Being more confident with your own voice through voice activation techniques.
12 techniques to unblock your throat chakra
AFRICAN PROVERB - if you can talk you can sing if you can walk you can dance
With over 7 Billion people in the world, nearly everyone has a voice. A unique collection of sounds that are individual to the person. Our voice is a tool we can use for greatness, to teach, to lead, to inspire and also lesser known is to heal. I’ll speak more on that in a moment.
There are times in life when we use our voice to its full potential, a crying newborn, a child’s infectious giggle, a roaring woman during childbirth. But so many of us struggle to use our voice to its full potential on a day to day basis. Such as:
Speaking as our authentic self.
Standing up for ourselves, others and things we believe.
Feeling heard and understood by others.
Being able to vocalise what we want & what we do not want.
Public speaking.
Singing in front of others.
Why is this?
Time after time I hear people saying they were silenced as a child, told things like ‘children should be seen and not heard’ or ridiculed for being ‘too much’. Can comments from our childhood really have a detrimental effect on us and cause other health issues later in life?
The answer is, YES! Absolutely yes it can.
If you are told something enough times you will begin to believe it. Even on a subconscious level you’ll know that you need to be quiet, consider others, ’be a good girl/boy’ and take other people's feelings into account. Now this isn’t about blaming others or feeling bad, this blog is to inspire, motivate and hopefully get you using your authentic voice in a healing way from today (if you aren’t already doing so of course).
The Throat Chakra
On a spiritual level the voice is connected to the Throat Chakra. The 5th of the 7 main chakras - energy centres in the body that relate to organs and emotions. If you’re having problems with your throat chakra that could manifest into other issues such as:
Physical ailments
Sore throat
Sinus issues
Ear infections and ache
Jaw clenching or pain e.g. TMJ
Neck pain
Constant colds
Thyroid issues
Tonsillitis
Toothache
Breathing difficulties
Weak/underpowered voice
Psychological ailments
Inability to express yourself
Tell lies
Be extremely shy
Have difficulty communicating 1-2-1
If chakras are blocked, over or under powered this can affect all of the chakras as there needs to be a clear channel for energy (prana) to flow up and down the body. I imagine the chakras like cogs with glitter (you can also envision other things like sand, water etc) and the cogs need to move & spin as they are supposed to in order for energy to effectively move up and down the body. If any of the cogs are out of time this affects and disrupts the overall flow of energy.
Some people go as far to say that if you’re unable to use your voice to its full potential this could be a witch wound - an inherited trauma from a past life or inherited trauma from your family.
What does all this mean for you?
If you’re unable to speak up, say what’s really on your mind, if public speaking fills you with fear, if you feel misunderstood or not listened to then this is already affecting you. The good news is there is definitely action you can take to help you feel better and step into your power. Applying these techniques could help you:
Feel more confident
Increase self worth
Get that job
End that unhealthy relationship
Start receiving more pleasure by getting exactly what you want!
Heal yourself from the inside out
Bring your body into a state of flow and harmony. Improving your overall well being.
Heal relationships
How can you start stepping into your power and using your authentic voice?
There are so many techniques you can tap into. Find the ones that resonate and work best for you and use them generously, liberally and regularly.
This is a long term self care project so you may overcome one challenge but then find you need to refine your skills to accomplish another challenge.
Watch out for triggers E.g. a parent telling you to be quiet, as these can bring those feelings right back.
There is no voice in the world like yours!! £0
Your voice is a powerful tool, an instrument created perfectly to heal your body. We may not always like the sound of our voice ESPECIALLY when we hear it played on a video ‘eeew cringe’ but, getting to love our own unique sound is one of the first steps in total world domination, or at least, confidently speaking up when necessary.
Watch how you are speaking to yourself or about situations. Listen out of negativity and tweak your language to reflect your more empowered, loving self.
Humming -£0
Everything is vibration, all sounds, including our voices. Take a deep breath in and on the exhale, keeping the lips closed hum. It might feel a little odd at first and even quite tickly on your lips. What is happening is the vibrations from the hum are massaging your throat! Sending perfectly tuned healing vibrations into your body!
Think of the best singers and vocal performers, they will all have a rigorous vocal warm up which will include humming, sirening, lip fluttering and neck and face exercises
When we hum we create nitric oxide and that’s good for our circulatory system. It dilates and constricts blood vessels which can improve blood pressure and therefore heart health.
Healing through what you say -£0
There is so much power in the words we say and the thoughts we have, as discovered in Dr Emoto’s water has emotions experiments. Speech can be spells and incantations even when we aren’t consciously meaning the message behind the words. If you’re constantly putting yourself down or speaking negatively this can weaken your throat chakra.
Rewording self talk -£0
If you catch yourself using negative self-talk or language, don’t beat yourself up (then it becomes a vicious cycle) simply notice, acknowledge what you have said, see if there is anything behind that statement. Is it conditioning from society? Insecurity? Frustration? Then see if you can rephrase the statement in a more positive way.
‘I’m so stupid’ to ‘It’s ok to make mistakes. It’s ok I didn’t know this time, I’ll learn from this experience and know for next time’
‘I messed that up’ to ‘That didn’t go how I’d have liked it to. It’s happened now, I’ll do it differently next time.’
Healing mantra’s to try £0
Aham prema - I am love
Sat Nam - Sat means “truth.” Nam means “identity.” Together, sat nam means “truth is my identity.”
So Hum - This translates to: “I am that.”
Affirmations to try £0
I speak my authentic truth
I am understood
I communicate clearly & effectively
I am heard
I am confident in what I have to say
Scripting £0
Take some time to create a script unique to you. It doesn’t have to be long, perhaps just a few sentences. Write down in a positive way all of the things you love about yourself. Some things, you might not feel or think them yet but in time after repeating the script several times a day over a period of time you will begin to see yourself in this way.
An example of scripting
‘I see how far I have come & how much I have achieved in life. I am proud of the person I have become. I speak my truth in a compassionate and authentic way. I listen and see what is presented to me. I am love, I am loving, I am loved’
Chanting - £0
This has been used for thousands of years, it is deeply rooted in religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
Try chanting the seed sound for the throat chakra. This sound resonates at the same frequency as this particular chakra.
Take a deep breath in and on the exhale chant the sound HAM
Here are some of my favourite songs to chant
Listen to uplifting positive music, sing along if you can (even if that is in the shower) £0
Surround yourself with the positivity you want to bring into your life. If you truly listen to a lot of mainstream music it isn’t conducive to healing, the messages in the music are ego, money, sex, drugs and sorrow orientated. There is a plethora of well-being music available on streaming services such as Spotify, music about the power within you, that you’re open to receiving it there is goodness coming to you etc here are some of my favourite feel good tracks
Play these songs often and sing along to them. You are affirming these positive words into your being and proclaiming it to the universe.
Sound therapy - £-£££
There are Sound healing tools tuned specifically to the throat chakra. You can attend a session with a trained sound practitioner or invest in some of your own instruments such as crystal singing bowls, tuning forks or chimes. Set the intention to work on your throat chakra, to release any blockages and allow energy to freely flow through the throat and keep your focus on this space whilst the instruments are played. Vibrational healing will send a soothing massage to this area helping to unblock and re energise the throat chakra.
Singing £ - ££
Singing is good for the soul! It may not always sound typically ‘nice’ when we sing, especially if we don’t have formal training or a keen ear for tune but, the words you sing, the energy behind it and the vibrations from the sound can all be tremendous in sending good vibes into your body. You don’t have to have the vocal range of Mariah Carey either.
Just spend time singing and really listening to what comes out. What does your unique authentic voice sound like? A little croaky, husky, smooth, silky, deep, high, squeaky, powerful? There is no right or wrong. The objective isn’t to go on stage and perform but instead to learn more about yourself and build your confidence.
The vocal cords are muscles and like all muscles, need training. If you haven’t sung in a long time or it’s first thing in the morning when you haven’t even spoken much it’s likely your voice won’t have so much power and be croaky. That’s ok! Take it easy at those times, perhaps use the humming example above to warm your vocal cords before you burst into song.
Just observe what type of songs you want to sing, how they make you feel, when you want to sing (like in the shower, in the car, whilst alone). When we sing we release happy hormones such as endorphins and oxytocin which help to reduce anxiety and stress.
If you want an extra challenge why don’t you try some group singing? Go to Kirtan, sign up to a community choir or go to a church.
Vocal activation classes £££
These can be 1-2-1 or group sessions, working with a professional that will help you get the most out of your voice. It’s not a singing class however singing may be used as a technique to help you activate your voice. They may also get you to do lots of exercises that feel a little silly like making animal sounds, assigning sounds to physical actions etc, they’re all designed to break down the fear of making sounds and strengthen your voice and confidence. With regular use these sessions can open up your vocal range, build strength and technique and be lots of fun!
Summary
We are born with a voice and it is our gift to be able to use it positively for ourselves and others. It isn't something that comes naturally to many people, try some of the exercises above, find the ones that work best for you and notice the ones you are hesitant to do.
In time, you’ll begin to strengthen your vocal muscles as well as your confidence & start getting your unique & powerful voice out into the world!
