A Personal Journey
Where I was...
During my career as a professional vocalist and university vocal instructor, my body suffered immeasurably from absurd scheduling and ridiculous time constraints, accompanied by the commensurate stress, anxiety, weight gain and generally, poor health. In 2008, I was diagnosed with adult onset/type 2 diabetes, had numerous surgeries, my body mass ballooned, and depression followed. Here I was from 2007 to 2011
At 5'2" and 250 pounds, I struggled at my job, research, musical performances, community service. A committed patient of chiropractors and massage therapists, they helped my consistent pain, but did not address what I needed most -- weight loss and consistent physical activity, cardiovascular, strength, and mobility training; basically, a lifestyle that centers around daily movement.
After an exhausting search, the Ramsey Student Center at the University of Georgia offered exactly what I needed: A personal trainer, wide variety of physical equipment and activities, but most importantly, deep water aquatics. This non-impact program of exercise was perfect for a non-conditioned exerciser. I literally leapt in with both feet, but I was a very unhappy participant. It took several years, more surgeries including a knee surgery AND a knee replacement, to come to a consensus between mind and body -- it was time to make a change.
It took time to become physically better conditioned just as it had taken time to become deconditioned. I learned patience, endurance, and perseverance. and eventually, I enjoyed physical activity, mostly water-based, and my body complained when it didn't get it! As my fitness improved, so did my singing, and I received more invitations to perform. It might have been due to my changing body composition, but I am thoroughly convinced that it had to do with the greater support my body could give to my vocal function. Here I am from 2013 to 2019
Where I am now...
In the past two years, I have pursued certifications as an Aquatics Fitness Professional with the Aquatics Exercise Association (AEA) and an Arthritis Aquatic and Land-based Program Leader sponsored by AEA and the Arthritis Foundation. Additionally, I earned certification as an Active Aging Trainer from SCW Fitness, focusing primarily on older active adults and their fitness needs. Currently, I am an instructor with the Robert K. Fox Family YMCA, teaching two aquatics classes, and at the River Valley Campus and Meals on Wheels, teaching Silver Sneakers Classic.
Simultaneously with my fitness journey, I have studied the Alexander Technique with Total Vocal Freedom (Pro Level I); Dr. Theodore Dimon, director of The Dimon Institute and author of numerous books, among them Anatomy of the Voice: An Illustrated Guide for Singers, Vocal Coaches and Speech Therapists, Your Body, Your Voice: The Key to Natural Singing and Speaking; and Dr. Ron Dennis, a former director of the American Center for the Alexander Technique and author of Posturality of the Person: A Guide to Postural Education and Therapy. Acquiring this information was valuable not only for my singing and instruction, but renewed my commitment to studying movement and physical activity, and how they relate to efficient vocalism.
This journey to find personal wellness and fitness has transformed into how these elements relate to the singing process, which in turn has shaped my philosophy as a vocal instructor. It's not about body composition, but about form, function, purpose and process.
