Exercises to
Improve Voice

Some exercises to improve upon voice

Diaphragm Exercise

All human beings have been given an organ called the diaphragm. This acts like a valve and send air up to the vocal appratus in a small stream. If you have a control on diaphragm you can utter more quality words in one breath.

Technique - SIt on a chair or on floor with spine erect. One can do in standing position too. Open your mouth inhale lots of air into your diaphragm cavity which is almost your stomach area. Your stomach should be up bulging when your diaphragm cavity is full, then release some air in small stream making shhh or ssss sound from your mouth. When you release air your stomach should go down. Many of you must have observed a small child of upto 3-4 years sleeping, when the child inhales his stomach goes up, when exhales it comes down. Similarly, if anybody of you have learned theatre, the director or master often says, use your stomach power, speak from your stomach. This means instead of your chest cavity use your stomach power or diaphragm.

Benefits- control over breathing, increases vocal stamina, one can utter more quality words in one breath

Riyaaz-

It means practice, take one meter like 'saa' and take a deep breath from mouth, fill your diaphragm cavity with air and then speak up sa in one flow, one tone without modulation. Similarly 'OM' can be spoken but given equal time to 'O' and then close your lips and do 'M'.

Benefits- This exercise is very good for breath, stamina, smoothness and resonance of your voice

Singasana-

Simha means Lion in Sanskrit, -therefore assuming the form of a lion is called Singasana.

Technique :- Sit in Vajrasana.Now raise your buttock a little and cross the heel and toes of the right leg over that of left leg like a scissor. Sit on the heels and place both hands on the respective knees.Spread out the fingers. Bring out the tongue as much as possible. Gaze should be Nasal. Inhale from mouth then Exhale slight forcefully from your mouth with some sound. While returning back to the original position, take the tongue in, release the tension, loosen your hands and come back to the original position.

Remember :-

The hands on the respective knees should remain straight and the chest should be erect. At the time of bringing out the tongue Exhale rather forcefully from your mouth with some sound. Sound producing from end of the throat. After completion of exhalation maintain the position for few seconds. Practice it again after taking the tongue in.

Benefits and Limitations :-

Muscles of the neck are exercised and the blood circulation therein is improved. The thyroid is also made healthy. Tonsillitis of certain types is checked. Everybody can do it.

Bhramri Pranayam

How to do : Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in from mouth, fill in the diaphragm cavity and now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.

Duration : 5 mins

Benefits : vibrates the vocal chords, removes tension, hypertension, migraine pain, confidence, concentration. Very good for vocal smoothness and increasing resonance.