
The unmistakable combination; sweaty palms, a racing heart and butterflies fluttering throughout every part of your insides. What is it about that adrenaline rush, why does doing something scary make us feel so alive?
Comfort zones are overrated.
Have you ever heard of Voice Yoga?
I hadn’t either, until I met an artist who invited me to a session during a poetry workshop. We had briefly discussed how I enjoyed hearing someone read my poetry more than doing it myself. She kind of found this to be unacceptable. It was my work, my thoughts and feelings. I was sharing a part of me. The words should be heard in the writer’s voice…
How do you feel about reading your writing to an audience?
Our body is a tool, a complex instrument. It needs to warm up before any kind of physical or vocal performance. Anyone who works out on a regular basis, or is an athlete knows this.
You don’t just jump right in. The body needs time to prepare to be able to deliver at it’s best. Dancers and actors (if they are good) know this. An artist who fails to ready themselves before getting on stage, is not someone I am interested in working with. It displays a lack of connection to their own body and misuse of their tool.
Theatre school prepared me for Voice Yoga. Graduation would have never happened if I wasn’t able to make sounds in public. I have embodied a variety of domestic and forest dwelling animals. If you ever need someone who can impersonate a bear waking up from hibernation, look no further!
I do my version of a cat regularly to get giggles out of my niece. The four seasons, how different a normal cloud is from a storm cloud… All of this I can demonstrate, just for you.
Breaking patterns, moving and using our voice outside of the conventional physical and tonal ranges keeps everything moving like a well-oiled machine. Singing, creating a rhythm with your voice and chanting can be very healing. I remember reading somewhere about a group of monks who stopped chanting daily and their health quickly began to decline.
Without the use of musical instruments sitting in a group and improvising with sound is powerful and uplifting. Listening and being truly present, finding the balance of your own voice within all the others.
Blood pressure rising, I continue to read my poetry in Voice Yoga class. Trying to be courageous, with each poem I read it gets a tiny bit easier.
Have you stepped outside of your comfort zone lately?
F.
I think I just stepped out of my comfort zone going out into the storm. My hubby is trying to get me to narrate my videos. I’m not comfortable doing that. Guess I need to work on that one next. Nice writing!
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Thank you Lisa! I’m happy you liked it 🙂 You’re very brave. Seems like hubby does a great job making sure you push yourself to the next level.
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I’m a Griffyndor but I’m no Harry Potter. LOL.
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Don’t hate me Lisa but you’re speaking to the only person left who hasn’t read the books! LOL
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I don’t hate anyone. 🙂 and it would take a lot more than that to upset me. You are not the only person. I worked with a young lady who wasn’t allowed to read them because her mom was very catholic. At age 24, she started reading them. That was just a couple of years ago. Hard to think a millennial never reading Harry Potter or seeing any of the movies.
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Wow – voice yoga seems interesting – for reading my work, I guess I need like minded people as audience 😊
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Thank you Shantanu! 🙂 Good point. The energy we get from the audience really affects how we feel about reading our work.
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True that. You wrote it beautifully
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That’s so cool! Cheers!!! And yes…daily little by little stepping out of my comfort zones. Blogging and sharing my art outloud, no matter what my opinion of it is, is a huge step for me. I almost stopped recently and then laughed at why. So….😂
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Thank you! So glad you’re back at it. Hope you keep sharing even when it’s difficult 🙂 The world needs more of your wonderful art!
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My pleasure and Thank You for Your sweet words, Frances!!! 🤗❤️😊The world needs Your wonderful poetry and voice! How exciting!!! Rock on!!!
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You’re welcome! Thank you for this lovely kindness! I really appreciate it 😀 Happy Thursday! Enjoy the harvest moon 🙂
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❤️
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Oh Yay! Thank You for reminding me that it’s a harvest moon!!! It’s been so lovely. Happy Friday!!! 🤗❤️😊
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It’s quite special. The harvest moon on Friday the 13th! Glad you’re enjoying it 🙂 Happy Friday to you too!
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❤️
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My most recent comfort zone was burst into 1000 pieces when I was interviewed for a documentary. I was a stuttering mess!
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Sounds pretty exciting! I’m sure you did great, we are always way too hard on ourselves 🙂
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The hard part will be waiting for a whole year to see it released.
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Amazing post 😍👏
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Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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Now that’s a super cool swing picture!! Around here where I live this artist puts swings up in random secret spots and I love to go find them.
Amazing post and great topic!
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That’s really fun 🙂 Thank you for reading! I appreciate your positivity about the post.
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