By Ulrike Selleck.
Cranky? Depressed? Low energy?
Did you know that most of us use a mere 20% of our voice in daily life?!
And did you know that your voice literally has the power to change your body, health, mood, energy, confidence, and even life span?
“Scientists have found that music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function.” – Elena Mannes, The Power of Music.
“When you sing, musical vibrations move through you, altering your physical and emotional landscape.” TIME Magazine, August 16, 2013
Your voice may just be the missing link to your full development, happiness and fulfillment.
I always found that when I don’t sing, I have low energy, get cranky, or even depressed. Well, turns out I’m not the only one. My students and healing voice clients, as well as singers and researchers all over the world have found the same to be true!
The good thing is, you don’t even have to be a singer, be musical, or even want to sing per se. Just learning how to use your full voice may do the trick!
Here are 10 reasons for you to sing with good technique and your whole body:
1) Singers have better posture and more self confidence.
2) Singing releases endorphins which make you happier. (TIME magazine)
3) You naturally develop healthier breathing patterns: Your breath sits lower, signaling more relaxation to your body and brain. “Singing makes us breathe more deeply than many forms of strenuous exercise, so we take in more oxygen, improve aerobic capacity and experience a release of muscle tension as well.” — Professor Graham Welch, Director of Educational Research, University of Surrey, Roehampton, UK
4) When you sing, your body releases oxytocin, a natural stress reliever. That helps you reduce depression, low energy, hopelessness, and loneliness. (TIME magazine)
5) Tests show that singing improves heart rate visibility, slowing your heart rate.
6) Singers show lower levels of cortisol (less stress), which helps you sleep better.
7) Good workout: Singing works your lungs, increases lung capacity (important as we get older), improves circulation, and builds strength in your abdominals and intercostals.
8) Singing strengthens your immune system, according to research by scientists at the University of Frankfurt in Germany, published in the US Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
9) Singing properly, using all resonances, opens up your sinuses and respiratory tract: Singers may have less allergies.
10) Singing is good for your brain, enhances your mental awareness, concentration, and your memory (again, so vital as we age).
With all these positive, physiological and psychological changes: You may live longer! Many opera singers (with good supportive technique) perform on stage well into their 80’s, and live longer than non-singers (would love to have someone do research on this!).
The good news is:
Even if singing is not your thing: Simply using your full voice a few times a day may give you these benefits!
Remember: Using your missing 80% of your voice is your birth right!
So, look for an experienced, holistic voice expert today, and start your life anew from the inside out!
Check out my book Sing Yourself Well in 7 Seconds, and the accompanying Sing Yourself Well Video Course!
Healing Voice Expert and Author Ulrike Selleck is the multi-passionate founder of SingYourselfWell.com, HealingVoiceYoga.com, and AllThingsVenus.com, a Classical Singer, Performer, Motivational Speaker, Writer, Photographer, Artist, Mother, and holistic Voice Teacher with 25 years of experience.
Sing Yourself Well is now available on Amazon. Click here to get your copy!
Paperback $14.95