What is an “embodied voice”? (and how can it help you sing better!?)

Embodied Voice, Vocal Tips

As a voice coach, there are few clients I work with that always feel fully in their bodies when they’re using their voices. In the voice studio, we’re forever working through physical tensions and overriding nervous system zip zaps together.

You see, the wholeness of our voices extends far beyond the four corners of our larynx and when seeking vocal freedom, or when wanting to overcoming stage fright and crushing performance anxiety.

There are few better tools to find freer sound than feeling like our voices are embodied.

Let’s talk about vocal freedom and embodied voice practices:

If your voice feels stuck when you speak or sing, it’s likely there are things going on yes within the mechanical functions of your larynx, and also maybe in other parts of your body.

I’m reminded of “The Skeleton Dance” song from childhood?

“The foot bone’s connected to the leg bone, the leg bone’s connected to the knee bone, the knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone…”

… because it so beautifully reminds us that everything in our bodies is connected.

Our body IS our instrument, so doesn’t it make sense that we’d be using the whole of it while we sing and speak?

Try these 5 ways to embody your voice before you sing:

Breathwork: purposeful breathing is one of the fastest ways to get into our bodies, and it also happens to act as fuel for our sound. Try box breathing: breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, Exhale for 5 or 6 counts, hold empty for 4 counts and repeat a minimum of 4x. BONUS: this kind of breathwork supports the parasympathetic nervous system, the rest and digest side of our bodies.
Meditation: I mean… isn’t singing meditative? Yes, and meditation isn’t about emptying our minds, like some people think. It’s about not attaching to thoughts, thus giving the nervous system a break from fight or flight. Try guided meditation to begin, if you have a hard time sitting in silence.
Movement: Truth time: our bodies love to move. More importantly, they love to move AND make sound ~ this is true embodiment of sound. Try anchoring your feet and letting the rest of your body be like seaweed, swaying back and forth ~ then hum. Don’t worry about the sound or the melody, just sway!
Body Tapping: Yup. Tapping your body, just like that! Pat your arms, your chest, your torso, your hips, bend over to pat your legs, all the way back up to standing. Use a bit of force (but don’t beat yourself up). When you’re done, stand in silence and feel the energy rushing to your skin’s surface.
Shake: Shimmy. Dance. Wave your hands around like Kermit the frog! Shake away the adrenaline and energy that doesn’t serve you while you sing or speak your truth.