Singing for Lung Health – a new class to help with breathlessness

St Catherine’s Hospice is delighted to announce a new class called ‘Singing for Lung Health’, aimed at people who experience breathlessness.

The class provides a welcoming and enjoyable space where patients can experience the joy of singing whilst offering them gentle education around breath control.

Becky Frith, our Spiritual Care Assistant, who has a background in music and often plays the piano on our Ward, is leading the sessions with support from our Physiotherapy Team.

Becky explains:

The focus of Singing for Lung Health classes isn’t on breathing or breathlessness; it’s on the enjoyment of singing and making sounds.

“Through this, participants learn how to better manage their breathlessness, which in turn can improve mood and quality of life.

“Throughout the programme, we help people become more aware of their posture and breathing patterns, while introducing a range of exercises designed to support vocal and breathing habits. Participants also learn how to extend their out-breath through singing phrases, helping them gain greater control and confidence.”

Each session begins with simple sound-making exercises, encouraging participants to explore how sounds are created and become more aware of the different parts of the body involved in the process. Becky then leads the group through gentle vocal warm-ups and scales, helping attendees notice when they are using their out-breath and when they need to breathe in.

To find out more about the wellbeing classes we offer at St Catherine’s, visit our Wellbeing Calendar.