1. Singing for Lung Health with the BLF Dr Heather McKee

2. BLF Singing 1. Raising awareness of Singing for Lung Health 2
BLF Singing 1. Raising awareness of Singing for Lung Health 2. Creation of the BLF Singing Programme

3. Activity
27 BLF groups – 8 BLF supported groups (BE) - 41 Other SFLH groups = 76!

4. Evaluation results 3 month qualitative questionnaires:
“The experience has been amazing. Our teacher has been exceptional in trying to understand our conditions, listening to us and helping to overcome our fears with amazing results.”
“I know my lungs are getting a good work out. On a bad day both my depression and breathing feel better for it, I feel more alert and ready for the day.”
Focus Groups:
“The breathing exercises are an important part of it, you don’t normally think about it, but this makes you think.”
“I feel much more confident now; it’s nice not to feel so self-conscious.”

5. Next Steps Roll-out over 3 year programme
Continue to support and promote BLF Singing and the wider network
Continue to support and promote BLF Singing as a positive self management activity

6. Stay informed
Website:
us at:
Follow us on Twitter:
twitter.com/lunguk or
#HeatherBLF

8. Singing for Breathing – Royal Brompton Hospital, London

9. Psychological (singing) Psychosocial(singing)
Biomedical
Holistic (singing)
Psychological (singing)
Psychosocial(singing)

10. BLF Singing – Bangor, Wales

11. PHYSICAL
Relaxation
Energised
Cardiovascular
Postural realignment

12. Quotes from Participants
I can walk further before becoming breathless.
Makes me think for myself about my breathing.
I have less anxiety about attacks at night and am able to do exercises at home.

13. Sing for Better Health - Brighton

14. MENTAL
Cognitive benefits (memory & focus)
Transcends everyday reality

15. Quotes from Participants
It’s made me more alert and is good for your memory, learning the songs.
I am more confident about coping with my asthma.
I know my lungs are getting a good work out. On a bad day both my depression and breathing feel better for it, I feel more alert and ready for the day.

16. BLF Singing – Musselburgh, Scotland

17. EMOTIONAL Positive mood Reduction of stressful feelings
Builds self confidence & self esteem

18. Quotes from Participants
It lifts your spirits and you come away feeling lighter.
I suffer from clinical depression as well as COPD and the singing has helped with my mood.
I wanted to come to help improve my lung condition; it also helps with your general mood.
The classes also gave me the motivation to get out of the house, which I did not do often because of my depression.

19. Singing for Breathing – Milton Keynes

20. SOCIAL
Group bonding – contributing to a product greater than the sum of its parts

21. Quotes from Participants
…a wonderful group of people.
I have met more like-minded lovely people.
I do enjoy coming to Louise's class. Time goes by too quickly when we have fun singing.
Everyone I have met at the group is very friendly and they all love music and singing.

22. BLF Singing - Walsall

23. Sing for your Lungs – Whittington Hospital, London

25. BLF Singing – Gloucestershire

26. “Breathing can be organised to support differing demands… let your breath tell you what it wants from you” (Kristin Linklater)
“There is not one correct way to breathe, but there are common ways in which people restrict their breathing”
“Most breathing patterns are the accumulation of a lifetime’s experience and they are as familiar to us as our way of walking. The nervous system has become conditioned to repeat these patterns even when the patterns are dysfunctional” (Donna Farhi)

27. BLF Singing - Colchester

28. Quotes from Participants
By using the new breathing techniques taught, I now use these in the morning to great benefit.
This class is relaxed and they don’t make you feel silly, they’re encouraging.
Better breathing technique has helped me sleep better, with countless benefits.

29. BLF Singing – Hackney, London

30. BLF Singing - Southampton

31. Quotes from Participants
Singing gives me a chance to open my mind. Particularly singing good positive songs, lifts up your spirits.
It improves my breathing also demonstrates how much better I can control my breathing than I thought.
I normally panic with breathing so the singing and breathing truly helped.

32. BLF Singing – Cardiff, Wales

33. BLF Singing – Stoke-on-Trent

34. Quotes from Participants
I have already recommended it to 2 friends and they have joined - they like it as much as I do.
If people have lung problems they should definitely try the singing group.
It's an excellent way of judging and improving breathing ability.

35. Stay informed
Website:
us at:
Follow us on Twitter:
twitter.com/lunguk or
#HeatherBLF