What Are the Benefits of Vocal Toning?
Vocal toning is an ancient practice in which a person produces a sustained sound or vowel, often for several minutes at a time, with the aim of inducing physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Chanting and mantra are examples of vocal toning.
Some of the potential benefits of vocal toning include:
Stress relief: Vocal toning can help to reduce stress and tension in the body, which promotes relaxation and a sense of calm. The voice, through activation of the vagus nerve, stimulates the parasympathetic response, or rest and digest state. In other words, your feel relaxed and safe. Also, the sounds produced can stimulate the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood elevators.
Improved breathing: Vocal toning can help to improve breathing and expand and strengthen lung capacity, as it requires the use of the diaphragm. Your diaphragm is a dome shaped muscle that aids your lungs in breathing. Deep intentional breathing also stimulates the vagus nerve and gets you into that rest and digest state.
Enhanced immune system: Vocal toning has been shown to stimulate the immune system, helping to fight off illness and disease. Our voices have a resonant frequency that is much higher than that of pathogens, so you are creating an inhospitable environment for illness.
Increased energy: Vocal toning can increase energy levels, helping to boost overall physical and mental performance by stimulating the production of hormones and neurotransmitters, such as adrenaline and dopamine, which are involved in regulating energy levels.
Improved emotional well-being: Vocal toning has been shown to have a positive impact on emotions, helping to trigger the release of constrictions caused by trauma, therefore improving feelings of happiness, peace, and well-being. Studies have shown that vocal toning facilitates the release of your endorphins, or happy hormones. Some people also find that vocal toning helps to relieve feelings of depression, anxiety, and other emotional difficulties.
Improved voice quality: Regular vocal toning can help to improve the quality and clarity of the voice, making it stronger and more resonant. Developing resonance can help to produce more overtone frequencies in your voice, which result in a fuller harmonic sound. This also makes your voice feel and sound better to your ears, as well as to others.
In general, the multiple overtones of your voice bathe your body in a myriad of frequencies that are custom made just for you! When you use your voice with intention, these frequencies sync up, or entrain to and balance your body’s subtle frequencies
While there is some scientific evidence to understand the mechanism of vocal toning, by and far the experiential proof of the profound effects are overwhelming.
