Allergies Attacking Your Voice? Try this 5-min vocal reset.
Spring is in the air!
Unfortunately, that means, so are allergens..
If you're like me, you’re excited to enjoy some outdoor time as the weather warms up. But with the beauty of spring also comes an onslaught of seasonal allergies that can leave us feeling phlegmy and, worst of all, voiceless.
Losing your voice is never fun, but it’s especially frustrating if your livelihood depends on speaking.
So today, I want to share my go-to three-step vocal reset to help you find more vocal ease, even in the thick of allergy season.
This quick warm-up takes just five minutes and follows a simple progression: Breath, Body, Bubbles.
But before I walk you through this warm-up, let's get scientific, shall we?
Pick a test phrase. It can be the days of the week, a favorite song lyric, even a line of Shakespeare if you're feeling fancy.
(My personal favorite is "If music be the food of love, play on!")
Say your test phrase out loud and assess how your voice is feeling today.
I'll wait.
...
Good! Now that you've got your baseline, let's see if we can create a little more vocal ease in 5 minutes or less!
Step 1: Breath
The voice starts with the breath. If you’re not breathing properly, any vocal fatigue caused by allergies will be amplified. Before any speaking engagement, take a moment to check in with your breath:
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Close your eyes and do a quick body scan, releasing tension as you go from head to toe.
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As you scan, notice your breath. Don't try to change it--just take note. Is it shallow or deep? High in the chest or low in the belly?
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Once you've completely your body scan, return your focus to the breath. Place a hand on your belly and invite the breath to drop lower, as if there’s a big balloon expanding in 360 degrees with each inhale.
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Open your eyes and take your test phrase for a spin—see if it feels any freer!
Step 2: Body
Your vocal cords are tiny muscles, and they’re highly affected by tension in the larger muscle groups of your body. After months of being hunched over computers indoors, you might be carrying more tension than you realize.
Since you just completed a body scan, you should now be aware of your personal tension spots. Take a moment to stretch those areas—whether it’s your shoulders, neck, or jaw. Maybe even take a moment with a foam roller if you have one handy.
Then, test your voice again and notice if there’s any change.
Step 3: Bubbles
Now for the fun part—bubbles! There’s a set of exercises called semi-occluded vocal tract exercises which are great for bringing some extra ease to the voice.
I won't get too nerdy about the voice science behind SOVT in this blog, but feel free to read up on your own here.
Here’s a simple way to try it:
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Take a straw and blow bubbles into a glass of water while making sound.
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For an extra vocal stretch, try sirens with your voice, gliding through your normal speaking range.
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Do this for about 30 seconds, then test your voice again. Chances are, you’ll feel a lot more ease and resonance!
Ready to Speak With Ease?
By following these three quick steps—Breath, Body, and Bubbles—you’ll have a five-minute vocal warm-up that helps combat seasonal vocal fatigue. Now, go enjoy some of this beautiful spring weather, and stay healthy and resonant as you do!
Sara Glancy is an NYC-based actor and public speaking coach and the founder of Speak Masterfully, a service that helps professionals take the stage with less fear and more fun!
Want to nail your next presentation?!
Apply this basic outline to any speaking engagement to feel twice as prepared in half the time!
