August 27, 2019
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Read last week’s post related to this topic (Part ONE) as it sets a great foundation...
Working Out Benefits Your Voice! (Part TWO)...
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Exercise can be viewed as engaging in physical activity to sustain or improve health & fitness, and many agree that it positively impacts us as a whole person—physically, mentally, emotionally, & even spiritually (#movementismedicine). I believe (along with many researchers) that it impacts us vocally as well! As we’ve already recognized that the VOICE is the “instrument” of the occupational voice user, & have also recognized that the body is in itself a comprehensive & supportive instrument to this vocal “star”, it is important to realize how targeting physical improvement of the body (via strength, stamina, flexibility, tension release, cardiovascular training, etc.) will directly improve the voice & its function, quality, ease, range, and power as well.
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Good breath support “training” via cardio exercise (running, cycling, circuit training, swimming, etc.) is what may ultimately provide the stamina to sing or speak safely for extended periods. These forms of cardio create improved expansion of the lungs, which is essential for supported voice use (especially singing & dynamically using voice to act, speak, or instruct/teach). Lung capacity will likely be at its best to support a demanding vocal schedule if you train your entire body with cardiovascular exercise. In addition, improving the lung expansion & capacity also directly impacts the connection to abdominal muscles, which are an incredibly essential driving force in fueling the voice. And just as equal in importance as training the lungs via cardio, it is important to strengthen (& lengthen) your muscles so they can better support the body (& voice) through optimal posture & improved efficiency of movement. Yoga, lagree/pilates, barre, or general nautilus/weight training will target this goal with additional mental strength activation as well. Remembering to incorporate intentional breathing during all strengthening & stretching exercises is essential to achieving max strength/stretch but also to allowing the mind/body to relax & ensuring you aren’t holding tension in the body (as this does easily “show up” in the voice).
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Your voice will warm up faster & be ready to speak or sing at the level you want it to if your body is first energized & awakened via a full-body warm-up. One study by McHenry & Evans (2015) found favorable aerodynamic changes during singing after performing aerobic exercise, indicating that a general aerobic warm-up can prepare the singer for a less-demanding vocal warm-up & improved vocal readiness in general, especially for high-level performing early in the morning (shout out to all the early morning fitness instructors too!).
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Exercise improves (full-body & vocal) strength, energy, flexibility, muscular endurance, stamina, & whole-body awareness; it also releases stress and prevents injury & fatigue. Choose to WORK OUT your body, & watch it improve your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and VOCAL health!
Author
Sara Davis, M.A. CCC-SLP
Author
Check out the Meet The Founder page for bio!