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and finding the bravery to use it

My early experience of using voice – outside of talking and in a non-performative way – was as a teenager in yoga. The serene ambiance was shattered by fits of laughter shared between my best friend and me as we attempted the closing Om chant. This led to an unspoken understanding, with just a look, we know we’re not invited back to yoga.

Sound familiar? 

Fortunately, the teacher happened to be my mother, meaning we were allowed back under a strict promise that we’d take the practice seriously. Yet, there lies the paradox – despite our best intentions, using our voices often stirs something unexpected within us. Emotions. Sometimes it’s laughter, a coping and defence mechanism for the awkwardness we feel. Other times, it’s anxiety, fearing how we’ve sounded, that we’ve misspoken. And then there are moments of frustration when our voices fail us entirely, leaving us silent and unheard.

This struggle extends far beyond the confines of a yoga mat.

As someone who guides sound baths, I often invite the group to join me in vocalising at the start of a session. This ranges from a hmmm ooo or ahhh. This simple act of “sounding” serves to awaken our vocal cords, the vagus nerve, and the intricate web of connective tissues within us. Yet, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern – while about 2 percent of the room readily embrace the opportunity to create a sound, the majority struggle to vocalise, grappling with deep-seated beliefs and fears surrounding their voices. I understand this struggle because I’ve been there myself.

The fear of sounding foolish, the fear of standing out, the fear of speaking up – these stories are deeply ingrained within us.

What’s your story?

When it comes to using your voice, what emotions stir within you?

One of my own subconscious beliefs was rooted in a desire to remain inconspicuous, to avoid drawing attention to myself. But this mindset didn’t just affect my yoga practice; it permeated every aspect of my life, stifling my authenticity and undermining my self-expression. It was fuelling my people pleasing, silencing my no and diminishing my yes. Even now, after years of teaching and personal growth, I know I will continue to work with my voice. For women especially, I believe it can be a life’s work.

Amidst the conscious narratives we hold, I often think to the impact our ancestral lineage must have upon the emotional core of our voices. As recent as the 1600s, witch trials unfolded, claiming lives of those who dared to speak their truths. Throughout history, women have been systematically silenced, only recently gaining platforms for their voices to be heard. It’s no wonder, then, that we’re still navigating our presence in this evolving space. We are still remembering how to use our voice.

Sound is more than mere vibrations; it’s a conduit for emotion and energy. Sounding with our voice is no exception to this. Think about the love in a mother’s lullaby or the power in an rageful scream – so much rests on the way we use our voice and the charge that different words hold. When we bring intention to this practice, it can be a powerful gateway for healing and transformation.

What to try

• Body Toning:

Explore the powerful technique of intentional toning to connect with different areas of your body. Begin locally by humming and feeling the sensations in your throat and chest. As you begin to increase your range and capacity towards noticing sensation, gradually expand your awareness outward, channeling the sound into different parts of your body. Try your womb, top of your head and eventually extending out into your energy field.

• Upcoming Somatic Breathwork Circle:

Join me on the first Wednesday of each month for an immersive embodied breathwork circle. Our upcoming session on March 6th will integrate the therapeutic benefits of conscious connected breathing with personal vocal exploration. We’ll delve into the somatic charge behind expressions like ‘yes’ and ‘no’, facilitating profound physical, emotional, and subconscious release. For booking information, click here.

• Private Container:

If you are curious of what you might be holding within your voice and would like to delve into this more, I offer private containers for one-to-one or one-to-two exploration. Depending on specific intentions, the sessions range to include practices with movement, breath and sound. More info on standard pricing and my donation based community session, here. 

Remember, wherever you are on your healing journey, you are exactly where you are supposed to be. There is profound medicine in the unfolding.

With love,

Jas x