Fully engage, Fully release
“Being engaged is a way of doing life, a way of living and loving. It's about going to extremes and expressing the bright hope that life offers us, a hope that makes us brave and expels darkness with light. That's [...]
Satya; A Practice in Truthfullness
"As truthfulness (satya) is acheived, the fruits of actions naturally result according to the will of the yogi." - Patanjali, yoga sutra 2.36 When I enter practice of a yoga pose that is difficult for me, I try to stay [...]
A Singer's Prayer
"What if our religion was each other If our practice was our life If prayer, our words What if the temple was the Earth If forests were our church If holy water - the rivers, lakes and ocean What if [...]
Find Your Balance
"When we have a good balance between thinking and feeling, our actions and lives are always the richer for it." - Yo Yo Ma Balance is a theme that runs through all of our lives. We struggle to keep an 'even keel' [...]
Be Courageous!
Bakasana, or crow pose "Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage." - Maya Angelou We all need [...]
5 Best Yoga Poses for Singers!
Here are some of my favorite poses that help me physically and mentally prepare for my singing practice. Side stretches, forward folds with your chest open, twists, and backbends are all great ways to help prepare your body to be [...]
Don't be selfish: Share your Voice!
I practice surrendering to my Dharma I used to think it was selfish of me to pursue a performing career. By practicing for an hour or more every day, I am taking time away from my family or [...]
Ground down to Lift up
How often have you lifted your shoulders and stood on your tiptoes when reaching for a dish on the top shelf? How often have you observed a singer lifting their chin to reach for that high note? Those kinds [...]
Sing from Your Core!
Uttihita Chataranga Dandasana, Four-limbed staff pose or Plank pose, is one good way to stimulate the core. After I gave birth to my daughter, I had a hard time coming back into singing in a stable way. Looking back [...]
Register awareness: a practice in Integration
Oftentimes, young singers are taught about "chest" and "head" voice. You might be familiar with those terms - whether a choir director mentioned it in 2nd grade, or a musical theater director told you to "belt it out," delaying the [...]