Colin,
thank you very much for this and congratulations on your opera debut!
Monika
----- Original Message -----
From: "Colin Reed" <colin-reed@l...>
From: "Colin Reed" <colin-reed@l...>
To: <vocalist-temporary@egroups.com>
To: <vocalist-temporary@egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2000 8:58 PM
Subject: Re: [vocalist-temporary] Colin Reed? Are you there?(long-ish) For
Laura and Monicka
> I am indeed here, although a bit deluged with Vocalist messages. I made
my
> opera debut last week as the Emperor in Turandot, and with lots of
> rehearsals plus a very busy time at work, I have not had much of a chance
to
> post to the list. I'm back now, albeit with many more offers of singing
> jobs, which is great.
>
> Anyhow, asthma!! The main problem suffered with asthma is not just the
> difficulty in taking in breath (although that obviously is a problem), but
> the corresponding tightness in other muscle groups (pectoral and
> intercostal), mainly around the sternum. What I see as an "escape route",
> almost, is to open up the back much more, since these muscle groups are
able
> to take part in the breathing process and, in most cases, do not tighten
up
> as much as the breast area in asthmatics. Most of these exercises have
> grown out of warm-ups I used to do as a schoolboy for sports. Everyone
will
> probably remember finishing a race, or other energetic event, and finding
it
> easier to catch one's breath by bending over forwards, placing the hands
on
> the knees. I found that I breathed much more freely if I allowed my hands
> to dangle downwards, rather than supporting on the knees. The gentle
> stretch that this produced in the hamstrings not only stopped my legs from
> getting cramp, but seemed to allow for much lower breathing, especially in
> my back. Anyway, to cut to the chase, I have arranged a short set of
> warm-ups, and added a couple from my teacher, that have really helped me
in
> bad asthmatic episodes, and also helped me to gain a much deeper awareness
> of my own breathing, which is no bad thing for a singer!! You can take a
> selection of these, depending upon the age and/or flexibility of the
> student. The main thing to remember in all of these exercises is NOT TO
> PUSH!! They should all be very gentle, allowing muscle groups to warm up.
>
> 1. This is more a warm up to the exercises, but if you are mobile enough
> and comfortable is really does speed up the process. Sit on the floor,
with
> plenty of space around you. Ideally do this on a thick rug or a gym mat.
> Pull your knees up towards your chest, with your legs bent. Hook your
hands
> under the back of your knees, and bow your head slightly forward. Now,
very
> gently roll backwards onto your back. Roll up to about your shoulder
> blades, and then rock back to finish in the initial sitting position.
This
> may feel a little disorientating if you are not used to rolling around on
> the floor ;-) Repeat this rolling for as long as feels comfortable,
> anything between 30 seconds and 5 minutes. Again I will stress that this
is
> an optional warm up if you feel you can manage it. The rest are a little
> more static.
>
> 2. Lie on your back with your knees bent, allowing the souls of your feet
> to lie flat on the floor (I think this is sometimes described as
> semi-supine?) Allow your knees to fall gently to one side, trying to keep
> your hips level on the floor. Don't worry if they don't go very far
> initially. Whatever you do, do not push them, just allow gravity to ease
> them down. Bring them back up to the middle position, and then repeat on
> the other side. Try to get into a rhythm, allowing your knees to go back
> and forth like a pendulum. This should be familiar to women who have done
a
> similar exercise at ante-natal and neo-natal classes.
>
> 3. Sit on the floor with your legs out straight in front of you. Now
part
> your legs, keeping them straight and try to separate them as far as is
> comfortable. For most people this will be less than 90 degrees. BTW it's
> best to do these in tracksuit trousers (joggers), and not in a skirt! (Not
> that I would normally wear a skirt for singing ;-) Now place your hands
on
> the floor between your legs and "walk" forwards very gently with your
> fingers, until you feel a very slight tugging of your hamstrings and groin
> muscles. Note that this is VERY slight, and not an exercise for top
> athletes. Do not ever push!! Hold this position for about ten seconds,
and
> then come back up to upright. Repeat a couple of times, it should get
> easier.
>
> 4. This is a similar exercise to 2. given to me by my teacher (also
> asthmatic). Lie face down on the floor. Make a pillow with your arms
> folded in front of you. Put your head on your arms, and face to one side.
> Lift your feet up, so your knees are bent at 90 degrees. Now do the
pendulum
> action described in 2. above. This is sometimes a little easier if you
> cross your ankles to keep your feet together.
>
> You should now be able to stand up (do this very slowly if you are not
used
> to physical exercise of this type). It's best to come up slowly to a
> sitting position, and allow your blood a chance to remember that it's
going
> to have to go right to the top of your head now! You should now feel that
> your back is a little more supple, and it may even feel slightly longer.
At
> this stage I usually cough up all the phlegm from my chest. Unfortunate,
> but that's how it happens.
>
> If you are in ANY doubt at all about how to do gentle warm up exercises,
> then I would suggest trying these with a physical fitness instructor or a
> physiotherapist. I have been lucky in doing competitive sport for a long
> period of my life. Not everyone has had this opportunity!
>
> I hope that these help making you (or your students) breathe a little more
> easily. If you have any specific problem areas that you want more help
with
> , or any clarification, then just e-mail me.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Colin Reed
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Laura Sharp" <lasharp@n...>
> From: "Laura Sharp" <lasharp@n...>
> To: "Newvocalist (E-mail)" <vocalist-temporary@egroups.com>
> To: "Newvocalist (E-mail)" <vocalist-temporary@egroups.com>
> Sent: 25 November 2000 23:09
> Subject: [vocalist-temporary] Colin Reed? Are you there?
>
>
> > Someone perusing the old archives saw a request from me that Colin share
> > warm-up exercises he used that were helpful for students with asthma.
> >
> > Colin, if you're around, would you mind re-sharing them? At least two of
> us
> > would appreciate it!
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Laura Sharp
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
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