Singing is great for your wellbeing, whether you think you’re ‘tone deaf’ or Whitney Houston. With physical, psychological, emotional and social benefits singing can do wonders for your health. If you love singing then this will be music to your ears (so sorry) …
Breathing focuses the mind
Singing requires controlled breathing, to make sure the sound lasts until the end of the line. Controlled breathing can calm the mind and body, it also promotes a healthy heart and lungs. Singing can initiate the vagus nerve and send relaxing waves through the body. This is important as any problems in this nerve leads to feelings of anxiety and depression. Taking deeper breaths can also boost your immune system, improve blood circulation and increase concentration. Standing tall with good posture can give your lungs more room to expand and allow better sound when singing, this good posture can also increase your confidence over time.
All together now
Anyone who is part of a choir will be able to tell you how brilliant it is – you can sing with others, feel part of something and have fun. Many people join choirs with a basic singing ability but over time find that they improve and surprise themselves. Studies have shown that group singing for just 40 minutes can reduce the stress hormone, cortisol and synchronise the heartbeats of those singing in the group. Group singing also leads to stronger bonds than other group activities and this bond is key to the socialisation in choirs, very beneficial for anyone feeling low moods or loneliness.
Happy hormones
As well as a drop in cortisol levels, singing can also boost levels of endorphins, the happy hormones such as dopamine and oxytocin. These are the same hormones released when we hug or laugh or eat chocolate. Hormones move more efficiently around the body due to the better blood flow and controlled breaths. To think, all you have to do to release these hormones is to belt out your favourite song!
Confidence boost
Many of the benefits felt from singing can be reached from singing alone, just stand up straight and take deep breaths and you’re halfway there. However, not everyone is confident to sing by themselves, so choirs offer a great support system to help you sing and enjoy the experience without any pressure. You also don’t have to be in the choir forever, you could always attend singing lessons or volunteer for solos, just use it as a stepping stone for your confidence.
Everyone can do it
Now for the best part, you don’t have to sing seriously or even well to feel the benefits! You can sing anywhere at any time and still feel all the good from it. So make up your own lyrics, put your earphones in and belt our your favourite songs. If you need any help with this, check out our playlists for some good singalong tunes!
