In the vocal technique world we say “if you want a small sound, take a small breath. If you want a big sound, take a big breath!”  But it doesn’t work well to stuff your lungs with breath ~ one has to learn how to take the breath so that the diaphragm lowers and pulls air into the lungs without creating tension. That is done by expanding the ribcage to the sides and back.  Once [...]

These days, a good amount of business is conducted over the internet. So we sit in front of the computer typing our email and … holding our breath! Nothing creates stress in the body more than holding the breath. The effects of lack of oxygen can be summarized by these two words, “ill health”. Dizziness, tiredness, stress, lack of clarity, fuzzy thinking, confusion, nausea, migraines, stiffness, aching muscles, etc. Besides the fact that as a [...]

In December 2007, I presented Diaphragmatic Breathing lesson #1 where you learned how to reach down into the body for the breath. Let’s first revisit the last exercise from December: 1. Put your hands on the sides of your ribcage.  Be sure your hands are high up enough to be on the ribcage. The hands should be wrapped around the ribs at the height of the upper stomach. 2. Exhale blowing the air out gently. [...]

By Cari Cole The Holidays! Even though I love the Holidays, sometimes just hearing the word I hold my breath.  All those extra preparations & obligations! What better time to practice a breathing exercise to de-stress amidst the hustle and bustle. Diaphragmatic Breathing -Do you know how to do it? It’s really quite simple. Here’s a foolproof way to breathe deeply into your diaphragm. I’ll use my student Sean, as an example. Sean’s problems with [...]