5 Minute Miracle
Do you find yourself getting frustrated right from the get go during a practice session? Wondering how can we get the most effective practice, even when we aren’t feeling like it? What is the secret to setting yourself up for a practice session you can enjoy?
The 5 minute miracle!
The 5 minute miracle is a 5 minute centering session before you even start singing! As with everything, you need to find what works best for you but here is what I recommend.
If you are someone who meditates, go through a 5 minute guided mediation. As singers, our bodies are our instruments, so whatever stress or mess you are bringing from the day will come with you into your practice session. A guided meditation will let you re-focus yourself and enter your practice session without the tension or stress from the day tagging along. Focus on your breath, focus on your body, focus on releasing whatever doesn’t serve you in the task ahead.
If meditation isn’t your thing, spend 5 minutes journaling. Check in with yourself. Ask yourself how you are feeling in that moment and then follow it by writing down 3 things you are grateful for. Acknowledging where you are in that moment let’s you know what place you are starting from. If you are tired, you will now be aware of that and can adjust your practice as needed. If you are frustrated or stressed, you’ll understand that if you get more frustrated or more stressed as you practice, those feelings are likely exacerbated because of where you started. Re-focusing that energy into things you are grateful for can help change the trajectory of your day. If it is something that you do daily, it can help change the trajectory of your mind. If you still have time left, write down what you would like to accomplish in the upcoming practice session. This will help you stay focused on your goals.
If neither of those things are your cup of tea, try a 5 minute stretch. When we are stressed or anxious or just living our lives, our muscles can tense. Give yourself 5 minutes to let that stress out. I love doing an Alexander Technique’s constructive rest or a seated roll down. You could do 5 minutes of yoga or whatever stretches feel best for you. This allows you to connect with your body and center yourself before you start practicing.
Include these 5 minutes in your practice session and you will have a more focused, enjoyable, and productive practice. If you are anything like me, you are used to running from one thing right to the next. When we are still thinking about whatever lesson, rehearsal, work thing that we just came from, not only does it inhibits us from being mindful and focused in our practice, we bring all of the physical stress with us too. It can be frustrating to build new technique or learn a new piece, so give yourself the best foundation that you can. Set yourself up for success!
You’ve tried all of this and you’re still not having the practice sessions that you want, sign up for a free consultation!
