The Truth Shall Set You Free - Controlling the Throat Chakra
Ancient Hindu and Buddhist texts speak of the chakras, vast pools of energy within our bodies that are responsible for our psychological makeup. There are a total of seven chakras, four in the upper body and three in our lower body.
The four chakras located in the upper body govern our mental makeup while the three chakras located in our lower bodies rule our instincts.
The seven chakras are the sacral chakra, the root chakra, the heart chakra, the solar plexus chakra, the third eye chakra, the crown chakra and the throat chakra.
These seven chakras contribute to our well-being.
Some of the chakras may not be open while some may be overactive leading to imbalances. Bringing these chakras back into balance results in a healthy body and peace of mind.
The throat chakra or “vishuddha” in Sanskrit is connected with the color blue. It is located in the neck region and is associated with our will and our power of expression. It is considered to be the repository of truth, self-knowledge, attitudes, hearing, taste and smell. When the throat chakra is open and in balance, we can express ourselves truthfully and freely. Choosing not to express our feelings causes repression of those feelings and this will affect the chakra, manifesting on a physical level. For example, repression of anger may manifest as laryngitis.
Some of the physical manifestations of an imbalanced throat chakra include sore throat, mouth ulcers, scoliosis, swollen glands, thyroid disorders, tooth or gum problems and voice problems. On a mental and emotional level it is associated with creativity, personal expression, faith and will.
Certain gemstones such as blue opal and lapis, liquids such as water and fresh fruit juices and foods such as salt, lemon grass, lemons, apples, pears, apricots and kiwi fruit can stimulate and energize the throat chakra.
Simple exercises such as gargling with salt water, singing or screaming also can help stimulate and energize the throat chakra.
To open your throat chakra, try the following exercise.
- Sit cross-legged on the floor
- Put your hands together so that the fingers of the right hand lie on top of the fingers of the left hand, with both palms facing upwards
- Bring your thumbs together so that their tips touch and pull them slightly upwards
- Focus your mind on the throat chakra at the base of your throat
- Chant the word HAM ( here, A is pronounced as ‘ah’; M is pronounced as ‘ng’ as in king)
- While you are chanting keep your mind focused on the location and the significance of the throat chakra
- Continue this exercise for five minutes
Read more articles from the Yoga Breathing (Pranayama) Category.
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