How to Master Natural Breathing for Public Speaking?

Breathing is the unspoken ally of public speaking success. Have you ever considered the importance of your breath in connection with your public speaking skills? Well, you may be surprised when you learn just how much your breathing is in control, or not, when you are speaking in front of an audience.

Your breath is the foundation for all good public speaking, and incorrect breathing will have a detrimental effect on your ability to share a confident, clear, compelling message.

Think about it—if your breathing is restricted during public speaking, you will feel tight. When you feel tight, your actions, thoughts, and flow will be constricted. A sure sign of this type of tension, which can negatively impact public speaking, is seen in shallow breathing when the breath is limited to only the upper chest, leading to shortness of breath when speaking, a weak voice, lack of control of nerves, inability to stay clear on your topic, and often speaking too fast without pausing and pacing.

Our breathing changes as we move through life, being influenced by stress, illness, bad habits, or the desire to hold the stomach in for vanity purposes. But limiting our breath intake can be detrimental, not just to our physical health but also to our overall well-being.

People who have shallow breaths are trapped in a bubble that hinders the emotional expression and interpersonal connections vital for public speaking. It can restrict a person’s personal growth and, importantly, compromise the strength and clarity of their public speaking voice. A topic I dive into in more depth in an upcoming blog on vocal technique for public speakers.

How to reconnect with your intrinsic breathing pattern for better public speaking:

I say how to reconnect because there was once a time when you did breathe naturally and intrinsically—when you were a baby. No one taught you how to breathe correctly; it was natural.

To be an impactful public speaker, you need to reconnect with that natural way of breathing and master the art of diaphragmatic breathing. The diaphragm is a muscle situated under your lungs and at the bottom of your rib cage. When you inhale, this muscle will expand from being an upside-down bowl shape to expanding downwards to resemble more the shape of a flat plate.

This makes room for your lungs to expand deeply. It may also feel like your abdominal organs are being pushed outward, making the belly expand slightly outwards. When you then exhale, your diaphragm will slowly push upwards, as it returns to its relaxed position, putting pressure on your lungs to exhale the air with continued pressure and causing your stomach to return to its flat position. This is the perfect way to breathe when you are public speaking.

It's like watching a balloon inflate and deflate. Just watch a baby when they are sleeping or even better when they are crying. Their stomach will become firm to get their voice heard, but when they need to breathe again, their stomachs will expand as they inhale extremely deeply.

If you are shallow breathing when public speaking, you will feel the opposite. Your chest will lift when you breathe in, and you will not feel any expansion into your abdomen. You may feel light-headed, short of breath, and weak as a public speaker.

Start by lying down on a flat surface and put a book on your stomach. Observe, does the book rise and fall with the inhale and exhale of your breath?

Does your stomach expand with the inhale and contract with the exhale?

If yes, all good, but if not, and it contracts during the inhale, your breathing pattern is reversed. While this won’t be particularly harmful to your health, it will limit your lung capacity and leave you under-oxygenated… especially during an important public speaking opportunity.

The Benefits of Correct Breathing

Correct breathing will offer so many benefits in your public speaking. It will keep your brain oxygenated, helping you to stay clear and focused in your thoughts. It will give your voice the power it needs to be strong, clear, and energised. It will help you to remain calm in the moment when nerves start to take over. It can even help to contribute to the power of your message, by helping you pace your content better and highlight certain words and phrases.

Overall, using diaphragmatic breathing in your public speaking will fortify your presence and eloquence as a speaker.

Think of your voice as a mirror to your soul;
it reflects who you are.

I work with a diverse range of clients, from executives to leaders, entrepreneurs to coaches. I'm always seeking ways to empower them to use their voices with intention. There’s no universal solution, but finding the right vocal tone and presence for each moment can create a significant impact and bring energy to interactions.

i have a true sense of purpose and accomplishment when a client truly finds their voice. If you're interested in learning more about vocal coaching for speaking and how it can benefit you, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] or send me a direct message here on LinkedIn.