Muscle Of The Soul
Vocal Health, Communication, and Embodied Voice
The wisdom of the voice lives in the body. Whether it's the body of an individual or a group of people working together to achieve a common goal, voice is the soul reaching out to touch the human spirit.
Your voice is at the heart of who you are—a primal expression of your feelings about yourself and the world around you. Once called the muscle of the soul, voice is the bridge between the inner and outer worlds, helping you form and foster social bonds. But it also carries the potential to harm and break those same ties.
The quality of our voice offers insights into our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Your voice may become small or flat when disconnected from your body. You may struggle to share ideas, speak honestly, or advocate for yourself. Those listening can't hear your voice, and your stomach is in knots. Alternatively, you may tend to push your voice to sound a certain way. Pushing your voice may appear as dominating a conversation, interrupting others, or shouting over others to be heard, and the quality of your voice may sound raspy and hoarse.
Coming into a healthy voice means shedding impressions of who you think you should be.
Deep listening is required, as is openness, to explore your lived experiences. When you learn to trust your body's wisdom, you expand your capacity to hear yourself and others more clearly. And you cultivate your ability to speak your truth with courage, compassion, and clarity. An embodied voice gives birth to a vital and vibrant vocal life. The sound is clear, resonant, and true.
Enjoy these three practices to help you deepen your awareness and connection to your body and voice:
01. Noticing:
Slowing down to observe what you're feeling or sensing can open pathways of awareness that help release tension and stress.
02. Breathing:
Exhaling while releasing a sigh or hum relaxes the body. Feel the vibration and resonance of your voice and sound throughout your whole body.
03. Sighing or Humming:
Observing how the flow of breath connects you to your body is an invitation to soften into the present moment—one breath at a time.
