Experiencing Oneness Through the Voice: 3-Day Immersion Workshop

Trout Lake Abbey is a spiritual retreat center located at the foot of Mt. Adams and also houses the Mt. Adams Zen Buddhist Temple.

Experiencing Oneness Through the Voice: 3-Day Immersion in the Spiritual Dimensions of Speech, Song, and Chant at Trout Lake Abbey.

Thank you to all who came! It was a wonderful experience! We hope to have another one in 2012
Where: Trout Lake Abbey Spiritual Retreat Center, 46 Stoller Rd, Trout Lake, WA
Lodging: Participants must setup and pay for their own lodging from one of the many beautiful B&Bs and Inns in the Trout Lake area. Find out more about lodging & what to bring.
Tuition: $300 (includes meat & ovo-lacto vegetarian meals - Friday night hot appetizers & tea, three meals on Saturday and Sunday brunch. Tea & snacks will be available throughout the day)

Led by renowned expert on the human voice and Transformational Voice™ Training Institute founder, Linda Brice, this workshop is for people at all levels and from every walk of life. It is an in-depth immersion into the more spiritual aspects of the TVTI’s Principles, Techniques and Methodologies.

Topics and Teachers:

• Oneness with the Whole Body: Getting Into Our Bodies with Chi Gong Warm Up (Judi Julien)
• Oneness with Physiology and the Physical Laws: Physiological Structure and Physical Laws Affecting Voice (Linda Brice)
• Oneness with the Mind: The Practice of Zazen (Venerable Kozen Sampson)
• Oneness with Source: Breathing for Voice (Linda Brice)
• Oneness With Authentic Self: Inquiry as a Tool for Perceiving the Contrasting Voices of the Inner Critic and the Inner Coach (Rosalind Diamond)
• Oneness with the Heart: Perceiving and Creating the Language of Emotion in Voice (Linda Brice)
• Oneness with Sound: Producing Harmonics in Chant (Linda Brice)
• Oneness with the Authentic Voice: Experiencing Your Unique and Beautiful Voice As a Perfect Mirror of Your Authentic Self (Linda Brice)
• Oneness with Nature: Experiencing Fresh Air, Green Trees, Rushing Water, Star Gazing, Magnificent Mountains (Mother Nature)

Other Recharging Activities:

• Open Mic during Sunday Brunch. Bring your song and guitar, or use our fabulous accompanist!
• A Saturday Evening of Celtic Storytelling (around a bonfire), with Druid Priest Rev. Kirk Thomas
• Nose Rubbing, with affectionate alpacas!
• Watching and Observing, with busy, hardworking hens
• Walking around the Abbey grounds in the foothills of Mt. Adams

Complete Workshop Itinerary here

Breathing Mechanics and Spirituality
The art of singing is based upon intentional breathing, the source of resonance within the body. Our system of breathing is based on an oral tradition handed down from voice teachers to classical singers over hundreds of years in Italy. It is also somewhat similar to pranayama breathing techniques in Yoga. It provides the energy flow for the voice, sets the conditions within the body to allow a Free Voice to emerge, and is also the catalyst for entering into the meditative state.

Invoking the Meditative State
All meditative disciplines utilize breathing techniques of one kind or another to invite a “meditative state. This state is an awareness of the present moment, without worry of the past or future. It is experienced as physical relaxation, mental focus, profound bliss and heartfelt joy. Learning how to invite the early stages of Meditative Absorption is a skill that with regular practice reduces stress and improves the vocal characteristics. Doing so enables our students to embrace technique without undue worry or focus on the output product. The best singing happens when no one, including the singer, is listening.

Facing and Transcending Our Primal Fear
We teach participants to sing by how it feels rather than by how it sounds. This is because the ears are easily hijacked by an Inner Critic, directing one to sing in a tense way, a false voice. The Inner Critic is always ready to say anything to shield the vocalist from feeling vulnerable or uncomfortable, or experiencing an internal voice that delivers a decidedly negative stream of comments. The appearance of shame, humiliation and banishment is the signal of our primal fear emerging, and the origin of primary tension (“Original Tension”) in the voice. When the student has not yet adopted the techniques to bypass these circuits, Original Tension distorts the innate beauty of the voice. The Free Voice is humankind’s birthright. Awareness of the presence of this primal fear and mastery of the breathing techniques we teach, enables one to transcend the fear and utilize their voice effectively. In effect, the babbling of the Inner Critic is muted, and ceases to have any effect on the vocalist.

Voice as Perfect Mirror
The voice is a mirror of human nature. If a person observes the reflection and encounters in an open way what is reflected, they can utilize the knowledge revealed to achieve greater self-awareness and personal growth. Fear always emerges but we teach our students how to work through the fear using the breath in order to voice themselves authentically despite it. A different quality of the voice emerges. We can help develop a different relationship with fear and it signals the arrival of the Free Voice. Finding and releasing the Free Voice facilitates personal transformation and likewise, the voice transforms as it mirrors change within.

Speech/Singing Connection
The Transformational Voice™ Training system does not differentiate between speech and singing. The workshops have actors and speakers in them. Speaking with these techniques can profoundly affect the quality of work and careers of actors and other public speakers. Singing is taught as speech sustained with the breath, and enables people who believed they couldn’t sing to learn to do so in a natural and effective way. Concepts of posture and alignment, the inhalation, the onset, sustaining, and the release are explored using techniques such as intentional breathing, meditative and sustained speech, toning, sirening, and meditative chant. Our voices are what make us unique human beings.

Why we use a Group
We have found that learning happens best in groups like this one. Participants gather in a safe and nurturing environment and support each other, even though they have only just met. As participants engage, they experience the power of the group and rapid learning occurs. 

We invite you to spend three days and discover the unique potential of your Authentic, Free Voice.

We welcome your comments and questions. Feel free to contact us by email or phone. We look forward to hearing from you!
Studio: 503.679.7976
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)