The Thompson Method of Bodywork by Cathy Thompson Tara Thompson Lewis

Author:Cathy Thompson, Tara Thompson Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Health/Bodywork
Publisher: Healing Arts Press
Published: 2017-09-21T04:00:00+00:00

Retraining the Breath

The number one problem most singers have is that they breathe incorrectly, usually tightening their ribcages and obstructing the natural movement of the diaphragm and the lungs, creating unnecessary tension and actually limiting the airflow. To release the breath, and effect change in the power of the voice, preventing “pushing” and overuse of the more delicate small muscles of the mouth and larynx, we must free and strengthen the intercostal muscles first, then release tension that obstructs the movement of the diaphragm. This technique is described here in the previous chapter on Breathing.

You’d think that after undergoing a great deal of training singers would breathe wonderfully. But it’s the training that is the problem. Often, singers are taught to belly breathe, because the exhalation is of such primary importance in singing; a good, powerful usage of the lower abdomen to control the outward flow is crucial. But most of us don’t have the requisite strength and awareness in the deeper layers of abdominal musculature, especially in the transverse abdominis, to accomplish this without overuse of the superficial layers and lots of tightening in the rib cage. So my first task with a singer who has vocal issues is usually to open the ribs, encourage the client to widen the rib cage on the inhalation, and free up the whole thoracic structure. Since the emotional breath is contained in the chest, it is interesting that those in the performing arts, who need to feel and express in order to perform, are often taught a breathing style that constricts the sternum and thus the heart center.

All the relevant breathing material is covered in the chapter on Breathing, but to reiterate—

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