Seed’s Voice & Sound Therapist, Charlotte Hodson (Pearce) is passionate about how beneficial singing is for your health and wellbeing. Here she shares her own experiences and explains why group singing sessions could just be the new yoga!
“In the words of the great Ella Fitzgerald, “The only thing better than singing, is more singing” AND according to Cervantes, “He who sings scares away his woes.”
Simply put, there is nothing quite like singing for generating the feel-good factor – belting out your favourite song at the top of your voice in the car or shower definitely makes you feel happy. Listening to music that you enjoy releases the mood enhancing chemical dopamine in the brain and there is resounding proof that singing, particularly as part of a group, benefits us physically, psychologically and emotionally.
Singing is proven to calm nerves, release endorphins (the pleasure hormone), release oxytocin (the love hormone – which reduces anxiety and stress levels), and ease the symptoms of panic attacks. Research has even found that those who participate in voice lessons have lower stress levels than those who don’t.
It doesn’t matter the type of music or whether you sing in tune, all that matters is that you do it! So, just why is it that something as simple as raising our voices and singing is such an all-round stress-buster and healing activity?
As a professional singer for over 20 years, having worked with numerous pop groups, artists and choirs, toured all over the world & performed live to thousands, I have experienced first-hand the healing powers of singing. We are all familiar with the well-coined phrase “the show must go on”. Yes, quite literally, unless you are on your death bed, it must! I have had to go on stage in the midst of both deep emotional trauma and illness, even once in the throes of gastroenteritis, and I can honestly say, singing is the best medicine.
Personally, I have never wanted to be on stage alone and I prefer to work with other musicians and singers. I absolutely love being part of a team and to feel part of something greater than myself. Human connection in creativity is the most wonderfully fulfilling experience to me, and I feel passionately that this is something we all need more of in our lives.
The power of music is a truly amazing thing, with its ability to relax, stimulate, up-lift, de-stress, move us to tears, and unify huge numbers of people as one. It’s no surprise then that scientists have found that music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function. Indeed, the human relationship to sound begins very early, with a foetus beginning to develop an auditory system between 17 and 19 weeks. At less than 20 weeks from creation we are in a world of sound, of breath and heartbeat, of rhythm and vibration.
So how can we use our own voice for healing?
Our voices are our own unique in-built musical instruments. The power of the voice is truly incredible. It enables us to communicate, to tell stories, to soothe and reassure, to share with others, but it also helps to boost our immune system. We are so used to only using our voices as a method of communication that we are unaware we actually possess a tool which gives us the potential power to heal ourselves. Throughout history, chanting mantras with an open heart has been an ancient and powerful spiritual practice, known to have both psychological and physiological effects on the body. Chanting as a group brings more power and intention, enhancing the strength of the vibrations and bringing a sense of unity and connection.
You may have heard of vocal “toning” which is a method of using sustained sounds with the voice that is healing to our energy, using resonance. Resonance is very important in sound therapy as when something resonates with the vibration of a sound wave, it becomes far greater, thus increasing the level of vibration in the body.
We begin toning from the moment we are born: from the crying baby to the shouting child, all is toning practice. However, as children we are often told to keep quiet, and so our toning becomes hindered by the fact that it is inconvenient to others. We are stifled in our expression, and for some, this can be the first step to repressed adulthood. This repression can lead us to feel a myriad of emotions which can cause blockages in our emotional wellbeing, from frustration, inhibition, lack of confidence and solitude to anger and resentment. We often resort to drinking alcohol and taking drugs to allow ourselves to lose our inhibitions, and to give us an excuse to express ourselves in ways that we would otherwise feel too self-conscious to when sober.
By allowing ourselves to use our voices freely and without inhibition, we are fulfilling one of the most fundamental needs as human beings – to have a voice, to express ourselves fully and to be heard. Singing as part of a group is a great way to overcome your inhibitions and reap the benefits without feeling in the spotlight. As a group, we benefit from the power of each other’s positive energy, vibrations and connections. It is proven that actively being involved as part of a group, using our voices, and thus our whole bodies, is so incredibly beneficial that researchers in Sweden have concluded that choirs could very well be the new yoga!
Not only this, but did you know that singing is actually beneficial for your physical wellbeing? It’s an aerobic workout for your heart & lungs, can improve your posture, lower stress levels, is a natural anti-depressant, boost your sleep quality and improves your mental alertness. And let’s not forget that it’s also really good fun and very social. There is endless research to support just how healthy singing is, from elderly people in nursing homes experiencing a huge drop in anxiety and stress after just one month of singing lessons to group singing being used as a proven way to overcome chronic pain.
The evidence is conclusive: singing is great for you! And singing in a group is even more beneficial than singing alone. My “Voice Connect” group vocal workshops are about bringing people together in a safe, supportive, non-judgemental environment, allowing them to be free to explore and liberate their voices. It really doesn’t matter whether you believe you can sing or not, the whole point is to experience the release of opening yourself up vocally with others.
So why not give it a go and see for yourself?”
Charlotte will be running a 6 week Voice Connect course in Beaconsfield starting on Wednesday 19th September. To find out more or to book your place please visit https://seedwellness.co.uk/soundtherapycharlotte/ or contact charlotte@seedwellness.co.uk
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