Speak From Your Gut

Really.

When people say “Speak from the gut” or “Trust your gut,” they are advising their listener to trust their instinct or “inner voice.” There really is a lot of wisdom in those words, in many ways.

First, your power source for speech, air, is most effective and efficient when you allow it to sink deep down into your body. When you inhale and exhale, it is your abdomen that is moving out and in; your shoulders shouldn’t be rising, and your chest shouldn’t be getting real big. When you allow breath to drop down into your body, you are also helping to ground yourself.

We speak on exhaled breath, and since the relaxation response is triggered by long exhalations, speaking in nice fully-breathed out utterances actually keeps us calm! You will also think more clearly because you are more fully oxygenating your body and brain. If you find yourself freezing when you’re up to speak, take a nice, long exhalation to help yourself come back to the present moment.

When you imagine sound as coming from your gut, your voice will have greater depth and resonance. If you think of sound as coming from your throat or mouth, your voice will most likely sound “smaller.” It won’t have the qualities that contribute to a strong voice — one that can fill a room with your presence.

Groundedness, being relaxed, and using all of the spaces within your body for optimum vibration and resonance translate into a vocal quality of confidence and authority. You’re putting some breath behind what you’re saying. Think about it: the words “respiration, inspiration, expiration” all have the Latin word “spiritus,” meaning spirit or breath. When you don’t sound connected to your “spirit,” your voice gives the impression that you’re not fully committed to your message, believe it, or believe in yourself, or that you are holding back, unsure, or even weak.

And since we’re on the topic of word origins, the Greeks said that underneath the diaphragm was a spot called “prapidesin,” which means “under your crowded thoughts.” This, said the Greeks was the somatic seat of your intellect — the mental powers and emotions key to understanding. The connection between the brain and the gut is undeniable.

Leaning more toward the physiological side of things, did you know that the gut contains 100 million neurons, and has been called a “second brain” by researchers? It contains a complex network of neurons, neurotransmitters, and proteins that respond to stress and pleasure, much like your brain. It is the only part of the peripheral nervous system that can elect not to do the bidding of the brain or spinal cord. Your gut literally has a mind of its own. You could say that breathing down into your belly helps you draw a deeper connection to your “gut instinct.”

Maybe that’s why people who suffer from terrible anxiety or stress sometimes develop ulcers and other digestive problems. Maybe they’re not “listening to their gut” as much as they should.

Finally, if you are familiar with some forms of meditation or bodywork practices, you may be aware of the “hara,” which is located just below your navel and a few inches in. It is often described as the center of balance, as well as the “vital spirit.” Meditational practice incorporating the hara involves focusing attention on that area during breathing (the power of your speech) exercises. If you’re not familiar with it, look into it; it’s good stuff.

So, you really should speak from the gut. You’ll sound better, and chances are you’ll feel better, as well.