Is Your Breathing Stalling While Walking or Talking?

​I was out walking with my pug, Hugo, this rather cool May morning when I noticed I was having a hard time catching a breath.  I could feel the cool air on the back of my throat and I reacted by trying to take in more air too quickly.  Suddenly, I realized that I had automatically gone into using only my upper shoulder and neck area which had become tense and it was making it more difficult to breathe.

​Of course, I realized right away that I needed to get myself calm and breathe using the diaphragm so my belly and rib sides would move.  I found immediate relief then, and slowly felt my full breath expand in my torso and large chest cavity.  Hugo and I finished our walk easily and I felt more energized for the rest of the day.
​Has this ever happened to you, where you suddenly feel breathless?  
It’s a fact that pro speakers and actors are trained to use their intercostal diaphragmatic breathing method to manage their breath control. This is vital to keeping you relaxed and providing you with the energy to modulate your tone and to project your voice out so everyone from the front row to the back row of the audience will hear you; even if your audience is in a board room at a meeting or a seminar.

​Whenever I need to speak or do voice overs I am very conscious of using my breathing to help paint the picture of my words so I don’t sound rushed or boring. It was an easy fix for me this morning when the cool air and the brisk walk threw me off my game, and I recovered by using my diaphragm to get control and ease my panic moment.  Don’t underestimate the value of your breath power.

Until next time, enjoy your walk and your talk with your calming diaphragmatic breathing tool.
​If you are interested in learning more about how your breath power can really enhance your voice power, please take the opportunity to read my other stories and "fixes" in my latest book: “Breathe…Just Steps to Breathtaking Speeches”  here (available as hard copy, soft copy, or in a E-book from Amazon for instant reading). 
​P.S. Here’s an audio about my book when I was interviewed by the media: ​http://bit.ly/1TgIMaN

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