33 reasons why Making Mouth Noises is NOT just for kids...

Making mouth noises is NOT just for kids - easier and less embarrassing, yes - but just as therapeutic for grownups! Mouth noise games are absolute crackers! I played them on the weekend with kids at Camp Quality, I played them last year with carers at a palliatve care conference and I've played them with adults in clinical health settings. Here are a few reasons why...

Making mouth noises:
* Is an EXCELLENT self care technique

* Is something almost anyone can do - even those who don't speak.

* Is an outlet for verbal self expression

* Is a physical workout for the entire body

* Helps create confidence and break down self-consciousness

* Excellent for developing team-building dynamics

* Can be done in groups OR individually

* Puts participants out of their comfort zones

* Is an engaging and novel activity

* Almost certainly creates genuine laughter

* Can create genuine tears

* Provides clients with a tool they can use in the future

* Has the power to either stimulate or relax

* Validates emotions

* Requires no equipment, set-up or particular setting

* Communicating in 'no-language' has less expressive limitations than language.

* Can assist in clarifying emotions

* Has the potential to develop fine and gross motor coordination

* In a group setting creates a sense of equality and acceptance

* Is a great vocal warm up

* Brings out your inner child

* Can help develop the spiritual sense of community

* Is excellent for communicating to babies with

* Mimicking other's sounds makes them feel listened to.

* Helps clients learn more about their verbal abilities

* Is an activity everyone can succeed in

* Can be done in private (the shower, car, home alone etc.) 

* Requires no facilitation

* Allows you to let go

* Engages clients congitively and creatively 

* Helps express individuality

* Is appropriate for any age, culture, language, background, developmental ability...

* Is so much fun!

Not convinced? Have a go at a mouth noise game and see how you feel...

CIRCLE GAMES
* One person choose an animal noise for the whole group to make together. The next person choose a different animal noise for the group to make together. Then the next person another etc. (actions more than welcome)
* Copy the above exercise but substitute animals with laughs (ie. The evil laugh, the santa clause, the witch, the giggling girt, the snort, the knee slapper, the gasp for breath, the hyena etc...
* Copy the above exercise but substitute laughs with human noises (ie. The burp, the sneeze, the whistle, the cough, the cry, the sigh, the tongue click, the teeth chatter, the squeal, the raspberry, the snore etc...)
* Copy the above exercise but substitute laughs with cries (ie. The sob, the weep, the hysterical, the sniffle, the wail etc...)

VOLUME GAMES
* Looking at the ground make the softest noise you can - any noise - it doesn't have to be the same as the rest of the group. Collectively make your noises louder and louder and bring your heads up until you're shouting your loudest possible noises at the sky.
* Look at the sky and shout your loudest, best feeling. (ie. I FEEL AMAZING!! I FEEL ALIVE!!! I FEEL BEAUTIFUL!!! I FEEL HAPPY!!!)
* Have a conversation completely in whispers.

FACIAL GAMES
* Have a conversation completely in silly noises (with eyebrows).
* Make funny mouth noises and create funny faces to match them.
* Making eye contact play the ultimate 'sibling game' of copying. (Oh the memories; "Stop copying me!" "Stop copying me!")

RELEASE YOUR INNER FEELINGS 'GAMES'
* Scream.
* Sigh.
* Moan.
* Sob.
* Keen.
* Pant.
Do these whenever you need and however you like.

Enjoy!!!

The vibration of the heart chakra.... silly hippy or simple science???

I was recently asked what "AH - the vibration of the heart chakra" actually means. Not in an airy, fairy, hippy, crunchy, earth mama kind of way but in words of SIMPLE SCIENCE!


And truly, it IS simple science.


1) Lets start with what the body is at it's most basic level - a bunch of molecules vibrating around each other (we learnt that in high school - it's indisputable). Hence we actually aren't one solid mass of flesh, organs and other working parts - we ARE vibrational energy!

2) Now, vibrations can happen at different speeds.  We've all seen the picture of what the sound wave looks like...

The vibrations of low frequency (slow) speed waves create low pitched sounds and the vibrations of high frequency (fast) speed waves make high pitched sounds... still following??

This explains how different vibrations create different pitched sounds.

3) Next, the body is full of different types of textures, densities, water levels, tissue types, functioning  levels, mass etc and thus different parts of the body create different vibrations, in turn creating different sounds. (You'd need an excellent set of headphones to hear them but vibrations still do make sounds whether you can hear them or not!)

4) The main 'vibrational headquarters' of the body are called chakras - there are 7 major ones and each of these chakras create their own very distinct sound. Usually when we see pictures of the chakras it's in colourful illustrations (see above and below left), as opposed to scientific-looking text book like diagrams (see below right), which is why of lot of folks instantly think "airy, fairy, hippy, crunchy, earth mama" instead of "wow - it really is basic science"!

5) When we produce the sound 'AH', (as in poke out your tongue and say....), we are creating a sound wave that matches the sound wave of the heart chakra (the vibrational mass that happens where your heart is.

And THAT is why "AH" is a vibration of the heart chakra!

One of the great things about having this knowledge (now that you do) is how simple it is to use it to benefit your own health well-being. Unfortunately, however, in a bid to keep my posts short so I continue to do them, that, my OMMG friends, is a topic for next time :)

Stay tuned...