Singing, Voice and Embodiment

It's full-blown Fall–time to shed what is ready to go and send energy down to our roots for winter. I think of Fall as the great exhale— if the four seasons were the breath it would be Spring- inhale; Summer- top of the breath, lungs full; Fall- exhale; Winter-bottom of the breath, lungs empty and ready to receive.

I'm really looking forward to breathwork this weekend with a number of amazing teachers at Breathe in Black: A Celebration of Black Voices in Breathwork, and allowing this practice space to help me truly exhale.

Last week it felt great to share the beginning of my website, and since then I've already changed it quite a bit. Now I am finally ready to return to a central, glaring unanswered question–what is embodying?

Of course I have an idea of what embodying means to me. But it's different to dive into the details of a word you're using to point to something beyond words.

Singing has been central to my embodiment practice. Engaging with my voice is the most enjoyable and comprehensive way for me to check in with my body– am I rooted in, pelvis and spine aligned, with my weight flowing down into the earth? Is my breath full and expansive? Am I released throughout my jaw, mouth, tongue, throat, chest, shoulders– heart open, feeling the support of my solid foundation?

While singing, when an emotion arises, where does it land in my body– what happens with my voice? Can I re-anchor while holding space for the emotion, and continue to move through, finding greater release and resonance?

What does it mean to fully express the emotion, the experience, the purpose of a song?

Endless questions, endless curiosity– that is embodiment. Yes, I'll define it more clearly eventually. But I'm going to allow that path to be meandering.

Today I'll leave you with a playlist, titled Embodying Me–Fall 2022. A selection of my favorite songs I am currently singing to embody my full self, sandwiched by two delicious mood makers—songs that leave me feeling myself in every way. Enjoy!