Mind Body & Soul
Singing
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Do you sing in the shower or in the car? And love it? Singing is transformational – it can change the colour of a moment or a day, filling you with good vibes from your head, down your spine and into your toes. You can literally sing your way to happiness.
Our bodies love singing because the vibrations enhance the subtle body energies. We are moving fields of energy, sound and light. Vibration in many forms can assist to shift stuck energy. One of the simplest and most relaxing ways to vibrate is to sing!
Just singing the same note repeatedly makes changes in our bodies by harmonising our chakras. The two chakras most enhanced by singing are the heart chakra – the house of love – and the throat chakra, which governs communication, writing and singing.
Each chakra responds positively to a different note. For example, the throat is your singing ‘G spot’. Simple mantras or songs based around the note of G release tension and restriction in the throat, creating paths for honest and clear expression.
Whilst singing is good for us, we often think we are not good at it. For many people this belief comes from negative school experiences, or one line from a teacher that stays in your mind forever, such as, "Sarah, is that you singing flat?"
Until the eighties, most people who sang in choirs were people who had always been good at it. But the birth of community choirs – celebrating the view that everyone can sing – has launched a new era of musical enjoyment for participants and audiences.
Taking the step from singing in the shower to singing with others is a joyous and rewarding adventure into sound and harmony. Many people are joining community choirs and finding a supportive space to sing to their heart's content.
Whether you are into world music, gospel, folk or soul, there is a community choir waiting for you. Check the internet for contacts and be prepared to laugh. Most community choir leaders would agree that the hardest part of their choir job is getting back on track after all the applause and laughter at the end of a song.
Still shy? Try these exercises to give your singing a confidence boost.
Pick your favourite CD and sing along with it by following the words on the CD cover. Mostly, when we sing along without the words, we just know the chorus and not the verses. Singing with the words builds real confidence, both for ourselves and for singing with others.
Give yourself a go at complete singing freedom – sing outdoors! The tops of mountains, standing at the sea edge or out the window of a fast-moving train are recommended. These are exhilarating ways to step out of any fear of singing you may have and unite you with the realm of spectacular sounds – nature.
Sing it up! This is the perfect moment to sing as much as you want, when you want, and to drop the idea that singing is something you are not good at. Allowing yourself to celebrate through song is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.
