5 YOGA POSES TO ACTIVATE VISHUDI - THE THROAT CHAKRA

Vishudi or the throat chakra is the energy system within the body located in the centre of the throat. The body parts pertaining to this chakra are the throat, the vocal cords, the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Vishudi represents communication (verbal or non-verbal) speaking our truth and freedom of expression. When the throat chakra is balanced, we express ourselves with easy, communicate clearly and are open to sharing our ideas with the world. A balanced vishudi also means that we are comfortable enough to speak our truth without any fear of being rejected. When this chakra is out of balance, we can experience shyness and inability to speak our truth; fear of being ridiculed if we share our ideas with others; inability to listen to others and even lying. Physically, there could also be a slight uncomfortable feeling in the throat, sore throats or tonsillitis (although always check with your medical practitioner if you have any health-related problems in the throat area).
 
The following asanas make a great sequence for activating the vishudi and opening its flow of energy.

HALASANA
​PLOW POSE

Halasana regulates the thyroid gland therefore it’s a great asana to work on for balancing and activating vishudi. It stimulates the throat by adding a slight pressure as you bring your legs over the head. During this pose, your abdomen should be engaged, so it strengthens the abdominal muscles and stimulates the digestive system. It is an energising pose by revitalising the spleen and increasing blood circulation. It can help ease back pain and muscular tension in the legs. By bending your knees to your ears, it also stretches the cervical spine more, releasing tension of the neck. Overall it provides an energising effect to the mind, leaving you feel refreshed and calm. Click here to learn more about this asana. 

MATSYASANA
FISH POSE

Matsyasana opens the throat, allowing us to breathe deeper. At times it can create an uncomfortable effect, especially if there is any tension in the throat area or blockage in vishudi. By doing fish pose, we learn to open this centre, and the more we do it, the more confident we become expressing ourselves. Matsyasana also activates anahata chakra by opening up the chest/heart centre.

PURVOTTANASANA
REVERSE PLANK

​A great arm strengthening asana, purvottanasana open the throat and also releases tension from the neck. In this area, we hold a lot of mental tension, from constant thinking, so it’s a great way to quiet the mind and become relaxed. Whilst in reverse plank, try to bring your awareness to the throat and do some ujiai breathing (see here instructions), contracting the throat and unblocking any bottled up tension in the throat area. Click here to learn more about this pose. 

URDVHA PADMASANA
UPWARD LOTUS

​This can be a more advanced asana, but with practice and patience it is one which you can learn to do. It stimulates the thyroid glands and creates a slight pressure on the throat area, letting go of anything that needs to be released. Upward lotus takes us on an internal journey, helping us discover new ways of expressing ourselves through finding balance in our physical body and bringing harmony for the mental, spiritual and emotional self. 

BALASANA
CHILD'S POSE

Although this asana does is not really involving any physical involvement of the throat, it is a reflective pose meaning that it takes us within. Balasana is a great way to connect with the self, to take some time and align our intention and just see how we are feeling in this present moment. As vishudi is all about freedom of expression, often our fear lies deep within us, in different parts of the body. When we allow ourself to go within and reflect, we can come to see what is holding us back from speaking our truth, from believing in ourselves and also noticing areas in which currently need our attention.  Click here to learn more about this pose. 

​The throat chakra element is space, referring to openness and freedom. The sense is speaking but also listening. It’s great to be able to express yourself freely, but being a good communicator also entails great listening skills, welcoming others to express themselves freely and actually listening to what they have to say, without interruption. Vishudi can also be activated by singing and also by practicing chanting, or its sound syllable HAM.