Yoga Glossary · Chakras
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
The fifth chakra, at the throat — expression, truth, and the voice. Element: ether (space).
Vishuddha means 'especially pure'. Located at the throat, it is the first of the upper chakras, with element ether (space), color blue, and seed sound Ham. It is associated with communication in both directions — speaking truthfully and actually listening — and with the physical structures of the neck, jaw, thyroid region and voice.
On the mat its poses involve the neck and shoulders: Shoulder Stand and Plough, Fish Pose, neck releases, and any practice that frees a chronically braced throat and jaw. Chanting and audible Ujjayi breath also belong to this center — the voice used deliberately, at the volume of truth rather than performance.
In practice
- Shoulder Stand is its signature pose — and the one where the throat must stay soft and the head still.
- Traditional seed sound: Ham. Color: blue. Element: ether.
- Unclench the jaw in hard poses; a braced jaw is a braced throat.
Poses linked to this chakra
Related terms
Test yourself
Pose IQ's Chakras rounds quiz this term and its neighbours — ten questions, explanations after every answer.
The Yoga Glossary is an educational study reference. Definitions are standard yoga and anatomy knowledge in plain language; nothing here is medical advice.