If you’ve been following my videos and blog posts for a while you probably know that I emphasize relaxation a lot.
There are many physiological and mechanical reasons for that, but the most important of all is that without vocal relaxation your voice will always be under stress, and you’ll always be one step away from vocal injuries, such as nodules, polyps, and other unpleasant issues.
But there’s a lot more to it!
I noticed some singers clenching their fists, tensing their fingers, lifting their shoulders, or doing all kinds of other things while they’re performing.
While this is not necessarily directly impacting their singing (except for lifting the shoulders), having parts of your body unnecessarily tense when you’re singing tends to block the flow of inspiration.
When I’m singing, if I consciously relax my shoulders, arms, hands, and face, I notice a dramatic increase in the flow of inspiration. What this means for me is that I’m able to “surrender the rudder” and allow God to flow more freely through me.
I compare it to leaving the driver seat of your car and allowing a friend you deeply trust to take the wheel, while you relax comfortably in the passenger seat.
Conversely, if you’re tense it’s like kicking and screaming because you don’t want to relinquish the steering wheel and, if you do, you don’t stop micromanaging your friend from the passenger seat!
Always trust that what’s trying to flow through you is good, positive, uplifting, and…better than what you can do on your own, really.
I don’t remember a single instance in my life when I relaxed and surrendered, and later found myself thinking, “Gosh, I shouldn’t have done that; I would have done a much better job on my own!”
So, breathe deeply, relax body, mind, and heart, and be prepared for the Universe to flood your being and your vocal cords with inspiring, uplifting music. It’s the best partnership you could ever have.
