Emma Rowland-Elsen | Leading the Movement for Mentally-Healthy Choirs in the UK
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Most people don't know this, but your voice can alter your nervous system in seconds.

​Want to find out how?

This project ran in May 2025 but you can catch up will all the videos over on my Instagram page:
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Your Voice is More than Sound - it’s a Built-in Reset Button

Your voice is directly wired into your nervous system through the vagus nerve.  You can therefore use sound to deliberately shift your mood - to release tension, build courage or calm your heart.  Every day in May, I was LIVE on Instagram, sharing a micro-reset that uses the power of your voice to boost wellbeing.
These science-backed techniques:

🗣️ Are quick and easy to do
🗣️Are designed to fit into a woman’s busy life
🗣️ Are totally free
🗣️ Can be done anytime, anywhere
🗣️ Require no previous knowledge of the voice (and there’s no singing involved!)

It’s fast, accessible, body-first regulation.

Why Quick Resets?

1. Fast Activation of the Parasympathetic Nervous System
  • Quick resets (30–90 seconds) that involve breath, sound, or vocalisation can rapidly stimulate the vagus nerve, helping shift your body from a fight-or-flight state into calm.
  • Studies show vocalised exhalations (like humming or toning) are among the fastest ways to trigger a parasympathetic response (vs. traditional mindfulness, which often requires 10–20 minutes to downshift brain activity).


2. More Accessible, More Consistent
  • Short vocal tools are easier to stick with, especially for busy or overwhelmed individuals.
  • You’re more likely to repeat something that takes one minute, which builds habitual nervous system resilience over time.
  • Long mindfulness sessions can feel intimidating or inaccessible when stress levels are already high.


3. Embodied Regulation vs. Cognitive Effort
  • Many longer mindfulness practices are cognitively demanding (e.g., tracking thoughts, focusing attention), which can be hard when dysregulated.
  • Voice-based resets give your body something to do, rather than think about. They engage bottom-up regulation, which is often more effective in acute stress states.


4. Cumulative Power
  • While one minute may seem small, the consistency of micro-interventions can actually lead to greater neuroplastic change over time than occasional longer practices.
  • Like brushing your teeth daily vs. a deep clean once a month.

Why is this so Great for Women?

Women are Busy

Care work. Emotional labour. High stress.  Most of us don’t have time for a 90-minute breathwork session.
That’s why these rituals are short, effective and meet you in real life.

Your Cycle affects your Nervous System

These rituals work with your natural rhythm.  Whether you're on day 2 or day 28, there's a ritual for how you're feeling right now.

Women are Taught to Stay Quiet

To be calm. Composed. Pleasant.
These rituals give you permission to 
sound it out - stress, grief, joy, rage - and to feel great doing it.

You don't need to Think your Way Out

Your body already knows how.  These voice-based tools speak to your nervous system - not your to-do list. 

Your Voice is your Superpower

Even one minute of vocal expression can build confidence, clarity, and calm. It’s not fluffy. It’s physiology. So how do you want to feel?

How do I get Started?

Click right here
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MENTALLY-HEALTHY CHOIRS: EMMA ROWLAND-ELSEN
CONSULTANT IN CHOIR INCLUSION AND MENTAL HEALTH

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  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • About Me
    • The Science Bit
    • Archive
  • Services
    • Choir Audit
    • WORKSHOP: Every Voice Belongs
    • Podcast
    • Border Belles Ladies' Choir
  • Resources
    • Inclusion and Mental Health Policy TEMPLATE
    • Mentally-Healthy Choirs Toolkit
  • Real Choirs
  • Blog
  • Contact