Strengthen Your Voice!
It’s a brand new year. If you’re like most people, you’ve made a resolution to get a little more exercise. May I suggest that you focus some of that exercise on your diaphragm.
The diaphragm is a muscle that sits right under your lungs. It’s the engine that is responsible for volume and breath support – so, the stronger your diaphragm, the stronger your voice.
To identify what it feels like to engage your diaphragm, say “shuuuuuush.” Now, say it loudly, as if you are trying to get the attention of someone in the next room. If you felt the muscle under your ribcage contract, you just engaged your diaphragm. To give your diaphragm a little exercise, try to sustain the “shuuuuuush” as long as you can. Do this several times a day, trying to increase the duration of the “shush” with each practice session.
Another great exercise is to recite a list, all in one breath. Be sure to emphasize the final word in each list to keep your diaphragm engaged all the way to the end. Try reciting:
- The days of the week
- The months of the year
- 1-10 in another language
- The alphabet
Or, create your own list, adding a word each time:
- I went to the store and bought some eggs.
- I went to the store and bought some eggs and milk.
- I went to the store and bought some eggs, milk and cheese.
- I went to the store and bought some eggs, milk, cheese and butter.
Bringing more strength to your voice is one of the easiest ways to increase your appearance of confidence and personal power. Good luck!
