Mouth Breather?, Benefits of Nasal Breathing, and PYV: Occupational Voice Users...

The Week of Feb 21st BLOG: 

TUESDAY TOSS UP:  Are You a Mouth Breather?

(Check out the video that is part of this blog post)...
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FUNCTIONAL BREATHING. FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT.
Dare I take it a step further & say FUNCTIONAL VOICE?! YES.
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IF your breathing is not functional, then there’s a good chance your movement is not functional either…and you (therefore) are more at-risk for injury. This sounds familiar: as occupational and/or professional voice users, we already know that in many ways we are “vocal athletes”. Athletes put greater demands on their bodies and are at higher risk for injury; the same is true for vocal athletes. If your breathing is not “functional” or is somehow inefficient, your voice will not function FREELY and effectively for you, especially as you need it to related to your occupational and professional demands. 
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AIR is the FOUNDATION for VOICE. Isn’t it time you PRIORITIZE your most efficient BREATHING? Isn’t it time you make sure you are not breathholding throughout your day OR when you are talking OR when you are exercising, walking, or doing work at the computer? If your breathing is not functional, then not only will movement not be functional, but VOICE will not be functional either. Your brain will always tell your body to overcompensate if respiratory support is insufficient, and there you will find yourself unintentionally "holding" and/or using muscle tension for voice and/or physical movement or general posturing/positioning throughout your day. 
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Catch yourself in this pattern; AWARENESS is the first step…and SO IMPORTANT. Learn all you can about efficient, easy, full-body breathing to be the most CONNECTED voice user and HUMAN that you can be. Breathing contributes to a plethora of functions in all of our lives, & even contributes to better brain function, less anxiety, and less pain. 
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In addition, like this audio clip from @oxygenadvantage mentions...LOOK at your body when you breathe. What happens? What moves? FEEL your body when you breathe. The CORE is your foundation and like a "house"...it's 360 degrees and has a roof/floor (diaphragm+pelvic floor), side/side (obliques), and front/back (abdominals+spinal muscles). I say this all the time when I teach fitness classes. When we finally realize we are 360 degrees of support, expansion, openness, and depth...versus the shallowness of just the upper chest and throat along with the overcompensatory patterns that follow...is when we realize there is SO MUCH POWER in full-body efficient breathing...for VOICE, for movement, and for physical and mental health! Nasal breathing leads to more efficiency, and mouth breathing leads to inefficient patterns along with a whole host of other side effects (dryness, laryngeal irritants, etc.). Tune in tomorrow for more info on the benefits of NASAL BREATHING!
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#voxfit #voice #mouthbreathing #nasalbreathing #core #thecoreisthefoundation #powerhouse #efficiency #efficientbreathing #breathing #fullbodybreathing #functionalbreathing #functionalmovement #prioritizeyourbreathing #prioritizeyourvoice #vocalinstrument #supportyourvoice #inhale #exhale #respiratorysupport #justbreathe #vocalathlete #occupationalvoiceuser #voicesfittoinspire #speechpathologist #fitnessinstructor #voicespecialist #freeyourbreath #freeyourvoice

HUMP DAY HEALTH:  Benefits of Nasal Breathing...

Check out the video HERE.

Movement IS Medicine. Staying physically active is great for your physical and mental health and there are so many ways to do it. I absolutely LOVE that I get to “live” everyday in both the medical/voice and fitness worlds.  It keeps me sane and happy! I NEED movement, and I need to be in the clinical setting as well. It’s really good to know what keeps you at your BEST…what brings you JOY, and what fulfills you and gives you the energy you need to help others. BUT do you ever notice how you are breathing WHILE exercising?! WHY gasp for air while you are exercising? Or any time of day for that matter? There are so many BENEFITS to nasal breathing, it’s truly insane that it isn’t more common knowledge. I learned most of this information during my training related to the Buteyko breathing method and its techniques, and since then I have consistently tried to apply the principles to my own life (and have noticed GREAT benefits!).

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Here are just SOME of the benefits of nasal breathing (from the Buteyko manual):

*WARMS the incoming air to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (optimal temperature for the lungs)

*HUMIDIFIES the incoming air (up to 1L more than mouth breathing); this supports the tiny microscopic hairs (cilia) which beat in unison to move sticky mucus and debris out of the lungs

*FILTERS air during inhalation via the nose hairs

*KEEPS the environment free from stagnating debris

*TRIGGERS the release of antibacterial molecules helping to clean the incoming air and increase the functioning of the immune system

*STIMULATES the release of odiferous molecules, so that we can smell the quality of air

*PROVIDES extra resistance and dead-space which is important in regulation of breathing, as are the airflow sensors in the nose; mouth breathing promotes hyperventilation

*PLAYS an important role in oral health; mouth breathing causes a drying out of the gums, increasing acidity in the mouth promoting both cavities and gum disease

*ALLOWS the tongue and lips to properly form the natural arch around the mouth, preventing tooth malformation

*IMPROVES aesthetics of entire face as the jaw forms in a healthy way

*LIGHTENS the head by filling sinuses with air, lubricates sinus membranes, lessening the chance of sinus infection
*REDUCES snoring

*REDUCES anxiety

*MAKES it easy to breathe less than when mouth breathing; you also breathe fewer allergens which trigger less of a reaction

*REDUCES swelling and congestion of nose tissues and other airways

*INCREASES sense of smell, linking it to the limbic system, the seat of emotions making us more aware of our emotions; this is also an important environmental factor for survival

*BRINGS air into sphenoid sinuses to cool pituitary gland and regulate temperature

*KEEPS nasal passages open

*SUPPORTS the pituitary gland in regulating sleeping patterns

*FACILITATES the production of nitric oxide, which is a bronchodilator

*REDUCES the volume of carbon dioxide released during exhalation (sinuses trap CO2, CO2 dilates airways and blood vessels and facilitates release and delivery of oxygen)

*FACILITATES a deep meditation

*ACTIVATES the production of immunoglobulins to strengthen the immune system

*PREVENTS survival of viruses via the mucus membrane which sterilizes the air that enters your body, creating a shield against disease

*REDUCES the rapid loss of CO2 which is needed to release oxygen from the blood to the brain, organs, muscles, and cells (Bohr Effect)

*Paranasal sinuses produce nitric oxide, a powerful sterilizing agent which kills bacteria and dilates bronchial tubes

*There are very sensitive nerve endings at hair roots, which warn about unhealthy particles in the air

*Turbinates cause air to centrifuge any particles inhaled which then stick to the mucus membrane, preventing it from being sucked into the lungs

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Notice if/when you are breath holding throughout the day, and make sure you EXHALE and start good breathing patterns. Also notice if/when you are breathing with your mouth open and redirect to more efficient nasal breathing...

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IF you don’t already practice nasal breathing, START TODAY! 

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"Remember: Always try to breathe through your nostrils, and no through your mouth, because air must contact olfactory nerves to stimulate your brain and put it into its natural rhythm. If you don't breathe through your nose, in a sense you're only half alive" (Robert C. Fulford, D.O.).

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#voxfit #tuesdaytossup #nasalbreathing #buteyko #buteykobreathing #voice #vocalfitness #bevocallyfit #occupationalvoiceuser #vocalhealth #vocalwellness #prioritizeyourvoice #protectyourvoice #healthyvoice #educationispower #singer #fitnessinstructor #publicspeaker #speechpathologist #voicespecialist #awareness #beproactive

PRIORITIZE YOUR VOICE!  

It’s Prioritize Your Voice Friday… So 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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Old(er) research. But it’s STILL the TRUTH.
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According to Stemple (2000), an occupational voice user is any individual who places great demands upon his/her voice and whose livelihood is dependent upon a functioning voice.  SO many examples: fitness instructor, teacher, lawyer, public speaker, sales representative, customer service representative, singer, performer, emcee, in-game host, TV/radio host, news/radio broadcaster, athlete, media representative, coach, call center representative, therapist, priest/preacher/clergy, etc..and THE.LIST.GOES.ON...!
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AND another tidbit of research: Occupational voicing percentage per hour is more than TWICE that of non-occupational voicing (Hunter & Titze, 2010).  
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Professional and occupational voice users ARE VOCAL ATHLETES.  Athletes put greater demands on their bodies and are at higher risk for injuries. Professional and occupational voice users put GREATER demands on their voices and are therefore at higher risk of vocal injury.
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As an occupational voice user, your VOICE is not only your INSTRUMENT and AUDIBLE BUSINESS CARD, but also your livelihood. 
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As an occupational voice user, success depends on a healthy vocal mechanism, effective message delivery, excellent communication skills, and dynamic voice use to create a lasting impact on others.  
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Shouldn’t PRIORITIZING your voice be high on your list?!
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.
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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