How to Unblock Your Throat Chakra

What are chakras?

Chakras are concentrated energy centers located inside your body. In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, chakras allow energy to flow harmoniously throughout the body. Each chakra corresponds to a specific area and aspect of mental, physical, and emotional health. If the flow of energy gets blocked, your health may be affected in negative ways. There are 7 main chakras in the human body. The throat chakra is located in your throat near your thyroid. It's believed that this chakra bridges the gap between your heart chakra (in your chest) and your crown chakra (in your head). The word "chakra" comes from the Sanskrit "cakra," meaning “wheel,” which refers to the swirling energy concentrated in each chakra’s location.

How do chakras get clogged?

Stress, trauma, and an unhealthy lifestyle can disrupt the flow of energy. To function optimally, your chakras need to be open so energy can flow freely through your whole body. Things like anger, depression, repression, and even an unhealthy diet can cause blockages by disrupting your energy flow. Since the throat chakra is connected to self-expression and balanced emotions, repressing your anger (or any other strong emotion) and not speaking your truth can cause a blockage.

How do you open a throat chakra?

By striving to communicate your emotions in a healthy way. Focusing on self-expression is the best way to get energy flowing freely through your body. There are a lot of simple techniques you can use every day to do this! Keep reading to learn how to start unblocking and healing your throat chakra today.

Surround yourself with the color blue.

This calming color is associated with the throat chakra. Working with color is one of the easiest ways to deal with a blockage. Each chakra is linked to a specific color; for the throat chakra, that color is blue. You can do simple things like wearing blue clothing and jewelry, adding blue décor to your favorite spaces, painting your walls blue, and so on. Studies show that blue can have a soothing effect, so why not give this a try?

Read or sing out loud.

This is an easy way to “free your voice.” Don’t worry, you don’t need to have an audience for this! The most important thing is to use your own voice (and hear yourself doing it). Feel free to read passages from a novel, recite poetry, or belt out your favorite jam in the car or shower. Singing can be particularly effective (and fun)!

Do simple neck stretches to loosen up.

You can do a basic neck stretch whenever you feel tense or anxious. Stand or sit with your spine straight and drop your chin to your chest. Slowly tilt your head to the left until your ear is as close to your left shoulder as possible. Hold this stretch for 30-60 seconds. Then, move your chin back to your chest and repeat the same stretch on the right side. Keep going until your neck and shoulder muscles relax. This is a gentle stretch that anyone can do! If you feel any pain, though, stop the stretch immediately.

Repeat positive affirmations.

Affirmations are easy to do and only take a few minutes. If you have a busy schedule, finding a few spare moments can be tough. Luckily, this affirmation activity only takes 2 minutes (or less) and you can do it anytime! For example, repeat your daily affirmations as soon as you wake up, when you're in the shower, during lunch, or right before bed at night. Feel free to branch out, but here are a few affirmations to get you started: I can and will stay true to myself. I can express myself with ease. When I speak, my words are clear and powerful. The world will benefit from my unique voice. My thoughts and feelings are valid.

Write in a journal regularly.

Free writing exercises help to connect your body and mind. The throat chakra is located between your head and body. In theory, you can clear a blockage between those two points by connecting them. Set aside 15-20 minutes for this writing exercise. Then, pick a topic to write about and let your thoughts spill out onto the paper! Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or punctuation; let the words flow. If you need a few writing prompts to get started, try asking yourself: What do I fear most? Have my fears changed over the years? What parts of my day cause the most stress, frustration, or sadness? Could I change any of them? Which emotions are the hardest ones for me to deal with?

Try the “Lion’s Breath” technique.

This simple breath exercise may soothe anxiety and stimulate the throat. Find a comfortable place to sit, making sure your head, neck, and torso are in alignment. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose. Then, open your mouth, stick your tongue out as far you can, and exhale hard (and audibly) through your mouth. Don’t be shy—let out a roar and release your inner lion! Imagine all of your anxiety and frustration leaving your body as you exhale. Yes, you might feel a bit silly doing this, but give it a try. Yogis have been doing it for thousands of years—they must be getting something out of it!

Do energy work with blue crystals and stones.

Blue lace agate, turquoise, and lapis lazuli are linked to the throat chakra. Blue stones are thought to have healing properties that can help you deal with blockages. Grab a few blue stones, lie down on your back, and put the stones directly on top of your throat. Then, just relax for a few minutes and imagine healing energy flowing from the stones into your throat. That’s it! If it helps, imagine a gentle warmth surrounding your throat area. You can save this activity for days when you’re struggling to communicate or do it every day—whatever you prefer. Crystals are really complex and unique. Take your time to get to know your crystal and to work through it. You can also take special classes to help you connect with the crystal spirits or elemental spirits.

Use a simple chant to create healing vibrations.

The one-syllable sound “HAM” is associated with the throat chakra. Each chakra is linked to a specific one-syllable sound. In theory, chanting the syllable creates vibrations that heal the related chakra. Find a comfortable place to sit and take a deep breath in through your nose. Then, as you exhale, let the word “HAM” roll out in one long syllable. Use a natural tone of voice and stop when you get to the end of your exhalation. Breathe in through your nose and repeat. You can do this as many times as you’d like! This chant is called a “bija mantra.” Mantras are ancient “sound tools” used to tap into currents of energy.

Do yoga poses that bend and stretch your neck.

Legs-up-the-wall is an easy pose associated with the throat chakra. To do it, place a blanket or yoga mat on the floor right next to a wall. Face the wall, lie down on the mat, and lift your legs straight up in the air. Then, scoot your butt up a few inches from the wall and rest your legs against the wall, keeping your tailbone on the floor. Then, just relax and take slow, deep breaths. Hold the pose for 2-3 minutes. You can also do: Cat-cow pose Fish pose Plow pose

Give aromatherapy a try.

There are several essential oils associated with the throat chakra. Put these essential oils in a diffuser, dilute them with a carrier oil (like jojoba or coconut oil) and apply them to your skin, or add a few drops to a warm bath. Never inhale EOs straight from the bottle or apply undiluted oils on your skin, though! They're really concentrated so they can irritate your skin, eyes, and nasal passages. Here are a few essential oils thought to stimulate the throat chakra: Frankincense Geranium Jasmine Sage Peppermint Clove

Try a simple meditation exercise.

All you need is a quiet place and 5 minutes to do this exercise. Go ahead and set a timer. Then, close your eyes, sit in a comfy spot, and take slow, deep breaths until you feel yourself relax. Envision a light blue ball of light glowing in the center of your throat. Imagine the ball expanding until light encircles your head and heart. Invite feelings of safety and love into your throat, head, and heart. Think to yourself: “I am capable of communicating my thoughts and feelings.” Keep taking slow, deep breaths for the duration of the exercise. You can do this exercise every day if you’d like!