Breathwork - Singer Style

Breathing exercises that work your diaphragm and help you relax.

You may have heard of the benefits of breathwork (the kind yogis and those into meditation do), but did you know there are many similarities between this kind of breathwork for health and wellness, and breathing for singing?

In fact, when it comes to breathwork exercises, singer’s have the edge. It’s because singers know how to use their diaphragm muscle to increase their lung capacity AND have more control over how they use their breath once they have it.

Interested in learning the secret? In today’s video I’ll take you through some breathing for singing basics followed by two singer-based breathwork exercises that will tap into your deep diaphragm muscle, lower abdominal muscles and help you to start gaining control over how you exhale your breath; something that is often missed in traditional breathwork exercises.

So grab a cushion and get comfy. Let’s relax and do some breathwork ‘Singer Style’ together.

Nicola xx

Health Benefits of Breathwork

Connection Between Your Breath and Vocal Control

One of the first things singers learn is how to control their breath. It’s not just about hitting the right notes; mastering breath control improves your overall lung capacity and strengthens your diaphragm. This helps with breathing efficiency and endurance in day-to-day life, not just on stage. (Yep, I like to run regularly and I use my diaphragm when I’m running).

Whether you're a singer or just curious about breathwork, focusing on your diaphragm and controlling your breath will make each inhale deeper and more intentional, which translates into better stamina, more energy, and more benefits overall from breathwork exercises.

Impact on Posture and Core Strength

Good breathwork doesn’t just affect your lungs, it also impacts your posture and core. To get proper breath support, you need to stand (or sit) tall, engaging your core muscles and using them as you exhale all your air. It’s one of the reasons singers develop such strong core muscles.

Emotional Release Through Breath and Voice

Singing and breathwork both offer an incredible emotional release. When we sing or practice deep breathing, we can release pent-up emotions through sound and breath. There’s something incredibly therapeutic about letting your voice or breath carry stress and anxiety away. You don’t have to be a singer to benefit from this—just focusing on your breathing or even humming can feel like a mini therapy session, helping to release emotions you didn’t even know you were holding onto.

Resonance and Vibration

This one’s really cool—when you breathe deeply and vocalize (even if it’s just a hum), you create vibrations in your body. These resonant vibrations have a calming and grounding effect, similar to what you might experience with sound healing practices. You know that feeling when you're humming, and you can feel the vibrations in your chest or throat? That’s your body using sound to relax and center itself. Singers naturally experience this, but anyone can tap into those calming, grounding vibrations with a bit of breathwork or gentle vocalization.

Connection to Heart Rate and Relaxation

Controlled, deep breathing has a direct effect on your heart rate. Whether you’re singing or simply practicing breathwork, slow, deliberate breaths can help lower your heart rate, bringing about a sense of calm and relaxation. For singers, this is an added bonus to vocal control, but even if you're just doing breathwork for stress relief, these controlled breaths can work wonders on your body’s natural rhythm. It’s a simple but powerful way to create a sense of inner peace.

Singing as a Natural Anti-Depressant

Here’s another fun fact: singing (and breathwork) actually triggers the release of endorphins, those feel-good chemicals in your brain. It’s like your body’s natural anti-depressant! When you sing or practice breathwork, you're not just improving your physical health, you’re also elevating your mood. Whether you’re a singer belting out your favourite song or just someone enjoying a few minutes of deep breathing, you’re giving your brain a little boost, helping reduce stress and making you feel happier and more at ease.

Loosen the Muscles Around Your Diaphragm