Breathwork for Actors

Posted May 18, 2018

“Breath control affects the range, volume, and speed of both speaking and singing. Practicing skills to improve breath control technique can vastly improve your speaking and singing abilities.”-www.theatrefolk.com. Additionally, breathing exercises can not only calm your nerves they can also increase your lung capacity which will make speaking and projecting for extended periods of time easier and more controlled. The vocal benefits an actor can gain from simple breathing exercises can tremendously improve auditions and performances. In this post we will share a few focused breathwork exercises and outline the benefits of each one.

Breathwork for Voice Control

Begin by standing with the feet about hip distance apart, and make sure the shoulders are relaxed and away from the ears (you can take a few shoulder rolls before you begin if you feel any tension).
Place your hands on your belly and inhale for a count of four.
Once you reach the top of your inhale begin to slowly exhale through your teeth making an “Sass” sound. Stop the exhale when you reach the count of four. Even though you may still have plenty of air the sharp stop is what will help with timing, and voice control. Don’t worry it will get more challenging with every breath.
After a few repetitions, see if you can increase the count from 4 to 7 for both the inhales and the exhales. Don’t forget to keep making the “Sss” sound through your teeth with every exhale.
You can gradually increase the counts to improve your endurance while maintaining control
You can also play with different sounds on the exhales. Once you’ve mastered the “Sss” try “aaaaah”, “Mmmmm”, “Ooooo”, etc.

This technique is great for all actors that wish to have better control of their voices, and articulation. However, it’s particularly beneficial for musical theatre actors who need that extra control to end a vocal note at a very precise moment in order to synchronize seamlessly with an ensemble.

Breathwork for Vocal Endurance

To maximize the benefits of breathing exercises for vocal endurance it’s a good idea to use a breathing resistance exerciser like Expand-A-Lung.

Begin by standing or sitting in a comfortable upright position with the Expand-A-Lung breathing resistance exerciser in your mouth
Turn the knob all the way to the left to start at the lightest resistance setting. Begin to inhale and exhale slowly gradually increasing the resistance by turning the knob to the right until you find a setting that is comfortable but challenging.
Inhale slowly until you are out of air, then hold the breath for just a moment and begin to exhale slowly until you are out of air.
Once you complete a set of 10 inhales, and 10 exhales remove that device from your mouth and take moment to catch your breath.
Try to complete about three or four sets daily.
As your respiratory muscles become stronger you can continue to increase the resistance to a more challenging levels.

This exercise works by strengthening your respiratory muscles in particular your diaphragm and your intercostals. By strengthening these muscles you will eventually increase your lung capacity making it easier to maintain a continuous flow of oxygen as your speak without becoming out of breath. This is a great benefit to all actors.

Breathwork to Calm the Nerves

With one hand on your chest and the other on your belly take a deep inhale through the nose making sure that your diaphragm and not your chest rises. (If you feel your belly filling with air you’re doing it right, if you feel your chest puff out you are likely breathing from your chest and not your diaphragm).
Make sure your inhales are slow and relaxed not strained, and ensure your exhales are equally slow and relaxed.
Continue to practice this deep breathing technique for five to ten minutes
You can add aromatherapy for deeper relaxation by adding a drop of essential oil to your wrist or a few drops on a towel. Just inhale the aroma. Lavender, ylang, ylang, and bergamot are a few great scent options for relaxation.

Even the most seasoned actors still get the pre-show or even pre-audition jitters. Arriving early and taking a few minutes to practice a deep breathing exercise like this one is a great way to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety.

No matter where you are in your acting career taking a little time to work on your breathing can help improve your performance and even your health.