The Breath and Singing
What a summer this has been for me! Hiking, camping, swimming in the river, scaling trails beside the most beautiful waterfalls in Strathcona Park, diving into a glacial lake, which only INCREASED my awareness of breath.
Breath…..the core of our being, our greatest gift. Our breath is key to our survival, but breath maybe the key to vitality. For every moment of the day, breathing in and out is taken for granted and when we take a moment to consciously connect with our breath, we connect to ourselves.
When we are in shock, angry or simply stressed, we can also use breath to control our own physiology, bring us back into ourselves, calm the nervous system, regulate emotions thus finding calm and peace. There is possibility to be calm and in peace despite the chaos around us. Despite challenges around me, I was consciously aware that I was able to maintain my serenity (which astonished me). Drama and whirlwind is around all of us however staying focused on your breath can allow you to stay calm. The “relaxation response” refers to the turning on of the parasympathetic nervous system This also turns off the overactive sympathetic nervous system (a.k.a fight or flight, or the “stress response”)..
Singing is a primitive and joyful way of working on breathing and connecting to oneself. Singing opens the lungs, the heart, and the throat, which allow us to experience an expansion through the whole body. Singing is a practice that brings health to body, mind and spirit. When we sing we move breath through the body and bones, releasing energy, as feelings shift.
I encourage all to connect to our breath more often in the day. Take those few minutes to bring yourself to a calmer more grounded state. You heard shallow breathing is bad, so start letting your belly expand with every breath. To try it, bring one hand above your belly button and one hand at your heart. Close your eyes and take a few deep, full breaths, allowing your hands to move out and up slightly with the inhale and move back in with the exhale it may take a few moments to connect with yourself and experience tranquility.
When in nature, take five breaths in stillness, (again with your hands on your belly and connect to your breathing), see if you can feel the breath moving through your body, witness how that expansion feels. After this simple breath exercise, invite yourself to make sounds – with pitches – like singing – (but don’t call it singing) – allow the sounds to release from your belly – let yourself make long sounds on vowels and feel the connection to breath, body and self. Reflect then how you feel, how does it feel to make sounds from the belly breath.
Cari Burdett, BMUS MMUS is a vocalist who believes everyone has a birthright to sing. Come and sing with her one on one in her studio or join a group setting at Lila Music Centre - www.joythroughmusic.com All voices are welcome!
Family Choir, Community Choir, Vocal Improvisation, Parent and Child Music.
5 Physiological Benefits of Belly Breathing
• Helps Our Respiratory System to Work Efficiently
• Stimulates the Relaxation Response
• Relieves Pain
• Gently Stretches and Tones Core Muscles, Including the Pelvic Floor
• Improves Posture
Cari is the Director of Lila Music Centre and teaches Classical and Contemporary School at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and Welcomes all of your questions.
Please reach her at [email protected]
