There are many complicated things you can do to improve your voice, but today I’m asking you to try something that couldn’t be easier. I want you to yawn.
Why do I like yawning? It’s not just me. Yawning has been used for centuries as a technique to relax the throat and improve the voice. Go ahead. Try it. Yawn like you do when you’re so tired you can’t keep your eyes open. Can you feel that your neck and throat seem less tense? A good yawn relaxes the larynx (voice box) and throat and also promotes deep breathing. In addition, it forces you to open your mouth widely. All of these things will make you sound better when you begin your broadcast.
I’ll give you one example of the benefit. Do you ever hear those pesky audible intakes of air during your broadcast? They result from not opening your mouth and/or constricting your throat. (To learn more about audible intakes of air, watch my video.) Yawning before and during breaks in your broadcast might just eliminate them. The breath stream should come up through an open, relaxed throat such as you get when you yawn.
So, go ahead and yawn all you like! You’ll like what it does for your voice.
Watch for the announcement of my newest book in a few weeks: BROADCASTERS’ SURVIVAL GUIDE! It’s provides great ways to cope with stress for broadcasters and voice over artists.
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I love yawning. I do it all the time and tell people it’s good for my brain. Plus, I think it’s funny that it’s a contagious thing and by doing it I can make everyone around me do it too. 🙂 It’s good to know it’s good for my voice too!
I agree with you, Scott. Yawning is like a great luxury. It makes you feel good all over!