Vocal issues rarely have anything to do with the voice. Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD), while presenting at the larynx or through patholgy, is not where the cause is to be found.
Virtually all people who suffer from vocal issues have specific muscle tension, fascial remolding and breathing issues that are directly responsible for the voice problems.
The primary cause of MTD is “Unconscious Chronic Valsalva Maneuver” (UCVM) - that is, muscle tension in the upper rectus abdominis (sixpack) at the solar plexus area. The UCVM is the body’s primary physiological reaction to stress, trauma and anxiety (Fright, flight, freeze, fawn).
Work to reset this area, thereby empowering the core, toning the Vagus nerve and releasing muscke tension, the smaller costal (upper body, including shoulder, neck, jaw, tongue) muscles follow suit.
The Wilson Method works with these underlying issues, getting to the root of the problem, offering lasting change in both vocal and overall health.
The Unconscious Chronic Valsalva Maneuer (UCVM) is the body’s physiological reaction to stress and/or trauma. It is an back-of-the-brain, sympathetic nervous system process, designed to protect our vulnerable torso against attack.
And protect us it does.
The UCVM begins in the upper Rectus Abdominis muscle (our "Panic Button"), then (through the lightning-fast communications network known as fascia) spreads throughout the torso, recruiting the pectorals, sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, mastoid, lattissimus dorsi, amoung others.
The UCVM is a brilliant mechanism designed to help protect ourselves from physical and/or emotional attacks. The problem is, in an effort to help us “never feel like that again” the brain keeps triggering the UCVM, days, months and often years after the threat has passed. In these cases the person is using up energy by over-utilizing muscle groups to simply live; eventually energy drops, fascia becomes dry, muscles get rigid, and pain increases.
Therefore the UCVM, when utilized over decades, speeds up the aging process, lowers immune system function and therefore can lead to what is being diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia as well as generalized body pain, vocal isssues, acid reflux, asthma, COPD, sensitivities and allergies that are often put down to the process of aging.
Happily, this same method of movement re-education also works for performing artists wishing to move with more flow, keep their voice strong and free during choreography, and dancers who wish to move with more ease and power.
