5. Singing tones up your facial muscles, your diaphragm, and your intercostal muscles.
The proper technique of singing from the diaphragm can strengthen your abdomen and back muscles. You also exercise your facial muscles in unique ways when you sing, which can make your face look more energetic and livelier. Your intercostal muscles–the groups of muscles running between the ribs that help form and move the chest wall–will receive quite the workout as well as you sing.
6. Singing increases empathy and understanding between cultures.
Music can help us to feel connected to all of humanity, even across cultural divides. Singing songs that originated from other cultures can give us a new appreciation for those cultures and help us empathize with others.
7. Singing develops the lungs and gives you better posture.
When you sing, you naturally sit or stand up straighter to get a better sound. Singing also improves your lung capacity and helps you to breathe a little easier.
8. Singing brings people together and creates a sense of community.
Singing in a choir or singing in any sort of group environment with other people can be a fun, bonding activity. It gives you an opportunity to share an experience with a group of people. There have been several studies that have shown singing in a choir decreased depression in many adults.
9. Singing can help patients with Parkinson’s disease.
There have been numerous studies that have shown how singing can increase the health of patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease. For these patients, singing can improve vocal and swallowing control in these patients. There are even some studies that suggest music can help patients to regain their balance.
10. Singing improves your memory.
Even if you can’t always remember all of the lyrics to your favorite songs, there is no question that singing requires you to use your memory in ways that you don’t normally. This is one excellent way to keep your brain functioning well as you age.
11. Singing can boost your immunity.
Because singing can lower your blood pressure, cause you to have lower cortisol levels, and decrease your stress and anxiety, it will certainly have a positive effect on your immune system.
One other feature of singing is the fact that our Vagus nerve is stimulated which is known to produce the calming effects that were noted above. An article in Medical News Today,
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vagus-nerve-stimulation demonstrated how focused medical procedures that directly stimulate the Vagus nerve are being used therapeutically for various disease conditions. Singing is listed as a natural way to stimulate the Vagus nerve and still receive a significant degree of benefit without medical intervention.
Singing has been proven to be an effective form of emotional release and can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. One study found that participants who sang in the shower experienced a decrease in cortisol levels—the hormone that is released in response to stress—and an increase in their overall mood.
As we consider the benefits of singing, it is important to note that the quality of the singing is not a factor per se. Whether you can sing in tune or have a professionally trained voice is not a requirement. The Vagus nerve is stimulated either way. Also, to be considered are the community effects of coming together to sing. We may not have the best voice, but we can join in and become part of the community effort and reap the rewards.
And do not wait until the next holiday season. Singing has benefits for any day of the year. Get into the shower and let your voice rip! Go out into the forest and belt it out at the top of your lungs if you are worried about someone hearing you. Join a singing group in your local area.
Anything; just get those vocal cords vibrating in song. You will never regret it!