Are you a computer program or a robot?
No?
Then there is hope!
As humans we each have a huge range of notes, usually around 25. And yet, as you’re finding, too, we usually use only a small fraction of that, around 5 notes.
We also all have a huge emotional vocabulary of almost infinite proportions, which we can express through our full voice.
Every emotion has a corresponding frequency, and tone of expression: When we’re sad, it’s usually lower, when we’re freaked out — or happy — it’s usually higher, and so on.
So why do so many of us seem to not be able to spontaneously adjust our vocal expression according to the emotions we’re feeling in any given moment?
The answer is: stress.
At some point in our life we were told: “shut up, be quiet, not so loud, don’t say that, you can’t sing,” and so on.
The unfortunate result is often that we shut up. And when we do express ourselves with our voice, we keep it down, low, constricted, “cool.”
As sad — and sadly common — this is, there are three ways to “fix” this!
- First of all, if you have any inclination to go within, heal, and find your Self, go for it by learning to meditate. Meditation (I’ve practiced Transcendental Meditation, TM, for almost 40 years) releases stresses, strains, old habits and patterns easily and effortlessly by giving the body and mind deep rest. This much needed rest relaxes the physiology, so we feel freer, more expanded, and happier. This alone is wonderfully healing for our whole Being, our emotions and body. The result is often less constriction and a being in touch with who we are, how we feel, and that is is, in fact, okay to express ourselves fully.
- The second equally important way you can overcome the tendency of a monotone voice is to use the, as I call it, “spot cleaner” of energetic healing. Whether that is tapping, Jyoti Atman, healing voice yoga, deep inner healing work, or simple affirmations, any one of these — or all of these — can work magic and have almost instant results in allowing ourselves to experience and express each moment, with our full Self, including our full voice.
- Now comes the part that’s of course the most obvious: Expand your vocal range! Here’s a sequence of three exercises I use in Sing Yourself Well: Stand tall, elongating your spine, with your feet hip wide apart. That means, tip your head slightly down, with the back of the top of your head slightly raised, tucking your chin. Now YAWN. That’s right. Breathe in through your nose, open your rib cage and your throat to the max by lifting your uvula, as in an inner smile, and lowering your larynx. If this sounds too technical, then go back to basics: YAWN. In this openness of the yawn the voice is freer and more holistically alive. Then comes the fun part: Once you breathed in through your nose, and yawn, hold your breath for a second (this engages your tummy muscles for support), and then slowly slide with your voice from high to low, like a siren. The key is to keep as much of your air in your body, and only let your sound escape. Did you do it? See how huge your range is naturally?
This is what you want to culture. You already, even now, have a huge vocal range. The key is to practice these physical exercises to train your muscle memory to USE your whole range more and more. In addition, do your inner work, both, with regular meditation to create ease and flow, and with energetic healing of past “stuff.” Once you cleared out any past hang-ups, whether conscious or sub- or unconscious that could possibly cause you to use a monotone voice as your default, you’ll find that you NATURALLY use more of your voice. And that makes it more interesting for others to listen to you — and makes it more interesting to BE YOU!
To discover ALL of YOU – your creativity, playfulness, well being, and joy, order your copy of Sing Yourself Well today and start experiencing the benefits for yourself:
