. 

Yoga poses for Throat chakra 

Empower your meditation with conscious movement and release all the stuck energy in the blocked areas. A great way to do this is to include these throat chakra opening yoga poses into your daily practice. They’ll help you bring even more awareness into these areas and jumpstart the flow of new energy. Here are our best picks: 

Bow Pose (dhanurasana) 

To get into this pose, start with lying down on your belly with hands by your sides. Bend your knees and reach for your ankles with your hands and hold. Engage your lower belly, and as you inhale push into your ankles and allow them to lift your chest and thighs up. As you’re holding the pose, pull your shoulderblades towards each other to open the chest even more, and take a few deep breaths into your chest and ribs. On the next exhalation, release the ankles and slowly lie back down on your belly. 

Sitting Forward Bend

Begin in Dandasana (Staff Pose), sitting with your legs straight in front of you.Flex your feet and press your palms to the floor beside your hips.On an inhale, straighten your spine by keeping your torso long.Exhale and lean forward from your hips towards your legs, lengthen the spine, and suck the belly in.  Walk your hands forward along the sides of your body and reach as far as it feels good. If you can, hold the sides of your feet with your hands.Stay in the pose for a few breaths. To come out, release your feet, inhale, and lift your torso up using your core muscles.

Lion Pose

Start in Hero pose (Virasana). Sit down between your heels spreading your knees wide, and cross the right ankle over the left. Tuck your both heels into your opposite inner thighs and let them connect. Place your palms on the mat in front of your thighs and lean forward. Keep your spine long and straight from your pelvis to the crown of the head. Inhale deeply into your belly and exhale extending your tongue. As you exhale make a loud sigh with a “haa” sound just as if you were a roaring lion. Exhale all the air and point your tongue toward your chin. Repeat, switching the cross of your ankles. Repeat this breath a few times, deepening the breath with each repetition.Practice this pose with a couple of breaths and then switch sides doing the same on the opposite side. 

Neck stretches & head rolls

Sit down in a kneeling or cross-legged position.Lift your right arm, and place your hand over your left ear. Gently press your head toward your right shoulder. Draw your opposite arm toward the floor. Hold for a couple of breaths, then repeat on the opposite side.Next, interlace fingers behind your head, and pull your elbows back. Let your head fall back into your hands and hold for a few breaths. As you exhale, allow your head to drop forward. Hold here for a few more deep conscious breaths.Then, feel free to combine the movements creating a circle with your head. Repeat as many times as needed. 

The Granthita Mudra

Include this yoga mudra (hand gesture) with your meditation to channel the movement of the prana (the life force within our body) into your blocked area. Yogis believe this mudra helps us connect the 5 elements within our fingers and this way bring balance into the throat chakra. Each finger is said to represent a different element – water, air, earth, fire, and space. Here’s how to do the Granthita Mudra:

Interlock your fingers inside the palms, with the tips of the thumbs pressed against each otherPlace your hands close to the navelChant the sound “ham” (the mantra for Vishuddha) Practice this meditation with this for at least 10 mins daily to bring balance to the fifth chakra

Throat chakra stones and crystals

Since the fifth chakra is represented by the blue color, practitioners believe all the blue crystals can realign this chakra. Although there’s no actual scientific research behind the benefits of crystals, keep an open mind and see how they’ll work for you. As said in the Hindu teachings, these are the best gemstones for Vishuddha:

Sodalite. – This gemstone is believed to bring us back into emotional balance, improve intuition, and clear the mind. Lapis lazuli. – If you need a little confidence boost to express yourself or a tool to get to know yourself better, Lapis Lazuli is your best friend! Blue apatiteAquamarine – Do you get stressed when trying to communicate with others? Aquamarine is believed to help us relax, and ease into the stressful tasks and tough conversations. Blue topaz – Use this crystal to improve your communication skills, strengthen faith in yourself, and feel confident to uncover your true self. 

FAQ

If you noticed your Vishuddha being out of balance, start with picking just one to two of these techniques, experiment, and see how they work for you. While there’s very little science to chakra healing, many people and holistic wellness practitioners claim these wellness practices are highly powerful and beneficial to us. Our advice? Keep an open mind, explore what you like, what makes you feel good, and enjoy!