Yoga for the voice: How yoga can help strengthen your voice!
The sound of your voice depends, among other things, on your mood. Did you know that? It's certainly an interesting fact, and it means you can intentionally influence how it sounds. This is especially true because it reflects emotions and resonances. This is how the sound changes. Learn how you can use yoga to strengthen and improve your voice in this article.
The importance of the voice
We humans communicate with our own voices; each individual has a unique style. Animals, just like humans, can communicate using tones, sounds, and noises. We have the ability to use an almost infinite repertoire of languages, sounds, and tones. If you speak and feel insecure or annoyed, the person you're speaking to will usually recognize this pretty quickly. Your mood will be quickly conveyed.
Every voice is unique and no two are alike—much like a fingerprint. It is directly connected to the body, mind, and soul.
The larynx is responsible for producing the voice. It is freely suspended and located between the pharynx and the oral cavity.
How can yoga affect the voice?
Anyone who has already practiced various asanas on the mat knows the importance of Buddhist teachings for holistic health and the harmonization of body, mind, and soul. But that's not all—yoga can do even more. There are various techniques for harmonizing your voice. Furthermore, Buddhist physical exercises are often part of holistic vocal training.
Simply put, speaking or singing clearly requires a large lung capacity. You can achieve this by regularly practicing breathing exercises. At the same time, this generates the vital energy you need for a pleasant singing or communication experience.
Useful breathing exercises to train your voice!
Those who practice breathing exercises regularly will certainly notice that their voice sounds firmer and more beautiful. Kirtan singing (the singing of spiritual songs from the yogic Indian tradition) will also help with this.
Everyone has their own individual pitch at which speaking is easy and effortless. However, if you practice speaking or singing in higher or lower pitches, you need to do so with the appropriate effort. This means you'll have to put in significantly more effort.
Helpful breathing technique
If you want to optimally support your vocal potential, you can sit on your meditation cushion daily and perform breathing exercises. The positive effect is that your voice is optimally prepared for the demands of singing.
If you breathe in and out deeply, you will notice that the interior space of your body becomes significantly wider.
Another benefit of pranayama is that you supply your body with more oxygen, thus improving your overall circulation. It can also strengthen the respiratory system and train the diaphragm—which is beneficial for singing.
A great breathing exercise is Ujjayi breathing , which produces the familiar snoring sound. This occurs by consciously closing the glottis. This breathing technique is often practiced during various yoga sessions. By controlling the vocal cords, breathing can be easily regulated.
Three-chakra method of voice training
In addition to pranayama exercises, there is another technique: By connecting the three areas (throat, heart, and belly), you can adjust, strengthen, and improve your voice.
The abdominal chakra is where the power to speak develops. Therefore, it is advisable to practice abdominal breathing daily. The heart chakra is where emotions reside. This means that joy or pain is channeled from there into the tone. The chest must always be open. You can achieve this with certain heart-opening poses (such as the bridge, etc.). The throat chakra is responsible for transmitting prana – this is how the voice develops.
The power for voice creation develops in the stomach, is influenced by the emotions in your heart space and expressed through your throat.
What sounds can you use to stabilize yourself?
To energize your entire body, mind and soul, you can use different sounds.
For example, the primal sound "AUM" is considered ideal for grounding you and making you feel better.
First, focus on the inhalation and then, as you exhale, on the vowel "A." Repeat this a few times, then move on to "U" and "M."
Physical asanas for a better voice
In addition to pranayama and reproducing sounds, physical exercises are also important for improving the voice.
It is important that you focus on opening the chest.
These asanas can support you:
a) Fish (Matsyasana)
Lie on your back and raise your upper body. Your arms stabilize this position while you open your chest. The top of your head rests on the mat, as do your legs, buttocks, and forearms.
b) Cobra (Bhujangasana)
Here, you lie on your stomach on the mat and open your chest. Your forearms rest on the floor. Your chest is bent forward, and your forearms press toward the mat.
These exercises can help you optimally prepare your chest for breathing techniques.
Have you already tried these breathing exercises or postures to train your voice? If so, what were your experiences?
