Unlock Your Voice
Exploring the Benefits of Holistic Singing and How to Open Your Vocal Potential
Photo taken during a live performance of our debut album ATTUNE at Medicine Festival 2024
The human voice is one of the most powerful and innate tools for sound healing. But why is that so?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of opening the voice and share practical techniques to help you experience them firsthand.
The Benefits of Opening the Voice
Scientific Studies
On a physiological and scientific level the act of singing has a wide range of benefits, we will list a few below.
Relieves Stress : A 2017 study examined cortisol levels, the stress hormone, in participants' saliva before and after singing. The researchers discovered that cortisol levels were lower post-singing, suggesting participants felt more relaxed after vocalizing a tune
Stimulates the Immune System : A 2004 study revealed that after singing, participants had higher levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that helps the body fight infections.
Increases Pain Threshold and Releases Endorphins : Singing in a group, whether in a large choir or a smaller ensemble, prompts the release of endorphins, a hormone that promotes positive emotions and can alter your perception of pain. A 2012 study also found that group singing triggers the release of hormones that increase pain tolerance in ways that simply listening to music does not.
Improves Lung Function : Since singing involves deep breathing and controlled use of respiratory muscles, it may offer benefits for individuals with certain lung or breathing conditions.
These are just a few of the scientifically proven benefits from singing, toning and chanting. Let’s go a bit deeper.
The Energetic and Emotional Systems
Voice work also has a deep effect on our emotional and energetic systems. Here are a few examples:
Release Emotional Blockages and Stuck Energy : Through holistic voice therapy techniques you can tap into emotional spaces that have long been “blocked” or “cut-off”. Through the releasing of the voice in a safe environment you can move through these emotional spaces, allowing them to “be heard” and come into a space of resonance.
Enter Flow States : Holistic voice therapy techniques engage your mind and body simultaneously, requiring focused attention, rhythmic coordination, and emotional expression, which naturally quiet distractions and promotes a sense of being "in the moment." This immersion in the activity can foster a flow state, where time seems to fade away, and you feel deeply connected to your energetic body.
Bring Harmony and Melody into Your Consciousness : Singing and toning resonate deeply within the body, aligning breath, sound, and vibration to create a sense of internal balance and harmony. This practice not only brings awareness to melody and rhythm but also fosters a connection to the natural flow of your consciousness, enhancing focus and emotional well-being.
Balance Your Energetic System with Chanting : Toning and chanting mantras, especially Bij Mantras for specific chakras, generate vibrations that resonate with the energy centers in your body, helping to clear blockages and restore balance. With practice and focus, these practices can harmonize your energetic system, promoting a sense of grounding, vitality, and inner peace.
The Voice as a Companion
Our voice is a powerful tool for self-expression and healing, capable of influencing our emotional and physical well-being. As such, by learning holistic voice therapy techniques, we can learn how to transform our voice into a trusted ally for self-regulation and balance.
Uses of the human voice in sound therapy:
Breathwork: Connecting and deepening diaphragmatic breath
Toning: Deeply meditative tone creation, one tone per exhale (AUM)
Chanting: Rhythmic repetition of tones, mantras or songs ( Bij Mantra, Vedic Mantras, etc.)
Improvised Singing: A free flowing melodic and rhythmic repetition of vocalized sounds
In these ways we can embrace the simple yet beautiful power of our voice as a tool for opening and releasing. The goal is not perfection, but to open up the resonant field of our being, and create a powerful field of sound from our own vocal chords.
