Last year, my naturopath suggested I take deep breaths each day, and I agreed it would be good for me. I approached it like a prescription and made sure to do it. I followed guided meditations, and they were fine. I’d set a timer and count deep breaths in and out to meet the goal. It seemed good for me, but I didn’t love it or look forward to it.
Then I had an “aha moment.” I’ve long wanted to improve my singing, and I realized I could make progress with singing AND practice breathwork in a way I’d enjoy.
My ambition isn’t to be great. I want to learn, improve, and silence the voice in my head saying I’m awful at singing.
I also know that for me, breathwork isn’t just a good idea. I need it to offset my overactive mind, and it’s helpful to monitor how my MS symptoms are behaving.
During a difficult time some years ago, when stress was extremely high and MS symptoms were acting up, I realized my lung capacity and throat muscles weren’t operating as usual.
It took multiple and focused efforts to blow out a candle wick. I couldn’t blow up a balloon. I didn’t have enough breath to sing through some of the longer notes and verses of favorite songs. Swallowing pills was harder. They wouldn’t always go down, and it took more effort and patience to take my daily supplements. None of these things had been a problem before.
MS can hinder any ability that relies on the central nervous system. Any means of improving plasticity and creating new pathways is extra helpful.
I’m trying to improve in a lot of areas where I know MS makes me vulnerable. My hope is to learn new skills, get stronger, and become more resilient when facing challenges. I aim to allow more room for aging and for losing abilities, so I can live as well as I can for as long as possible. It can sound depressing, and that’s why it’s even more important to me to have fun while I put effort into it.
Singing daily is making me happy, and it's
just one habit that improves my wellness now and hopefully for years to come.
