Sing For the Health of it!

Sing for the Health of it…

With the focus on improving and maintaining health, we have seen the rise of empires! HMO’s provide health benefits for preventative care, deductions for Gym memberships, nutritional counseling, Yoga classes, Emotional Health and so on. There are Fitness clubs everywhere! Marketing fads for dietary products, programs, pills, erasing unwanted fat, sculpting fat, rearranging fat and a whole host of everything in between have created a billion-dollar industry. People are running, swimming, spinning and buying more fitness equipment for home use than ever before with no sign of slowing down. They can track their efforts and monitor their vital signs right on their wrist. I won’t even venture into the multitude of supplements! There is no denying that folks are paying more attention to health issues but something I realized in my own quest to get healthy is that I didn’t need the gym membership, the fad diets or reconstructed body. I choose to sing! Sounds hokey but what I have found is that singing costs little and has some of the same benefits (some singing maybe sharp but not sharp enough to carve the perfect ab) There are so many perks that singing will offer.

I have reaped the benefits of singing. An autoimmune disease has limited my mobility and increased the number of lung infections that come my way. When comparing lung scans and Pulmonary Function tests over the years both have improved greatly since I started singing in a chorus. My mobility has also improved as has my overall mood. Attending weekly rehearsals does more for my whole body than many of the medications I have taken as you can’t find one pill that takes care of everything without effecting something else.

I travel to Lexington on Tuesdays for the Boston Skyline Chorus weekly rehearsal where there are 30+ other women of all ages, shapes, sizes and backgrounds ready to bond in song. We have physical and vocal warm - ups, a weekly lesson in singing A Cappella Harmony developed by our Director – Wayland Native Wendy Pachter.

Rehearsing the songs from our repertoire with simple choreographed moves, allows us to prepare for community and private performances and more importantly it allows us the opportunity to improve ourselves as a chorus.

For some members being a part of Boston Skyline is plain and simple a place to do what they are passionate about – singing! For some it is a place to learn to sing with confidence and believe that every voice counts. There are so many benefits that can be shared by all!

When you visit Boston Skyline Chorus you cannot help but feel welcomed and supported in your desire to sing. In many ways we are a family. It is every member that keeps the chorus healthy. We have the opportunity to bond together and even get together outside of rehearsal. There are Regional Educational weekends and a yearly Regional Competition. Neither is required but most choose to participate!!

So as I mentioned above that I choose to sing! Is it as disciplined as a work out? Very much so! Boston Skyline Chorus sings 4 part harmony arrangements – A Cappella! My whole body is engaged. I visited a rehearsal in 1996 and I was hooked despite the fact that I didn’t read music and had not sung harmony. I sang what is known as the “Lead” line – the melody. Today I am singing the Bass line – the lowest harmony part(a part that has forced me to focus more and to advance my knowledge of how each part fits together) To date my posture has improved as has my stamina and overall health. Leaving rehearsal I feel somewhat tired but rejuvenated!

Being a part of this chorus keeps me healthier physically and emotionally and is something that is my own – it is where I find joy outside of my family. It just may be where you find yours - with health benefits! Check out the Boston Skyline website www.bostonskylinechorus.org or visit their Facebook page!

Additional online reading you may enjoy -

Singing strengthens the immune system https://www.boston.com/news/health/2016/04/07/study-finds-singing-for-an-hour-can-boost-your-immune-system

Singing is a workout http://singerssecret.com/5-health-benefits-of-singing/ Singing improves posture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QUv1DAruzk Pulmonary Health and Singing https://pulmonaryhypertensionnews.com/2018/02/14/singing-lung-health-singing-can-improve-lung-health/

Psychological & Emotional

Singing is a natural anti-depressant https://www.cbsnews.com/news/music-making-found-to-be-powerful-antidepressant/

Singing lowers stress levels

https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/singing-happy1.htm

Singing in a group has many benefits

https://www.riseupandsing.org/singing/health-benefits