“The Voice is our longest limb” – Voice and Presence teacher Elissa Weinzimmer says, evoking the idea that our voices can touch and connect us to others regardless of proximity. A powerful tool in our relationship and communication arsenal.

Yet, I meet people all the time who feel their voices are not trustworthy and let them down at these crucial moments. The worry results in tension, which results in the voice malfunctioning even more.

Excessive throat clearing is a sign of an uncomfortable, unhappy, tense voice. It’s an attempt to clear the blockage, release some tension, and kick start the voice into doing its job better.

This expectorating is not going to get you any of these results, though. The ‘ummhmm’s” are exacerbating the problems and frankly quite traumatic for your vocal folds.

Helping yourself build a better and more informed relationship with your voice starts with (surprise!) awareness.

Because the voice is such an integral part of ourselves (thoughts, posture, emotions), we can’t just go directly to the voice box for results.

So, play with these ideas to join the “I love my voice!” Club. Expand into your full length, with your head balancing easily on top of your spine (a mirror can help here or even better an Alexander technique teacher) and feed in a sign of relief. In through the nose and whoosh out through the mouth. Wiggle (super gently) your jaw and check that you are not holding there. Some easy shaking, bouncing, and writhing to get full body release. Another sigh of relief from deep inside you.

Whether it’s a postnasal drip, diet or tension (all?) at the root of the throat clearing desire – soothing and hydrating with room temp water is a good start. Obviously, the water doesn’t run over the vocal folds (cue chocking), but we can and must keep our whole system hydrated to make sure everything is happily lubricated and working properly.

One more full and luxurious sigh for a voice that is responsive, deeper, and mellower.

For more voice and presence work/play this way…..

#voice #voiceandpresence #awareness #alexandertechnique #alexandertechniqueteacher