Training Your Mind, US/UK Videostroboscopy Chat, and PYV: Review of the Voicebox!

The Week of Jan 17th BLOG: 

TUESDAY TOSS UP:  Training Your Mind...

What does this quote mean to you?! 

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Because it’s the TRUTH…  

LOVING this book so have to share with you! “One key to achieving success in sports is learning how to focus on the task & not let negative thoughts intrude. The mind can concentrate on only one thing at a time. So, rather than suppress what you don’t want to happen, you must focus on what you DO want to happen or on some neutral thought...... What we’ve learned in psychology is that actions follow our thoughts & images... The law of dominant thought says your mind is going to remember the most dominant thought… YOU GET WHAT YOUR MIND SETS. The mind works most effectively when you’re telling it what to do rather than what not to do”. Our minds are VERY powerful… & mental strength & fortitude & conditioning are just as important as their physical correlates (although many sports psychology studies show the “mind edge” is significantly MORE important)… This applies to VOICE... this applies to LIFE ...this applies to SPORT...this applies to just about everything! 

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“By changing your thinking (& you CAN choose how you think), you can change your performance...Learn to USE your mind or your mind will use you. Actions follow our thoughts & images. Don’t look where you don’t want to go”.  

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What are you telling yourself? What actually goes on in that place between your ears? THERE IS POWER IN POSITIVE THINKING. There is power in training your brain. Pelé once said that ENTHUSIASM and MENTAL EDGE are the keys to winning. PRIORITIZE mental skills because just like physical & vocal skills, they need constant practice. And it is time so very well spent.  

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I say this in MANY classes I teach— WHAT are you telling yourself? WHAT are you filling in the blank with after the two little but powerful words “I AM”? Ex: I AM_______. I am not enough, I am weak, I am not commanding enough, not experienced enough, not impactful enough? OR I am STRONG. I am ENOUGH. I am BEAUTIFUL. I am able to positively impact others with my VOICE. I am specially designed for my MISSION. I am ONE of a kind. Etc etc etc. & don’t just say it silently... say it aloud. See how your brain changes. See how your attitude changes.  

HUMP DAY HEALTH:  Videostroboscopy Chat with Tor (a voice colleague of mine from across the pond in the UK!)...

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On #humpdayhealth this week, I wanted to share the InstagramLive video that Tor and I did over the weekend! We talked all about videostroboscopy and how much we LOVE it, how practices may differ or be similar between the US and the UK, and how much we want you to NOT WORRY (at all!!!) if you are recommended to get one!!!  

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Videostroboscopy is THE best way to see the vocal folds and general laryngeal anatomy and also see and assess how they function and VIBRATE--all of this information gives us  extremely important insight into your voice and/or airway and why it may sound (or feel) like it does (and also what the best "next steps" might be too!). 

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A big THANK YOU to Tor with VoiceFitUK for having me. It was SO FUN chatting and collaborating. Looking forward to the next one!! To see the entire video, check out the @voxfit_ instagram page.. but check out a clip within this blog post...

PRIORITIZE YOUR VOICE!  

Review of the Voicebox...

I was inspired to do this post because Instagram has censored me a few times within the past two weeks for posting pictures of vocal folds/the larynx and calling it nudity. SUPER annoying AND also shows that they don’t know what the heck they’re looking at. I also LOVE to educate everyone on what their own “instrument” is, what it looks like, how it works, etc…. so thought this would be a perfect time to “revisit” a review of what is really being shown when I post (stroboscopy) videos or photos. 
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Plus, even more importantly, this definitely fits right along with Prioritize Your Voice Friday because what better way to PRIORITIZE YOUR VOICE than to LEARN all you can about it and UNDERSTAND more than you might have otherwise?! What instrument would you play without first learning all you could about its condition and how to most efficiently and effectively play it?  As an occupational voice user, your VOICE is your INSTRUMENT andddd your AUDIBLE BUSINESS CARD. Don’t be disconnected from understanding what it looks like, how it functions, and all you can about your own body/voice in general. Bridge that gap and enhance your overall vocal understanding and confidence. …and of course, mayyyybe this will help insta understand I am just sharing my love for the LARYNX. 
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Your LARYNX is your “voicebox”. It is located in the front (anterior part) of the neck and houses your vocal folds (VFs—same as vocal cords) and other anatomical structures important for breathing, swallowing, and/or voicing. The vocal folds are “famous” for voicing BUT their main “top priority” function is to actually be a protective gatekeeper to the airway/lungs. The VFs open when you breathe and close (and VIBRATE!) when you speak, sing, etc. It is only during a videostroboscopy exam that we can actually SEE and analyze this vibration and the related vibratory parameters. Education is POWER—the more you know, the better equipped you are to take care of your voice, use it in the most effective and efficient ways, and prevent future vocal injury.
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How are you PRIORITIZING YOUR VOICE today?
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PS don’t forget every Friday is Prioritize Your Voice Friday and I encourage you to post on your story how you’re prioritizing your voice!… Tag me @voxfit_ and I’ll share... let’s start a vocal wellness movement and #inspireothers to prioritize their VOICE!!!

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