Did You Know..
'The Greek word psyche, meaning soul, has the same root as psychein, meaning 'to breathe'; and the Greek word pneuma, meaning 'spirit', also means 'wind'. Furthermore, the Latin words animus, meaning 'spirit', and anima, meaning 'soul', come from the Greek anemos, which is another word for 'wind'.
Similar connections also exist in Arabic and German and they remind us that in many cultures, the notions of psyche, spirit and soul have been related to the idea of the movement of air.​​
This connection between air and soul is also contained in the fact that the human voice as the audible expression of the psyche can only be created through the emission of air from the body.'​
Paul Newham, The Singing Cure (1993)
The Art Of Breath
Breath plays a big role in expressive art therapies, especially VMT - as it is breath that creates and carries our voice once it has passed through the vocal chords, resulting in vibration and transforming it into sound energy. Without breath, there is little to no sound, resonance or room for vocal expression.​​​​​ Whereas expanding and releasing the breath, frees the voice and the emotions that come with it.
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Breath is more than just oxygen- it is the bridge between out physical and emotional states. It is our most vital life-force, known across cultures as ki, prana, or spiritus—and it connects body, mind, and emotion in every moment. In both art and life, conscious breathing grounds us in the present, fuels creative expression, and regulates the nervous system, allowing us to move from reaction into presence.
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The human body which is made up of acoustic space, is the first musical instrument we ever use, where we act as both the player and the instrument- leading to the creation our own unique sound. And breath is the foundation of this, grounding our voice to our Self.