To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
From: "michael.chesebro"
Subject: Re: Weight Lifting and the Voice
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

I have always been told
>that one should blow on the lift using the facial lips as a valve to build
>some abdominal pressure as a support for the back but not to "hold the
>breath" which involves the vocal folds. Is this the procedure that you
>use?

Dr. Hanson,

That sound like a really good technique. I have not yet tried it, but, I shall this evening
when I hit the gym. I actually have trained the depressor muscles to resist the shortening
effects of the TAs. Literally, I just keep my larynx low while exerting (disclaimer: the
tongue is never used to depress the larynx). I also deliberately stretch out the voice with
some really heady vocalizing after the weight lifting is over. I exert minimal medial
compression when engaging in this therapeutic posture.

I'll post again after I try the lip seal technique. Do you think they will stare?



Michael E. Chesebro, M.A.,C.C.C., S.L.P.
Voice & Fax: 714/596-3344