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Five Breathing Exercises for Exam Nerves
Practical, calming breathwork to steady your voice before a LAMDA exam or audition.
Nerves live in the breath. When we are anxious, we breathe high in the chest, which raises the larynx and thins the voice. Here are five exercises I give every student before an exam.
1. The 4-7-8 breath: inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8. Repeat four times.
2. Rib-swing: hands on lower ribs, feel the lateral expansion.
3. The silent 'k': release jaw tension.
4. Humming glides: gently connect breath to tone.
5. The grounded stance: soft knees, weight balanced.