Simply Beauty: Singing Your Way to Better Posture with Dee Dee MahMood and Tang Music Box

When you look into the mirror during a stressful period, the reflection generally reveals tension and tiredness emphasised by dull and tired skin due to lack of rest and sometimes unhappiness. Take a hint from your singing pals as they know the secret to relieving stress and restoring a smile on the face.

Simply Beauty catches up with fitness expert and 2012 & 2013 Singapore Fitness Ambassador for REEBOK, Dee Dee Mahmood on how a karaoke session can help further improve our beauty in the area of better posture, improved breathing and possibly a svelte figure through some weight loss. A credentialed and accredited multi-award winning exercise physiologist, nutritionist, national celebrity fitness trainer and TV presenter, Dee Dee is also International Sports Academy/United States Sports Academy/American Council of Exercise Sports Science Lecturer. Hence what Dee Dee has to say is worth taking heed.

Simply Beauty (SB) How can a karaoke session help de-stress?

Dee Dee: When stressed, breathing is shallow and from the chest. These breaths also come in droves with chest heaving. However, when singing, we use abdominal muscles for a more powerful voice and better stamina in holding a tune, instead of our voice box as many do. In fact, when proper singing technique is employed, voice is projected from the belly as abdominal muscles and deep breathing work together. This explains how “bellowing” or “throwing our voice across the room” (a.k.a. voice projection here) encourages the usage of deep abdominal muscles. And the act of breathing deeply is de-stressing.

SB: How does the use of abdominal muscles when singing work in improving posture?

Dee Dee: The benefits of using the abdominal muscles goes beyond our’s singing to also improve posture and hence overall appearance. The transverse abdominis, a set of muscles in the abdomen is very important in respiration, and is probably instrumental in forced exhalation during singing. By sucking in your tummy and holding it there, the external obliques (aka waist muscles) create pressure in the abdomen and chest, essential for forced expiration. This allows the distention of the belly to relax the abdominal area and hence highlight the action of the diaphragm, making it more easily felt. Not only are we improving our singing capability, we are also working our lung capacity when we hold our breath. By working on this set of muscles, we will probably develop core and abdominal muscles, and reduce back pain. Incidentally, the transverse abdominis is the same set of inner abdominal muscles needed when carrying heavy items, for back support, aid in proper posture, and help with deep breathing when lifting heavy items and in childbirth. Considering the long list of activities that require this set of muscles, the transverse abdominis is however, the least trained even in abdominal exercises. Singing is perhaps the easiest and most convenient way to strengthen the transverse abdominis and hence the core muscles, by doing what you love: sing.

The intercostal muscles can get a very good workout when proper diaphragmatic breathing technique is employed while singing, and when a singer's endurance is being tested. These are the muscles enveloping the outside and inside of the ribcage. The quadratus lumborum serves as the equivalent muscle of exhalation to the abdominal muscles found in front. Thus indirectly, we are also working the back muscles while singing!

Even when we attempt to hold our highest pitch for the longest time, we is engaging our pelvic muscles. Well, that’s really good Keigel exercises for ladies!

What else helps improve our singing?

Dee Dee: Our body is an instrument when singing. By standing upright, and throwing back our shoulders, we allow our lungs and ribcage to expand easily when we sing. Doing so also enhances breath and structural support, and we’ll find that our voice is projected better and we can hold our note better too. Slouching, on the other hand, hinders breathing and thus singing.

Can singing help us to lose weight or tone up?

Dee Dee: Remember, when they say - you tone your belly while doing belly dancing? Well, we strengthen our core muscles when we sing! And core muscles are important as it is the foundation to a healthier, fitter body. Incidentally, possessing a set of strong core muscles is half the battle won in weight loss. Other than that, stronger core muscles enable a person to adapt to all other exercises easily and reduce risk of injuries.

One area of work out is the jaw area. When we practice proper diction in singing drills! So sing your “a”, “e”, “I”, “o” “u”s!

The other area of workout includes the body when singing is coupled with dancing to work the cardio. As a form of aerobic exercise, dancing helps promote fat burning. We need to be fit to sing as it needs stamina and endurance. The more we move when singing, the fitter we become and vice versa. Lateral movements of the lower body are encouraged, as is moving our hands in “stretching” positions (eg arms open wide position) encourages flexibility. The more active the movement, the more control we need to have to ensure that our singing is delivered well. And that is where the effort is for burning more calories.

As it is said the devil is in the details. How much calories can we lose in a karaoke session?

Dee Dee: The initial 10 minutes of a 20-minute singing session of a person weighing 70kg burns about 35 calories while sitting down, or 48 calories when standing. You can burn upto 200 calories in an hour of singing and of course more, if your songs are of operatic or sopranic scales!

Now where should we head to for a karaoke session?

The newest kid on the block, Tang Music Box, boasts a dynamic sound system with the latest BMB professional karaoke sound system, large TV screens, state-of-the-art KOD systems, and high-definition hit songs, and 25 exquisitely themed karaoke rooms. These features ensure clarity with minimal or no noise from feedback and mostly high definition music videos.

While singing and partying with friends at Tang Music Box, one is encouraged to tune in to the creative energy and feel the cosmopolitan vibe of the various cities as each room is tastefully designed and decorated with vibrant colours and influences drawn from Hong Kong, Old Shanghai, Colonial Architecture, New York Architecture, City Landscapes and a combination of Eastern and Western elements.

In between belting out your favourite songs, head to The Meeting Place for more snacks and drinks. There are seats where you can take breather while enjoying your snacks and have a tête-à-tête with friends. The Meeting Place, stocks a variety of craft beers, amongst many other beverages and snacks.

Here’s a list of the types of rooms available for personal friendly singing sessions or for corporate and private gatherings. The venue is great for ladies' afternoon parties, where ladies can sing out of your hearts out,, hens' parties, or upcoming seasonal holidays like Christmas and New Year celebrations!

Room Type	Number	Capacity
Mini	3	1 - 3 persons
Small	8	4 - 6 persons
Medium	8	6 - 10 persons
Large	4	10 - 15 persons
Premium	1	Up to 18 persons
Club	1	Up to 30 persons

Please call 6338 0081 or 6338 6659 for information and reservations. Rates start from $5 cover charge from 2pm to 7pm on Mondays to Thursday with a minimum spending of $40 per Mini Room booked.