Professional singer and Vocademy’s founder, Lu Bristow, visited the Breathe Easy group in Hurstpierpoint to introduce the group to the benefits of singing.
Lu said: “Singing is brilliant for people with lung problems as it helps increase lung capacity and elasticity. You’d think that people who are short of breath would find it really difficult, but after doing some warm up exercises, everyone was singing their hearts out.”
“The Breathe Easy group is keen to set up its own choir so I’m going to give the members regular coaching sessions to improve technique and confidence. I think they’ll be great as they have some very strong singers amongst them.”
The choir is the brainchild of Jennifer Ellingford, Chairman of the Mid Sussex branch, who has lived with asthma throughout her life and was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) five years ago. She said: Singing is a wonderful group activity and as it has such tremendously positive effects on our breathing, I thought why not make this a regular activity and form a choir?
“Our session with Lu was marvellous – everyone joined in and we all felt the benefits afterwards. We’re delighted that she’s going to help us progress to a fully-fledged choir.
“The main aim of our group is to find ways to use our lungs more effectively, to help us stay well and keep out of hospital. Singing helps us do that and have fun at the same time.”
