Cleansing the throat chakra

[Vyana]

What are good advices to cleanse the throat chakra?

I have had a lot of things released this spring semester and now I am working with something related to my throat chakra. This has been there for at least a year, probably much longer, but there seems to have been other things I have needed to clean out first. But now it is coming up to be released, I think.

Since a few years I have also had some kind of tension triggered by speech, which has made it difficult for me to lecture for more than an hour or two. When it was as its worse three-four years ago I could hardly speak at all. I got muscle tensions and almost cramps, so that I could hardly move the muscles in my chest related to talking, got a pressure over my forehead and also got dizzy, almost as if hyperventilating. Among other all things chiropractic assistance and correct breathing has done a lot for me. What I get today is some dizziness and some discomforts in my chest and solar plexus area. I strongly suspect these discomforts are related to the throat chakra blockage.

I feel as if the tension is centered at my throat and in the uppermost part of my chest and probably also my shoulders. When I do correct breathing training I feel a need to expend the uppermost part of my chest towards the sides. These lasts months I have had a lot of energy working in my arms and hands, which have even been sore.

I have been advised to do the camel or the cobra yogic exercises and to try to learn singing. I also consider practicing a tantric meditation where prana is moved with the breath in the front channel between navel and throat, throat and the top of the head and navel and the top of the head. But I haven%rsquot decided exactly what to practice yet.

[Vyana]

At a recent yogic therapy session I had a short glimpse of a vision, which is probably related to this. I perceive something that looked like an extremely old lady, but she didn't seem to be more than skin and bones and a long hair. (For some reason a came to think about African tribal shamans.) Maybe she is some kind of archetype? When I saw her I thought "this seems to be something that I need to learn to love". But then she jumped up on my upper chest close to my throat and disappeared, and than there was a pressure there.

[Gustaf]

What are good advices to cleanse the throat chakra? <p>I have had a lot of things released this spring semester and now I am working with something related to my throat chakra. This has been there for at least a year, probably much longer, but there seems to have been other things I have needed to clean out first. But now it is coming up to be released, I think. </p><p>Since a few years I have also had some kind of tension triggered by speech, which has made it difficult for me to lecture for more than an hour or two. When it was as its worse three-four years ago I could hardly speak at all. I got muscle tensions and almost cramps, so that I could hardly move the muscles in my chest related to talking, got a pressure over my forehead and also got dizzy, almost as if hyperventilating. Among other all things chiropractic assistance and correct breathing has done a lot for me. What I get today is some dizziness and some discomforts in my chest and solar plexus area. I strongly suspect these discomforts are related to the throat chakra blockage. </p><p>I feel as if the tension is centered at my throat and in the uppermost part of my chest and probably also my shoulders. When I do correct breathing training I feel a need to expend the uppermost part of my chest towards the sides. These lasts months I have had a lot of energy working in my arms and hands, which have even been sore.</p><p>I have been advised to do the camel or the cobra yogic exercises and to try to learn singing. I also consider practicing a tantric meditation where prana is moved with the breath in the front channel between navel and throat, throat and the top of the head and navel and the top of the head. But I haven%rsquot decided exactly what to practice yet.




</p>

I'd say that many things that use the voice expressively is good to clear the throat chakra. Kirtan would be excellent for you. If you feel uncomfortable singing your heart out in front of other people, it's excellent to do it at home or at a secluded spot. I've collected CDs with some favourites and then played them loud on a stereo and then sitting alone, as if I was singing with a group. Works great for me. I have some instruments at home so sometimes I play along with a drum or something else.. No one else around to hear it except my wife.

If you prefer other types of chanting, that is fine too, the most important thing is to sing or chant with a strong intent. Many people I encounter at Kirtan sessions sing in a weak voice and with lifted, hunched shoulders. I'm not talking about a singing performance, that is completely irrelevant, what matters is to open up and sing as totally as possible.. If the voice is not in tune, it doesn't matter with this practice.

On another note, the throat chakra is responsible for reception of sound, receptiveness of vibrations and harmony. Whereas singing with powerful intent can shake loose a lot of dross, more finely tuned meditations can also open it up (Or a combination. Intent is always important)  Singing harmonics is a very powerful method to increase this sensitivity, especially if you focus your attention on the throat chakra area while doing it.

Sri Siva says that a lot of our karma is stored in the neck, as a bottleneck of blue color. It's where Shiva drank the poison and it was stuck in his throat (Shiva is also called the blue throated one) He recommends a practice chanting the mantra Thera Neelu Kantam while focusing on this blue color in the throat. I had a copy of a CD with a guided meditation of this. Very powerful practice that released karma a wee too fast, so I had to stop.

If you have a personal mantra, this will also work. 

If sound is not really your thing, Chakra Shuddhi could also work.  Chakra Shuddhi for the throat is very simple, especially for you who have practiced yoga in different forms before.   Essentially, you breathe in and out through the throat chakra, in through the point at the front, and then through the back, and then out the other direction, back to front. In Kundalini Yoga you also visualize the chakra being pierced as you do so.  I'd recommend you look up these practices first though since I might not be entirely correct about them.

There are also Hatha Yoga practices that are wonderful for the throat chakra.   Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) and Halasana (plow pose) with focus on breath and throat chakra are recommended in yoga scriptures. Jalandhara Bandha (throat lock) will also affect the throat chakra. 

Allow your heartvoice to decide which practice(s) that would work best for you. From my own experience, opening the throat very rapidly can make you -very- sensitive, so take it easy. I had a rough year or two after a very quick opening, I could not stand noises, loud conversations, traffic, that sort of stuff.

[Eileen]

>>What are good advices to cleanse the throat chakra?

(Gustaf said:)
I'd say that many things that use the voice expressively is good to clear the throat chakra.
If you prefer other types of chanting, that is fine too, the most important thing is to sing or chant with a strong intent.

Sri Siva says that a lot of our karma is stored in the neck, as a bottleneck of blue color.

(My comment:)
I have been working through throat issues for some time and still have work to do.  Interesting how blue things have been moving into my life of late.  Anyway, I thought to add to what Gustaf said about methods to help.  (Thank you Gustaf)

The throat is an area of creative expression.  Doing anything creative helps with the throat.  Also, anger is often stored in the throat.  Rage and anger.  So doing some focused work to integrate and release anger is very helpful.  One more thing I've noticed in myself and in my many clients is the distinct connection between the second (sex) chakra and the throat chakra.  Major connection, and of course, they are both centers for creative energy and expression.  So sometimes it's helpful to put some focus to the second chakra, or at least to check in and see if there is anything there connected that needs to be resolved in order to help free up the throat. 

As movement is important, movement activities that free up the hip/pelvis will automatically bring added movement and flexibility to the neck.  That's because of the way the spine works...there is a curve at the waist and curve at the neck that work together in harmony.  Move the hips and the neck moves.  I've had great difficulty here all my life because my sex chakra was shut down.  As much as I loved to ride horses (and did tons of it) I was never a good rider because my pelvis was too rigid. 

Another thing I've noticed in myself is that, because I've had some tendancies to open my mouth and then 'walk off and leave it running unattended' - there has been an obvious need to connect it with the power chakra for some much needed discernment.  If the power chakra is trying to communicate and we're not listening (the ears fall into the realm of the throat chakra) then the throat will just shut itself down.  Listening is very important to the throat chakra.

Anyway, some thoughts. Check in with your heart voice and see if there are other connections.
Blessings!
Eileen

[Vyana]

Thanks Gustaf and Eileen! I have been away for two weeks and when I got home my computer crasched... My yoga therapist has helped me a lot with this. At one session a lot was removed with the help of a battering ram and other huge maskins. This last week I have started doing the Kirtan kriya meditation 31 minutes every evening, which feels fine. At our session today colored cristals were installed in all my chakras, also the troat chakra. This also feels fine.

[Gustaf]

Vyana, what is the Kirtan kriya meditation?  Sounds very interesting.

[Vyana]

Kirtan kriya is a kundalini-yoga meditation technique.  The major parts of the technique is that you sing, whisper and "think" quietly the mantra Sa-Ta-Na-Ma while you touch the tips of your fingers one by one with the tip of your thumb.  You can read about it in Swedish here:

http://www.yogajona.se/aciro/websidor/visasida.asp?idnr=UV6BPQAsNEPIHbxPQpXD4E3IMoo8KmNhDWdcYFNEmoguh6MFOgjLMEKZvY0l

http://www.yogayoga.nu/yogauniversity/mudras/index.htm

Or in English:

http://www.kundaliniyoga.org/kyt15.html

Kirtan kriya is a very powerful technique.