THE VOICE IS THE HUMAN INSTRUMENT 

As you probably know, the human voice is a wind instrument. Sure, the voice comes from the vibration of two tiny bands of muscle, ligament, and mucous membrane in our larynx (the “voice box”) known as the vocal cords, or more properly, the vocal folds. But what is the power source that drives that vocal fold vibration? A steady, supported stream of air coming up from your lungs. 

SO HOW EXACTLY DOES BREATHING WORK? 

Typically breathing is an autonomic function: the brainstem takes care of respiration without you having to think about it. That’s what we call “breathing for life.” Your diaphragm (that dome-shaped “superstar” muscle that forms the floor of your thorax [chest cavity] and the “ceiling” of your abdominal cavity), contracts and relaxes automatically to ensure that you breathe without having to think about it. 

To explain further:

1. When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and flattens downward and the chest cavity enlarges.  There is now space for your lungs to expand. This contraction creates a vacuum, and air rushes into the lungs to “fill the vacuum”. 

2. When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and returns up into its dome shape, forcing air out of the lungs. (This action of the diaphragm can be compared to the motion a jellyfish makes). During respiration, oxygen flows in, carbon dioxide flows out, and you’re blissfully unaware of this complex process. 

3. Here are some quick 3D videos of the action of the diaphragm: 

4. And some easy-to-follow diagrams of this process:

5. And for you science nerds who want to see this action in a hands-on 3D model, here are directions for making your own “lungs” using a soda bottle, balloons, straws, plastic wrap, and rubber bands.

WHEN IS BREATHING CONSCIOUS?

But what about when you want to make a speech, shout out to your family member, or sing a song? The breath you take for those acts is under your conscious control; breathing becomes deeper, more intentional, and purposeful. You actually engage your intercostals (your “ribcage muscles”), your abdominals, and even your diaphragm consciously. (We teach our clients to concentrate mostly on the movement of the abdominals and the ribs when they breathe intentionally, since you can’t “feel” your diaphragm, only the action of the abdominals and the ribcage).  You can now regulate your breathing according to the demands of the sounds you’re producing. In other words, you plan for the amount of air you need to support quiet conversation, a shout, or to belt out a Broadway tune. You take that more intentional breath, your abdominal region pushes outward, allowing more air to rush into the lungs, and you might even feel the back of your ribcage expanding before you sing or shout.

WHY BREATH SUPPORT MATTERS

Most of us professional voice users know the importance of proper diaphragmatic breath support. When you control your breath mindfully, it:

• Enhances your tone
• Gives you endurance to hold notes and phrases longer
• Enhances your ability to project your voice
• Gives you stamina for long demanding conversations or a long vocal performance
• Helps you to reduce vocal tension
• Provides you with more energy, since oxygenation is improved
• Helps to rejuvenate your respiratory system and keep it healthy

Diaphragmatic breathing also encourages a fuller more efficient exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lower lobe of the lung, where there is a higher density of alveoli (the air sacs where the gas exchange takes place). It slows the heartbeat, stabilizes blood pressure, activates your body’s natural relaxation response and is a proven stress-reducer. That’s not just important for voice: it’s important for quality of life!

However, if a singer or public speaker (or family-shouter) is not trained in diaphragmatic breathing, they may breathe into the upper chest. This “shallow breathing”, also known as clavicular breathing (since the clavicles, a.k.a., the collarbones, lift when you upper-chest-breathe), is inefficient. Rapid shallow breathing is great in a fight-or-flight situation, but not for everyday life, and certainly not for professional voice use. The oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange is not as efficient as in diaphragmatic breathing, and that ribcage and chest elevation can put undue stress on your vocal mechanism, as well as lead to tension in your neck, throat, and shoulders. It’s like lifting your ribcage with your throat muscles! Not fun when you’re trying to have a relaxed effortless voice. And your voice may end up sounding breathy and lacking in power and tone. Too much work, for diminished payoff. 

IF DIPAHRAGMATIC BREATHING IS SO GREAT, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

The problem is, for many people, those pesky shoulders and upper chest keep trying to do the work. You’ve already tried our “B.S. Breathing Principle” featured in our YouTube video about diaphragmatic breathing: 

But you’re still having difficulty keeping your shoulders and upper chest from elevating? Believe me, you’re not alone. So we came up with a new method to help you, and it’s so simple, but very effective. We call it the Crossed Hands Method. 

THE CROSSED HANDS METHOD: HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE

Stand in front of a wall mirror. Cross your arms and put your hands on your shoulders. Now, simply breathe only below your elbows. Your hands (and the visual feedback from the mirror) will help to keep your shoulders and upper chest from rising. Relax your abdominal muscles to inhale, and let them contract gently when you exhale. You won’t need to elevate your upper body. Try this Crossed Hands Method along with our video short for practice: 

So focus on breathing only below your elbows and you’ll be breathing like a pro in no time!