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Stay hydrated – Health and Wellness Month #4

(logo whooshing) (ethereal voices) – Hi everyone. This is Stephanie for IVA, the Institute for Vocal Advancement. Welcome, to our health and wellness series for voice teachers. (relaxing music) So today, I will be
talking about hydration, super important subject, not
only for us voice teachers, but for life in general, right. We only are healthy, and
are functioning well, if we stay hydrated. Like the general recommendation is, to have six to eight
ounces of water every day. That equals about two liters of water. However, if you are a voice teacher, that amount might actually not be enough. And I tell you why. When you’re teaching voice,
you’re talking a lot all day. You’re singing a lot. And with every exhale that you’re doing, while you’re speaking, or singing, you’re actually losing water. So that’s why you need to make sure that you’re taking in more than just that minimum
amount of water, okay. It’s for you in order to
stay healthy in general, however, you need to
focus as a voice teacher, for a long time, depending
on how many hours you’re teaching a day, it
is crucial to stay hydrated, in order to really, really keep your focus throughout the day, also to
the very last hours of the day. They deserve, the same
focus, the same intensity, of attention, that you
had in the very beginning. And again hydration is key. But not only that, it’s
not only to stay focused, to keep your brain going, no. How do our vocal folds
function at their very best? You got it. It is when they’re hydrated. When they’re nicely
full and rich of water. Problem is though, kinda like
with short-term hydration, doesn’t really work, okay. Because, when I’m drinking
just a sip of water, it doesn’t reach my vocal folds. It nicely lubricates my
throat, it feels good, it might help me after a few minutes, to keep the focus again, however, have you ever heard the term, you’re singing on yesterday’s hydration? That is correct, because
it takes quite a while, for the water that you’re drinking to actually go through your system and end up hydrating
your vocal folds, okay. So that’s why you need to
stay hydrated constantly. Well, how do you do that best? Well what I do all the time, everyday, it’s like the first thing I
do when I get to my studio, I bring a big pitcher
of water, flat water, not carbonated water, because honestly, carbonated water makes me burp, okay. And, but not only that, I also
bring a big pot of green tea. I just love green tea, it feels good, it’s kind of energizing. It makes me awake, but not tired. And so I have a pitcher,
water, and a pot of tea, next to me all day. I constantly keep drinking it,
keep pouring it into my mug, but also whenever a student comes in, it’s the first thing I
offer them, they love it. They know when they come to my studio, I present them with the
best tea, with good water. Sometimes I infuse the water with lemon, or grapefruit, or cucumber, just like freshly-sliced cucumber. Tastes amazing. Has nice enzymes in it, and again, it makes me actually drink more water, because it tastes yummy. Doesn’t contain sugar. Sugar honestly, it makes you tired. It’s not good for you. So it’s very fresh, and just very nice also for your students. And sometimes in the morning when I start, I have a coffee on the side as well. But honestly, that doesn’t
really count for hydration. So in terms of hydration,
you only wanna count, water and tea that you’re drinking, right. So, yeah, that’s mainly
what I really, really recommend to you. Constantly, constantly drink. Have it right next to you. Present it to your students. Whenever your student is talking to you, or you’re explaining
something to your student, or you’re in a transition,
while you’re teaching, from working on exercises,
towards working on a song, you’re bringing up a track
on YouTube, or something, I always right away grab my glass, or pitcher of water, and refill, refill to my students. That’s how I stay
hydrated, because honestly, if I don’t do that, I notice immediately that my voice gets
scratchy, I’m losing focus, and I don’t like it, because
I wanna be 100% available, vocally and mentally to my students. And I know you’re just the same. So, take that into consideration. Get the pitcher. Get the big pot of tea. It’s just amazing. And I’m sure it will be helpful to you.

As found on Youtube

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