Mindfulness Meditation for Voice, Dealing with My Recent Laryngitis and Sore Throat, and PYV!

Does Mindfulness Meditation Positively Impact VOICE?...

A recent (2022) study looked into exactly this! The purpose was to evaluate the immediate effects of a single, 11.5 minute session of Mindfulness Meditation (MM) on the VOICE.

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Mindfulness meditation (MM) is a complementary & alternative medicine practice that is described as a means of intentionally bringing non-judgmental attention and awareness into the present moment. It has been shown to facilitate reduced distress and anxiety, benefit autonomic nervous system function and heart rate variability, and decrease resting systolic blood pressure, cardiac output and heart rate. In a variety of clinic populations, “MM has been shown to facilitate a decrease in acute and chronic pain, distress tolerance, reduce perceived stress, improve quality-of-life scores, and reduce depression”. Related to patients with voice and/or upper-airway disorders, mindfulness training has led to reduced dyspneic symptoms in patients with COPD and improved quality of life in patients who have GERD.

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Participants in the study listened to a 11.5 min prerecorded meditation by “Headspace” which included a visual stimulus (simple, neutral geometric image that slowly changed to mark time) and the speaker’s voice that cued paced breathing and body awareness exercises. Participants completed the same voice/speech tasks pre and post MM (with use of respiratory kinematic data and acoustic/aerodynamic assessment), as well as well as questionnaires (VHI-10, DI, Perceived Stress Scale, the State and Trait Anxiety Index, and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire).

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Participants’ comments related to the differences experienced during the speech/voice tasks as a result of the mindfulness practice centered around common themes including: reduction of emotional stress, improvement in the sound or feel of the voice and breath, and change in physical state (increased relaxation, reduced tension, and calmness). A statistically significant decrease in state anxiety (improvement) was found between baseline and post MM voice for both participant groups (vocally healthy and those with common voice disorders). The results “confirmed that in addition to experiencing an improvement in emotional, cognitive, and physical states, novice meditators experienced an improvement in the sound and feel of their own voice post MM”.

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“Results indicate that a single 11.5 minute session of mindfulness meditation may be beneficial for some patients, but alone, it is not sufficient to override habitual voice and speech patterns. This study affirms that the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits known to benefit the patient and non-patient populations are seen in novice meditators performing voice tasks” (Rose Becker et al., 2022).

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Anyone currently using meditation in your daily life? And have you noticed similar effects on your physical state, stress level, and/or VOICE?

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#voxfit #voice #mindfulness #meditation #outsidethebox #itworks #overallhealth #relaxation #lesstension #calm #research #lessstress #occupationalvoiceuser #voicesfittoinspire #vocalhealth #vocalfolds #voicetherapy #voicecoaching #alternativemedicine #muscletensiondysphonia #journalofvoice #alwayskeeplearning

Dealing With MY Recent Sore Throat and Laryngitis...

**Check out the video above.....** 

Welp, I’m here to say that I experienced about a two-day bout of laryngitis and sore throat that was probably the worst I’ve ever had… and I truly “woke up like that”.  I had minimal voice and truly experienced what I hear so often from patients (“I can’t project my voice at a drive-thru”…and “my voice goes in and out” and “it gets airy”). I can attest to all three of those. I had to call out of work (which I hate doing more than anything… I always feel so guilty and also feel terrible having to reschedule patients when the waitlist is already way too long). Plus I feel like I neverrrr call off work, it’s just not something I do…buuut I guess if you don’t have much of a voice you certainly can’t help voice patients. It was humbling for sure. I couldn’t even converse with others and was definitely using gestures with my dogs and husband ha ha. I was freaking out and was going to drive to work and scope myself if things didn’t start improving (I started worrying because I was envisioning that I had a VF paresis or paralysis based on the way that it felt!!..and I truly haven’t experienced a laryngitis like this before). 

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Spoiler: I’m starting day 3 of the steroid pack and all is good now, praise the Lord.

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I tell you all this because:

a) this is real life, 

b) I am here to be REAL and share experiences with you that can happen to anyoneee who has a voice, and 

c) I truly feel that I have gained a new (personal) perspective on dysphonia that I can relate to every single patient and client I work with… 

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I always try to find the POSITIVE in every experience (“good” or “bad”). I am grateful for this one because VOICE is truly a GIFT. So is taking a PAUSE and being reminded of your gifts/blessings. I’ll say it again because I mean it: A “normally” functioning VOICE is truly a GIFT. I believe that now even more than I always did. I am always here to help you HEAL, LEARN MORE ABOUT, and/or ENHANCE or voice. Reach out even if you’re going through something similar and may just need a word of encouragement, advice, or a hug. 

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HAPPY #prioritizeyourvoice FRIDAY!!

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#voxfit #voice #prioritizeyourvoice  #prioritizeyourvoicefriday  #wellness #voiceisagift #occupationalvoiceuser #voicesfittoinspire #vocalhealth #vocalfolds #voicetherapy #voicecoaching #gratefulheart #perspective #laryngitis #gettingreal #heretohelp #gratefulforthegiftofvoice 

Anddd of course, always REMEMBER to PRIORITIZE YOUR VOICE!  

How are YOU prioritizing your voice today? And everyday? As an OCCUPATIONAL VOICE USER, it should be one of your top priorities! 
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What do you need to know to keep your voice healthy?  You should understand how the voice works, how to protect and care for your voice, and how to use your voice and entire vocal mechanism in the most efficient, effective, and dynamic ways possible.  
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I’m super PASSIONATE about this population of voice users (I’m one and most of you are too!), and am HERE TO HELP! Reach out with any questions, concerns, or if you’d like to work together. Email me at [email protected] 
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#voxfit #desiretoinspire #aspiretoinspire #changelives #radiateconfidence #vocalinstrument #voice #voicefitness #vocalfitness #voicesfittoinspire #vocalathlete #occupationalvoiceuser #speechpathology #voicespecialist #teacher #instructor #fitnessinstructor #singer #performer #emcee #gamehost #clergy #sales #coach #speechpathologist #voicetherapy #voicedisorders #prioritizeyourvoice