A Joyful Noise!

One of my new students gave me an article to read from "Natural Health" magazine.

I was so impressed with it, that I am printing excerpts from it here for all of you to read.

The Title of the article is "Make a joyful noise", with the subtitle of "Keep singing in the shower - no matter what the neighbors say. It could reduce your pain and prolong your life!" So you must know I loved it right away!

Here's some more:

"Your voice is a tool of expression and a vehicle for improving your well-being. Singing is linked to lower heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and reduced stress", says Patricia Preston-Roberts, a board-certified music therapist who practices in NYC.

She says further that "singing seems to block a lot of the neural pathways that pain travels through."

(Well, I could've told her that. That's why I sang through labor and delivery of my 2 children!)

Of course, she also states,

"You must sing correctly to receive the optimal health benefits. Start by breathing from the lowest point in the abdomen, which will lead to singing that's supported by the lower body, not the throat. Breathing is the beginning of it all", she says.

"After relaxing the jaw, the back of the neck and shoulders, practice inhaling through an imaginary straw and exhaling while making ssss sounds."

I prefer inhaling through the nose, (Yoga style) rather than pulling cold air down your throat, but I agree with the concept as you know.

After reading this article, something else occurred to me.

It's also necessary, I think, to absolutely love to sing if you wish to stay healthy. I know a few singers who just don't seem to enjoy it very much. They put so much pressure on themselves to be perfect all the time, and I just watch as their bodies get stiffer and stiffer with each line.

It reminds me of the young gymnast with enormous talent, but who seems to be doing it for some reason other than that she or he just loves it. Maybe the parents see Olympic Gold in their future, or maybe these extraordinary people are just perfectionists that cannot relax and enjoy themselves.

Yes! We all want to improve, but always remember, Singers! It's the journey that brings the joy, not the finish line! Sing for love and for NO OTHER REASON, and you'll stay vital and healthy for a long time to come, and who knows, ...

...you might even get rich and famous too!