Location

Bristol Greenbank

Description

Learn simple breathing and vocal techniques to reduce stress and anxiety in the body, boost the immune system, and build connections for general wellbeing. We play with sound, rhythm and improvisation, learn close vocal harmony arrangements of different genres, and have loads of fun! Come and enjoy the incredible benefits singing in a group has on mental and physical health, and be part of this wonderful growing community. Everyone is welcome!

A typical workshop:

• Notice how you feel in your body, and listen to our nervous system.
• Vocal sound bath meditation.
• Gentle movement to wake the body up and get the energy flowing.
• Vocal warm ups and diaphragmatic breathing.
• Improvisation and play, with sound and rhythm.
• Learn rounds and close vocal harmony songs from different genres.
• Learn to improvise with free sounding in the group. This is when the magic happens!

Breath-work

Everything starts with the breath. Many people breathe incorrectly without even knowing it, and improper breathing can lead to a myriad of mental and physical health complications. In this workshop Molly will guide you through some simple diaphragmatic breathing techniques to reduce anxiety and stress levels, support heart function, boost the immune system and reduce inflammation in the body.

“The most important aspect of breathing wasn’t just to take in air through the nose. Inhaling was the easy part. The key to breathing, lung expansion, and the long life that came with it was on the other end of respiration. It was in the transformative power of a full exhalation.”
― James Nestor, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art

Voice and Sound

Sound and vocal resonance has been an integral healing modality in indigenous communities for millennia. Now modern studies have shown that singing and sound therapy improve health and well-being, and have been linked to neuro-chemical changes effecting reward, motivation and pleasure, stress and arousal, immunity function, and social affiliation.

In this workshop Molly teaches vocal techniques to release tension in the body using an ancient Chi Gong energy exercise meditation. This meditation uses the voice to naturally support the breathing technique learned at the start of the workshop, and sound and vibration to allow our electricity to easily move through us.

Singing

Singing is a natural anti-depressant. It has been proven to reduce stress, boost the immune system, enhance memory, and stimulate the release of oxytocin which is the love and connection hormone. Singing in a group is especially good for this, as oxytocin is released when we bond with each other. Oxytocin has amazing health benefits, including helping wounds heal faster, and slowing down the aging process, and is also a cardioprotective hormone. Oxytocin lowers blood pressure, and acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory for the cardiovascular system.

In this section of the workshop Molly will teach easy songs to bring everything together so we can easily use the breath and the voice to promote health and wellbeing. Singing together lifts people up, and you can see the difference in people at the end of the workshop.

You don’t need to have any previous experience in music or singing. Everyone is welcome, and exercises will be simple and easy to learn.

Session times

7pm - 8.30pm every Thursday evening