The Cheyne Gang Sing To Breathe To Sing

BREATHING IS SECOND NATURE TO US FOLLOWING THE BREATH v Watch a healthy baby breathing and you will see little or no movement above the abdomen Breathing in, I calm my body. v We think about breathing far more now…. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment. Thich Nhat Hanh

The Cheyne Gang’s contribution to research AQ 20 s ongoing for our own interest Proteus Pharmatics Sophie Estill

Why Singing Helps With Breathlessness Anne Ritchie Pauline Waugh Julie Harvey

Musculature of the upper body

Hyperinflation of the lungs v The size and shape of the lungs may change v Tissue damage to the airways and alveoli with airways becoming less elastic v Results in shallow, often high breathing, which leads to breathlessness on even slight exertion, feelings of panic and more severe breathlessness……. v Let’s learn how to breathe better.

Dynamic Hyperinflation of the lungs v Loss of elasticity and inflammation lead to reduced airflow v Leading to increased residual volume v Leading to shortened out breath v Leading to increased residual volume and reduced airflow…………. v So let’s learn how to extend the out breath

A typical Cheyne Gang Session A short relaxation session Body warm ups Head and neck warm ups Breathing exercises Vocal exercises Singing – including movement and songs to aid cognition Tea and cakes More singing A cool down

What do the Cheyne Gang say about it? “I think about my breath differently. I watch how I’m doing it now. Before I was having problems with delayed breathing, trying to breathe out. Whereas now I can do it properly, just by how you’ve told us to do it. ” “Since joining the singing for breathing group by breathing has improved very much. I don’t have as many chest infections or need to use steroids. I feel I can control it better. I now breathe from my stomach instead of my chest, and no raised shoulders. I don’t panic any longer when I can’t get a breath. I never thought I’d be able to sing but now I can. ” “I used to not get up the hills, my husband would walk behind me with his hand on my back pushing! And now I get up the hill and I think “I got up here on my own!” My husband sees the difference. ”

…. . there’s more! “I have very bad anxiety, and now I find that when I’m in a situation, I’m finding that I’m doing the breathing, it’s as if I’m going to burst into song. “I prefer this to pulmonary rehab. And I think this would be a lot better for a lot of people. You can’t cheat! After 6 weeks of PR I thought “I’m not going back!” it was depressing, it didn’t make me feel good. But now, because of the confidence I’ve gained, we’re going to go to Keep Fit!” “We’d all be sitting in the house scared, with a constant fear that there’s something wrong. This is a completely different thing. It’s pride. You want to go. It’s pride. We’re all taking time to get ready, shave, put on a hula skirt. It’s not just a singing group, it’s a bigger thing. For people in our situation, it’s wonderful.

The Cheyne Gang