Mind Body Voice and Speech

01/09/2022

1) Breathe in through your nose - to humidify the air and filter out harmful particles

2) Slow down your breathing - it can reduce the feeling of hyperventilation!

3) Keep your tongue behind your front teeth along the roof of your mouth, allowing you to breathe more easily through the nose

We specialize in a variety of breathing techniques! Contact us to learn more.

12/22/2020

During the holidays, it’s easy to overeat and overindulge, which can cause excess stomach acid production. Stomach acid can backflow up into your esophagus, but when severe, it can flow all the way up into your larynx. When acid touches the larynx, it can cause irritation and damage to the vocal cords, which in turn causes hoarseness.

Here are some quick tips to reduce signs of reflux:
-Identify and avoid your triggers: most common are spicy, salty, acidic, fatty and greasy foods. Avoid alcohol and smoking.
-Reduce caffeine (yes, that means you, coffee lovers!)
-Stop eating 3 hours before bedtime
-Take medications if prescribed-- they often take 4-6 weeks before you start to feel relief of symptoms, so don’t stop if you don’t feel it working right away
-Sit upright for an hour after meals

12/18/2020

Feeling blessed and hopeful this week

10/02/2020

- manual therapy of the head, neck, jaw, and tongue

There are many names for the pain and tension we may feel (fascial restrictions, muscle tension, knots, lymph pools), but the primary benefit of manual therapy is in the power of touch.

09/04/2020

This is one of our favorite exercises for relaxing the throat when it feels tight. Inhale as if you are yawning, exhale with a sigh. Please refer to the pictures of our little helper for a how-to!

08/11/2020

Now that virtual interactions are here to stay, try these strategies to make your voice last throughout the day:

1) Speak with forward resonance - meaning the energy and sound of your voice will be in the front of your face rather than in your throat. You should feel buzzing in your face, lips, and nose when talking.

2) Control your environment - shut your windows to reduce background noise. Make sure your listeners can see you clearly on video by sitting in a well-lit area.

3) Use headphones - we tend to increase vocal effort when we hear surrounding noise (called the Lombard effect). Using headphones will prevent unnecessary strain.

4) Speak clearly - this includes speaking at a slower rate and overemphasizing your mouth movements. Your words will be clearer without having to strain to get louder.

03/14/2020