Happiful September 2019

Five benefits of
singing your heart out
Whether you have vocal pipes to rival Beyoncé, or would describe yourself as ‘musically
challenged’, singing can do wonders for your wellbeing. Now that’s music to our ears...
Writing | Victoria Williams
Artwork | Charlotte Reynell
As children, we sang
nursery rhymes, joined
in with the radio, and
(much to our families’
delight) belted out that
one song we loved so much it was
on repeat for a fortnight. Growing
up, though, many of us stopped.
I loved singing when I was young,
but a crash in confidence before
my teens meant that I suddenly
didn’t want anyone hearing my
voice – not even myself.
Taking the leap and joining a
choir was scary, but remains one of
the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Singing has physical, mental, and
social benefits, and it’s certainly
done wonders for my nervous
mind. Opera aficionado or tuneless
warbler, here are five ways it can
improve your wellbeing.
1 DEEP BREATHS
Singing requires controlled
breathing, and is used carefully
to make sure the sound doesn’t
die away before the end of a line.
Regulating the breath like this
acts much like yoga breathing,
calming the body and mind, and
promoting lung and heart health.
Taking deeper breaths increases
blood circulation too, improving
concentration, and boosting your
immune system. Good singing
breaths need to be supported by
good posture to give your lungs
room to expand, and allow the
sound to travel freely. Standing tall
benefits your back, relieves muscle
tension and, over time, can help
you to feel more confident.
2 ALL TOGETHER
Anyone who sings in a choir will tell
you that it’s great fun, and they really
feel part of something special when
everyone sings together. Studies
have shown that just 40 minutes of
singing in a group reduces cortisol,
the stress hormone, and that
people taking a group singing class
bond much faster than people in
other group activities. A study by
Gothenburg University, Sweden,
even found that choir members’
heartbeats synchronise when they
sing together. It’s often this bond,
and shared love of music, that makes
choirs appealing, and they can be
incredibly beneficial for people
struggling with loneliness or low
moods.
3 HAPPY HORMONES
I’ve mentioned that cortisol drops
as you sing, but what’s even better
is that it’s replaced by a cocktail
of feel-good hormones called
endorphins. Finally getting a
tricky bit of music right, putting a
beautiful harmony together, or just
belting out a favourite song triggers
endorphins like oxytocin and
dopamine, creating a rush similar
to the feeling after a good laugh, or
a hug. The deep, controlled breaths
used increase the flow of blood as
it transports the hormones around
the body, helping them to have an
even greater effect.
4 CONFIDENCE BOOST
A combination of endorphins,
posture, strong bonds, and heartswelling
music, make group
singing an ideal confidence
booster. If, like me, you don’t feel
comfortable in the spotlight, it’s a
perfect environment for expressing
yourself without the pressure of
having all attention on you. Over
time, you can build up to singing
solos, or taking lessons to push the
boundaries of your comfort zone.
You might surprise yourself. If
joining a choir really isn’t for you,
singing can still do wonders for
your confidence; simply standing
tall and becoming comfortable
with your voice can have powerful
effects on your everyday life, and
the way you communicate.