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The Unofficial Newsletter 13 September 2026
Welcome
A little bit of admin:
Please do not go into the Gym until Ed or Cic have arrived. We do not want to be invading any physio sessions but more importantly and for very good health and safety reasons there must be a member of staff in the gym when anyone else is there.
A great 2nd session of the autumn term led by Ed.
We recorded the session, via an iPad. Not for public consumption I hasten to add. The sound quality is not as bad as I feared it would be. Not great but I think just listenable to and singalongable to. I hope the recordings will go some way towards meeting requests for recordings of songs as WE sing them. They are available on the new page on our website called DIY.
Just Click here to go to our new DIY page
There are YouTube links next our session tracks.
Please do let me know if these recordings are helpful, how they could be improved, do you want more of them?
SPLAT
In the warm up we had some more exploration of SPLAT - Singers Please Lose Abdominal Tension - sometimes also called Recoil Breath. I would much prefer to splat then recoil.
This is my understanding of what is going on. I trust that Ed or Cici will put me right where it's wrong. This is just my take and not based on extensive physiological research. It is not advice just my experience.
When we breathe out or sing a phrase our diaphragm contracts. To allow air back into the lungs the diaphragm must relax (loosen / release). I like to think of it as "letting go". I tried Ed's suggestion of doing this on all fours. Allowing gravity to do it's thing. It was rather revealing. What it revealed is between me and my therapist. When we release our abdominal muscles (SPLAT) at the end of an out breath our lungs cannot help but pull in new air. We will all have our own individual ways of sensing what our muscles are doing and creating images for what is happening.
I also like to do this when lying down (on my bed is my favourite place) doing a full body scan releasing muscles. As I breathe out I squeeze all the air from my lungs including squeezing my tummy muscles and then I just let go / relax / release. I make no effort to breathe in - it just happens. It's it a kinda like a splat.
This all links beautifully to the muscle isolation that Cici was talking about last week.
Anyway just some "patient experience" thoughts on SPLATing.
Provisional Christmas Concert Dates:
Carols at Pond Square Chapel
27 November evening.
Whittington Charity Christmas Market (Christmas Lights)
9 December Afternoon.
People are talking about us.
It appears that Singing for Your Lungs is developing it's presence within the hospital.
Sarah from the charity is coming to see us this Thursday 17th.
Tea and Scandal
Kenwood House
Tuesday 22 September for 2pm
Thank you everyone who let me know when they could come. Everyone how replied could do the 22nd.
Weather looking good
Entrance to Kenwood House is free!
More to follow in next newsletter ...
ARCHIVED NOTICE BOARD
From the Parish Notice Board 11 September
Sing for Your Lungs Unofficial Parish Newsletter 4 Sept 2026
As we gathered yesterday in the gym it was as though a scattered People were emerging from the haze of the summer. As they took their seats, looking around to see who was there, who wasn’t, greeting new arrivals. It was breakfast in The Traitors. Claudia gave us good news, no one had been murdered, those missing had shields and been allowed to sleep in and would be joining us next week.
The problem with this image is that there are no traitors and while Cici makes a great Claudia she doesn’t set us impossible challenges. The bars of gold being replaced by improved lung functioning.
The Session:
Cici took us through the warm upmmmmms and shhhhhs and vssssss seamlessly taking us into Moon River and the spirit of Aubrey was with us. We really stretched the longer phrases. We focussed on muscle isolation. So we can SPLAT and breathe without bringing in lots of unnecessary muscle activity and tension which can get in the way of our breathing and use unnecessary energy and oxygen.
This weeks songs where:
- Moon River
- Mambo Italiano Dean Martin and Rosemary Clooney: Great fun and challenging. Phrasing and tongue twisting lyrics - have a listen and get those tongue twister under your belt.
- Nickels and Dimes Dolly Parton: Celebrating the late Dolly who in this song gives thanks to the people who supported her in her pre-fame days.
- We are the Song by Trixi Field. We did a rather dodgy iphone recording. It may be dodgy, but I don’t want to be judgemental and have posted in our song library - I will have another go at recording this song and maybe others. Do let me know if you have any thoughts.
Click here to go to our Song Library
Social:
Kenwood House remains a fav option for a group visit with a meal.
The Crown Pub at the top of Highgate was suggested - looks very promising.
We are now looking for days and times. Should we go on a day that is not a Thursday? We could go after a Thursday singing session. I wonder if that would make for a very long afternoon. Would that be a good thing?
Tea and Scandal rumours:
I heard that one of our members may be starting this new medication, suggested by their consultant. Click here to read about the Dupilumab trial
General News:
There was a general air of positivity to postponing concerts to enable time for everyone to prepare for possibly 2 Christmas presentations.
We look forward to continuing building our liaison with the Charity. Sarah Davis (fund raising officer) has said she will be joining us this Thursday the 10th, all things being equal. It get the sense that this is all good news about developments.
Click here to see a short video about the hopes of Asthma Lung UK
and here for an Asthma & Lung UK update.
Curtesy of Catherine Bazzell
Unofficial Parish Newsletter 25 August 2026
I hope you are all enjoying the cooler or not so hot weather.
The group meal at Mosaic on the hottest day of the year was cool in the air conditioned restaurant.
There is an idea of afternoon tea at Kenwood House for our next outing. Beautiful surroundings - step free and accessible. We will chew on it at tea and scandal after the session with Cici when we return on Thursday, 3 September.
I met with Sarah and Katherine from the charity. It was a very positive meeting and I think all of us developed a better understanding of the overall picture, which is good.
They are looking to develop things along with the respiratory team. There was an acknowledgement that with a few of the movers and shakers leaving Sing for Your Lungs, the charity and the respiratory team, there has been a loss of corporate memory and a need to understand and communicate and share processes.
The Charity would clearly like to increase our presence in their fund raising and raising awareness of Sing for Your Lungs. To this end they are hoping that we will be able to do a presentation / concert at the Christmas Fair and the carol concert. Something I am sure we will support and enjoy. To allow for good preparation for this Sarah and Katherine suggested that, if we were ok with it, we do not do the foyer presentation at the end of September. I said that while there would be some disappointment and I was sure that we would want the charity to have the time to organise and bring us along into what appears to be a new era.
I will feedback on my meeting with South Islington Primary Care Network (02/09/26) in the next newsletter.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish Selina all the best for her move to live with her niece in France. She always brought colour and vibrancy to the group. She has been missed and will continue to be missed.
In the meantime - enjoy your gentle daily Shhhhhhs Mmmmms Vvvvvvvs and, of course, blow fishing Can’t Help Falling in love.
Damian
I thought I would share two positive articles on air pollution and children's lung health. To be posted on the website.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/18/ulez-better-lung-size-function-london-children
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1l1r1zne1ro
Events listed here and the material used to promote them are not officially posted for or on behalf of the organisers and may be subject to change.
A little feedback on COPD event.
It was great to see so many people attend this community health event including 8 of us. Ed took us through warm ups including his passion for the whinge and sang My Girl, The Temptations finishing with a calming Neesa Nessa. He appeared to be taking details from quite a few people expressing an interest. Air conditioning kept us cool at 23C with cold water, drinks and fruits on hand, keeping us well hydrated.
Please note - Times for this event have changed: They are now to 10:30 -12:30
08 July 26 10:30 to 12:30: with Ed
Arsenal Hub, 56 Benwell Road N7 7BA 10:30 - 12:30
Not 10:00 to 12:00 as on the flyer
COPD EVENT
Ed has been invited to run / demonstrate his work at a COPD awareness event at The Arsenal Hub 56 Benwell Road, London, N7 7BA, on 8th July 10:30-12:30pm.
He would love us to join him as he said “It would be amazing to have some 'professionals' there and I'm sure the event will be brilliant.”
AND we can get hold of some information about what is available to support our own health
Parish Notice Board
Click on notices to see full notice
The Unofficial Sing for Your Lungs Parish Newsletter
20 September 2026
A great 3rd session of the autumn term led by Cici.
I perceived a focus on developing lung strength using "fricatives.
Fricative consonants force air through a narrow gap, building lung strength.
Shhhhhh Vssssss Chhhhhhhh ....
and muscle isolation - being able to SPLAT without using our shoulders
Just my perception
Charity News
It was great to see Sarah Davis, fund raising officer.
We discussed regular donations
Suggestions ranged from £5 to £10
No requirement to make donations
see our charity news page for more details
Sarah confirmed the Christmas concert dates
Christmas Concert Dates:
Carols at Pond Square Chapel
27 November evening.
Whittington Charity Christmas Market (Christmas Lights)
9 December Afternoon.
Tea and Scandal
Come along to
Kenwood House
Tuesday 22 September for 2pm
Entrance to Kenwood House is free!
Weather looking good
