Week Two - Vishuddha Chakra, Honest Expression
Hello everyone,
Thank you all for being there last week for our heart opening yoga practices at Thrive! With Valentine's day coming up this Saturday, I'll admit that a part of me did wish our Heart theme could serendipitously align with the practice this Sunday coming - how perfect would that be?! A Valentine's weekend heart chakra practice?!
But then I thought about it again...leaning into it a bit more, with a little more honesty...and I realised with humility that love is almost never what makes or breaks a relationship. It's how we communicate it.
So here we are, with what might just be the perfect theme for this week's Valentine's practices: Throat Centre. The voice. Vishuddha Chakra. In both yoga classes this Sunday 15th, we'll explore gentle themes of honest communication, openness, and authenticity, through mindful movement and yoga flow that will release pent up tension in your neck and shoulders, tone your vagus nerve, and strengthen your legs and connection to your feet...while also perhaps pondering the only slightly existential question of: 'what is my truth?'
It will be a good one!
*I have a special Valentine's weekend offer for both classes this Sunday, where you can bring a friend for half price! At the moment I have four spaces available in Soft Stretch at 6:30pm, and two spaces available in Hatha at 5pm. It would be just €25.50 for two people coming to class together - invite friends, family, partners, even pets! (just joking, but I wish).
If you're interested in this subtle body chakra rhetoric and curious about how yoga can link up to modern psycho-somatic concepts - please keep reading for more insights into the Throat Chakra. Otherwise, I can't wait to see you on the mat this Sunday! Let me know if you'd like me to save you a space :)
The word Vishuddha in Sanskrit can be translated to mean 'pure'. Words like true, authentic, clear, can all be attributed to this throat chakra; our physical dwelling place for expression and relational communication. The voice, the face, the neck; even our ears are linked to this centre. But if you're anything like me, you might sometimes come away from conversations with regret or anxiety, wondering if you 'came off okay', or if your true intentions were understood. As with all chakras (energy centres in the body), if not aligned the prana of the throat chakra can become blocked - this manifests as an inability to find the right words, a desire to hide or remain silent, avoid confrontation and communication, and may even result in physical pain or embarrassment around your voice/throat/neck. I can't think of how many times I've had that awful dream where I want to say something, or even scream out, and I can't make a sound. This experience of sudden 'voicelessness' can be very real for people; performers, singers, public speakers, or even just individuals having really difficult conversations with loved ones or therapists - the desire to express is there, but there are no words or sounds coming out. It's a literal emotional block.
Sometimes the energy of the throat chakra is not blocked, but rather de-channelised. There is an overflow of energy, a spiralling out of balance. This might be a little harder to spot than a blocked throat chakra. It may mean that you find yourself unable to stop talking, over-using your voice to the point of fatigue, or consumed by the need to get your opinions across; even so obsessed with being heard and understood that you inadvertently cause harm and miscommunication in your relationships. It all boils down to expression; what do I want to say, how do I want to sound, and when I say it...is it really true?
As a trained vocalist and professional singing teacher, this is one of those chakras that I could write forever about. It's fascinating to see how much emotion we place into our voice, how clearly we can communicate our feelings using just our tone and expression, how vulnerable this area can feel, and how difficult it can be to speak and express ourselves in ways that we are proud of. But I will spare you! Lets just say that you can expect a fun and creative yoga flow this Sunday that will release tension in your neck and shoulders, strengthen your legs and back, while inviting you to consider how you might express love in more honest and truthful ways to support those around you (and yourself). Hatha yogis - expect to fly in eagle. Soft Stretch yogis, expect to completely release your neck and shoulders and relax with bhramari (honey bee breath). I can't wait :)
“For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.”
~ Thích Nhat Hanh ~
Le grá,
Macha
