| Stress is one of the most debilitating factors affecting | | | | important than anything else if you seriously want to |
| our lives today. From the stress of losing a job to the | | | | end your vocal disability. Learning to breathe with the |
| frustration of finding a new job, from the strain of | | | | support of your diaphragm is not only the best means |
| running a household to the additional pressure of | | | | of reducing your stress but also the only viable means |
| handling a career, from the stress of raising children to | | | | of improving your phonation. By changing the way you |
| the stress of trying to increase your pay grade, stress | | | | breathe, you then reduce the tension in those areas |
| comes to each and every one of us in some manner | | | | which are being affected. Additionally, you are then |
| on a daily basis. | | | | able to use your chest to power your voice instead of |
| Unfortunately, stress can affect your speaking voice | | | | just your throat and vocal folds. |
| as well. From spasmodic dysphonia to tension in the | | | | The majority of the population are unaware of |
| neck, throat, and/or jaw regions, you may find that | | | | diaphragmatic breathing because the majority of the |
| your speaking voice is no longer working as it has in | | | | population are known to be lazy or shallow breathers. |
| the past. | | | | What this means is that they are using only the upper |
| As a voice coach, I am encountering more and more | | | | portion of the chest for respiration. That in itself |
| individuals who are having difficulty with phonation, the | | | | creates stress because this type of shallow or lazy |
| production of voiced sound: tension in the upper chest, | | | | breathing does not allow for the elimination of the |
| throat, neck, jaw and/or vocal folds (cords) is making it | | | | toxins in the body. |
| difficult for these individuals to speak smoothly and | | | | Those who breathe with the support of their |
| evenly. They may be gasping for air; their words may | | | | diaphragm, however, are able to reduce and, in many |
| be dropped; or they may be unable to produce any | | | | cases, eliminate their stress because diaphragmatic |
| sound during their speech. | | | | breathing eliminates those toxins. In doing so, the body |
| If this type of problem is happening to you, it is not | | | | relaxes. This is why yoga and meditation are so |
| something that should be ignored because it will only | | | | important. However, my advice is to learn to breathe |
| get worse with time. What needs to be done, first and | | | | with support and make it a habit. It is then that you will |
| foremost, is to learn how to relax your body. | | | | discover the innumerable benefits only possibly when |
| Relaxation exercises are incredibly valuable in helping | | | | your diaphragm is in play 24/7. It is an amazing feeling; |
| to alleviate tension which is why meditation and yoga | | | | it is a healthier feeling; and, it is the only way to stop |
| are on the rise. | | | | the vocal problems you may be experiencing. |
| There is one other fundamental, however, that is more | | | | |