Singing as Self Care.

If you don't know already, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Ok it's not so secret.

 I'm bonkers for Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVT). (Especially using a straw in a glass of water.)

I love them not only for the physical benefits but also for the quiet, focused time. You're connecting inward. You are getting intimate with your voice.

I've been asking my students lately to close their eyes and go to a still place while doing the straw warmups.

I like to think of this intimate time as an act of self care.

Not only is this time an opportunity to deepen your understanding and relationship with your voice, but an opportunity to create awareness around your body.

Can you go a whole day without thinking about the quality of the kind of breath you are taking? Are you sitting at a computer for hours on end and then realize your shoulders are practically up to your ears? Do you clinch your jaw without realizing it?

Warming up is an opportunity to check in with your body.

It's an opportunity to connect and go inward and maybe release tension you might be holding.

It's an opportunity to notice.

Warming up your voice is an act of self care.

Instead of heading to the piano this month (or wherever you practice!) with the sole intention of improving as a singer, try approaching your warmups with this mindset of self care, especially the straw warmups and see if it shifts anything for you. Send me message on instagram or through my contact page! I'd love to hear about it!