The Singing Mom’s Workout: 5 Best Exercises for Breath Control

If you’ve ever run out of air halfway through a phrase—or felt like your breath drops out under pressure—you’re not alone. Breath control is one of the first skills to fade when you take time off singing… but it’s also one of the fastest to rebuild.

These 5 singer-friendly exercises target the three keys of vocal breathwork:
💨 Deep lung expansion
🏋️‍♀️ Core + posture coordination
🧠 Mental control of airflow and onset

Need help just finding your breath? Start with our Breath Control Basics first.

1. Diaphragmatic Breathing (3–5 min/day)

How to do it:
Lie flat with a book on your belly. Inhale through the nose for 4 counts, feel the book rise. Hold 1 count, then hiss out for 8. Work up to 12.

Why it works:
Activates the lower ribs, where true breath support begins—not the shoulders.

2. Lying Leg Raises (2 sets of 10)

How to do it:
Lie flat, hands under hips. Inhale, then slowly raise both legs to 90°, exhale on a hiss as you lower them back down. Keep your back flat to the floor.

Why it works:
Strengthens the transverse abdominals that support sustained phrases.

3. Wall Sits + Hiss (2 rounds of 30 sec)

How to do it:
Slide down a wall into a 90° seated squat. Inhale through the nose, then exhale on a long, even “sss.” Keep your ribs expanded and shoulders relaxed.

Why it works:
Combines posture, core stability, and airflow metering—just like real singing.

4. Long-Distance Walking

How to do it:
Walk briskly for 15–30 minutes daily, focusing on nasal inhalation and consistent airflow on exhale. Try counting steps between inhales.

Why it works:
Builds cardio stamina and baseline breath capacity without pushing the voice.

5. Seated Sibilance Drill (“Zss-Fff-Sss”)

How to do it:
Sit tall and cycle through these sharp consonants on one long breath:
zss-fff-sss… Repeat for 30–60 sec, 2–3 times.

Why it works:
Trains consonant control and air efficiency for phrase shaping in songs.

Visual Quick-Reference

🧡 Grab the full printable checklist and demo links in our Resource Hub.

Bonus Tip: Stack with Your Warm-Up

These drills aren’t warm-ups themselves—but they make your warm-up 10× more effective. Try this flow:

1. 3 min diaphragmatic breathing

2. Vocal warm-up (use this guide)

3. Add 1–2 breath drills from above

4. Sing 🎶

FAQ

Next Steps

1. Pick 2 of these to add to your week—set a phone timer for 5 min.

2. Record a before/after of your singing—you’ll hear the difference in tone control.

3. Need a full reset? Join our 6-week Vocal Refresh Course for technique coaching, video feedback, and personalized breath strategies—learn more.

Your voice doesn’t need to fight to be heard—just supported with intention. 💪💨