Disrupt: The Deep End

When I speak to people about voice coaching they often tell me that they know they need to take deeper breaths. They do not usually know what that entails or exactly why they need that.

When it comes to breathing, many of us can find ourselves out of balance — sometimes habitually. If you are mostly a shallow breather then working on a more expansive breath would be great for you. If you never think about the physiological connections between breathing and the rest of the body, then that is what I’d recommend you explore. If a flight of stairs can take you out, perhaps exploring air use for muscular effort.

For me, a “deep” breath is a depth of awareness and depth of your experience of breathing.

We don’t breathe as a hobby. We breathe to support the survival and healthy function of an organism that enjoys diverse activities. We should breathe to support our effort.

The disruption

Do something outside of your regular, physical repertoire for a few minutes. Take a jog, do jumping jacks, sit up, or sing a fast-paced song while moving along — whatever changes up the usual. Observe your breathing without trying to manage or control it. Trust and observe, it is a good beginning.

Gina Razón is the Founder and CEO at GROW Voice LLC, a full-service verbal communication studio in Boston’s Back Bay. She has over two decades of experience as a teacher of voice and speech, is a communication and change facilitator, and is a voraciously curious voice user. Gina has worked professionally as a classical singer for over a decade and more recently as a professional public speaker. For more information on the studio or to book Gina visit www.growvoice.com.