Can't heavy lift, so alternatives?

racataca

Hello dear MFP fellow users,

So. I can't heavy lift for two reasons - 1) I am cancelling my gym membership because I need the money for something else, and 2) I am a singer, and have been told by some various people/vocal coaches over the course of my life to try and avoid exercises that will strengthen sternocleidomastoids and false vocal folds, as they can become difficult to retract during singing.

With that in mind, how effective would it be to sub out heavy lifting for pilates, ballet and other (legitimate) dance classes, and yoga? Any thoughts? Or any better ideas?

whierd

Bodyweight exercises.

Pushups
Various forms of crunches
Squats
Lunges
Dips
Isometric exercises

mmddwechanged

They would all be very effective. It depends on your goals of course.

Yogi_Carl

all of those and all I would add would be:

1) get yourself a doorway pull-up bar and work on pullups - an often neglected side of the physique
2) get yourself a copy of "You Are You Own Gym" - an excellent bodyweight book which shows how to progressively increase strength without use of heavy weights.
3) try yoga - which will help to stretch and tonify the sternocleidomastoids and learning pranyama will certainly help with the quality of your voice, maximising and economising your breath and help with sustaining notes.

Weights are not the only option.

Sqeekyjojo

Pilates is very good for strengthening the voice, giving it some 'meat'. Stops me getting all hunched up and lopsided from playing at the same time, too.

After all, your voice doesn't come just from your throat, does it?

meshashesha2012

get a TRX style thing.

get some kettlebells 20-40 pounds

bodyweight exercises

Loftearmen

Hello dear MFP fellow users,

So. I can't heavy lift for two reasons - 1) I am cancelling my gym membership because I need the money for something else, and 2) I am a singer, and have been told by some various people/vocal coaches over the course of my life to try and avoid exercises that will strengthen sternocleidomastoids and false vocal folds, as they can become difficult to retract during singing.

With that in mind, how effective would it be to sub out heavy lifting for pilates, ballet and other (legitimate) dance classes, and yoga? Any thoughts? Or any better ideas?

That's ridiculous. I am also a singer (I don't work as a singer anymore but I do still sing) and a 315lb powerlifter. If anything, lifting has made my voice better as I now have a much more powerful diaphragm from performing the valsalva maneuver. It does not become more or less difficult for you to contract a muscle unless you damage the nerve that innervates it. You could do pilates, ballet, dance or yoga in place of heavy lifting; however, it absolutely will not help you build more muscle and will add to your androgeny. Long story short, just lift some weights and keep singing.

racataca

Hello dear MFP fellow users,

So. I can't heavy lift for two reasons - 1) I am cancelling my gym membership because I need the money for something else, and 2) I am a singer, and have been told by some various people/vocal coaches over the course of my life to try and avoid exercises that will strengthen sternocleidomastoids and false vocal folds, as they can become difficult to retract during singing.

With that in mind, how effective would it be to sub out heavy lifting for pilates, ballet and other (legitimate) dance classes, and yoga? Any thoughts? Or any better ideas?

That's ridiculous. I am also a singer (I don't work as a singer anymore but I do still sing) and a 315lb powerlifter. If anything, lifting has made my voice better as I now have a much more powerful diaphragm from performing the valsalva maneuver. It does not become more or less difficult for you to contract a muscle unless you damage the nerve that innervates it. You could do pilates, ballet, dance or yoga in place of heavy lifting; however, it absolutely will not help you build more muscle and will add to your androgeny. Long story short, just lift some weights and keep singing.

Add to my androgeny? What the hell does that mean?

SwimFan1981

Hello dear MFP fellow users,

So. I can't heavy lift for two reasons - 1) I am cancelling my gym membership because I need the money for something else, and 2) I am a singer, and have been told by some various people/vocal coaches over the course of my life to try and avoid exercises that will strengthen sternocleidomastoids and false vocal folds, as they can become difficult to retract during singing.

With that in mind, how effective would it be to sub out heavy lifting for pilates, ballet and other (legitimate) dance classes, and yoga? Any thoughts? Or any better ideas?

That's ridiculous. I am also a singer (I don't work as a singer anymore but I do still sing) and a 315lb powerlifter. If anything, lifting has made my voice better as I now have a much more powerful diaphragm from performing the valsalva maneuver. It does not become more or less difficult for you to contract a muscle unless you damage the nerve that innervates it. You could do pilates, ballet, dance or yoga in place of heavy lifting; however, it absolutely will not help you build more muscle and will add to your androgeny. Long story short, just lift some weights and keep singing.

Add to my androgeny? What the hell does that mean?

Thats what I thought!! wtf?

Gwyn1969

Hello dear MFP fellow users,

So. I can't heavy lift for two reasons - 1) I am cancelling my gym membership because I need the money for something else, and 2) I am a singer, and have been told by some various people/vocal coaches over the course of my life to try and avoid exercises that will strengthen sternocleidomastoids and false vocal folds, as they can become difficult to retract during singing.

With that in mind, how effective would it be to sub out heavy lifting for pilates, ballet and other (legitimate) dance classes, and yoga? Any thoughts? Or any better ideas?

That's ridiculous. I am also a singer (I don't work as a singer anymore but I do still sing) and a 315lb powerlifter. If anything, lifting has made my voice better as I now have a much more powerful diaphragm from performing the valsalva maneuver. It does not become more or less difficult for you to contract a muscle unless you damage the nerve that innervates it. You could do pilates, ballet, dance or yoga in place of heavy lifting; however, it absolutely will not help you build more muscle and will add to your androgeny. Long story short, just lift some weights and keep singing.

While I agree with you about the lifting and singing, the androgyny comment was weird, intrusive and assumes that everyone shares the same goals about gender expression.

upgetupgetup

androgeny-fearing poster has previously talked about intelligent design.

anyway, you can minimize strain on your neck by 1) relaxing that area & your shoulders, but most especially, 2) attending to the direction of your eye gaze. It's amazing how quickly this works. Eg If you're lying down face up, looking STRAIGHT up will totally relax your neck. If you're doing something standing, look ahead with a neutral spine. Everything just chills out. Play around with it and see

racataca

androgeny-fearing poster has previously talked about intelligent design.

anyway, you can minimize strain on your neck by 1) relaxing that area & your shoulders, but most especially, 2) attending to the direction of your eye gaze. It's amazing how quickly this works. Eg If you're lying down face up, looking STRAIGHT up will totally relax your neck. If you're doing something standing, look ahead with a neutral spine. Everything just chills out. Play around with it and see

So is he a troll or is he being a dumbass? Either way.

Thank you for the helpful comment...I always have trouble trying to minimize strain in my neck, so I'll try these out. I think I might try pilates and ballet anyway, because my posture is horrific and I hear that helps (and is also I have to fix for singing lol), but I'll talk to my current vocal coach as well because I know he's a gym enthusiast as well.

upgetupgetup

androgeny-fearing poster has previously talked about intelligent design.

anyway, you can minimize strain on your neck by 1) relaxing that area & your shoulders, but most especially, 2) attending to the direction of your eye gaze. It's amazing how quickly this works. Eg If you're lying down face up, looking STRAIGHT up will totally relax your neck. If you're doing something standing, look ahead with a neutral spine. Everything just chills out. Play around with it and see

So is he a troll or is he being a dumbass? Either way.

Thank you for the helpful comment...I always have trouble trying to minimize strain in my neck, so I'll try these out. I think I might try pilates and ballet anyway, because my posture is horrific and I hear that helps (and is also I have to fix for singing lol), but I'll talk to my current vocal coach as well because I know he's a gym enthusiast as well.

No worries Are you craning your neck over books/laptop, for many hours throughout the day? I used to carry a LOT of tension in my neck. It stopped when my studies did. I've gone back to school, and it threatened to come back. I'm now militant about ergonomics (I even use a book stand set at eye-level) and hardly have a worry.

Good luck with your fitness (and singing) goals

squall88c

You might want to look in to body weight training.
http://www.amazon.com/Body-You-Guide-Womens-Fitness/dp/0345528972/ref=pd_sim_b_2

I've been using the male version of that book for the past 5 months and have been getting good results (paired of course with a modest calorie deficit).

Also get a good speed/jump rope for cardio.
Get the ones with ball bearings in the handle.
This makes the turning of the rope smooth & quicker.