My Personal Yoga & Singing Journey
Welcome to Body Heart Voice, I'm Liesl McPherrin. I am a classically trained singer, professionally performing in opera and choral music, as well as a voice teacher & choir director. I earned my Bachelor of Music at San Francisco State University and Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance at Westminster Choir College. I began my yoga journey at San Francisco State - taking Hatha Yoga, KIN 136! But the real path to understanding and integrating yoga as part of my life was during my years of study at Westminster Choir College in New Jersey. During my master's program, I was finding that I had a lot of health problems related to too much anxiety, being overloaded with classes and pressure from competition. It wasn't until I began working on yoga with a mentor who had a yoga program for singers that I really began to understand how a regular practice and change in lifestyle could improve my singing life. Beyond college, I started taking yoga classes throughout Northern California and finding community within these studio spaces. Guidance from amazing teachers and yogis in my life lead me to want to become a yoga instructor in addition to professionally performing, teaching voice, and directing choir so I can better serve my students and music colleagues. To read more about my professional singing and conducting, you can visit LieslMcPherrin.com.
Voice science has always supported a prime physical condition for singers, but often fails to address the mental health concerns of the performer and how they affect the body. The yogic lifestyle is one that continues off the mat and helps the individual grow into a life of compassion and love for others. The lessons I've learned from dedicated asana (pose) study, trying to live by the yama and niyama principles, and learning to keep balance in my life has helped me to become a more compassionate teacher, a more dedicated student, and to be kinder to myself as a performer. I hope to help others find a sense of well-being as they perform, whether that is through voice study, learning to practice yoga or pranayama (breath exercises), or even finding mindfulness throughout daily life. Through voice lessons, my students learn the value of personal discovery and self-care, as well as a foundation in healthy technique. I actively support the voice community and learning opportunities for singers. I serve on the board of the San Francsico Bay Area Chapter for the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
The power of yoga to free the body, relax the mind, and challenge one's self with a patient but determined attitude is exactly what it takes to sing classical music. Without the willpower of the user, the desire for growth and continuous learning, we are not yogis, we are not singers. In 2019, I created a podcast for young singers pursuing a professional music career, the Operapreneur Podcast often highlights the challenges and rewards of being a singer in the modern world, and more often than not, I've found myself talking about the benefits of a yoga practice & incorporating yogic principles in the lives of singers. It was clear that this has become my mission, and that I need to help young artists overcome the fear and anxiety involved in performing so that they can truly create art with their voices.
When our bodies can express joy, fear, anger, and sadness freely, our voices can do the same. Through Asana practice and meditation, we can teach ourselves to feel deeply, express our truths, and build courage and strength to face adversity. I hope you will join me in practice and we can celebrate our singing and movement together.
Voice science has always supported a prime physical condition for singers, but often fails to address the mental health concerns of the performer and how they affect the body. The yogic lifestyle is one that continues off the mat and helps the individual grow into a life of compassion and love for others. The lessons I've learned from dedicated asana (pose) study, trying to live by the yama and niyama principles, and learning to keep balance in my life has helped me to become a more compassionate teacher, a more dedicated student, and to be kinder to myself as a performer. I hope to help others find a sense of well-being as they perform, whether that is through voice study, learning to practice yoga or pranayama (breath exercises), or even finding mindfulness throughout daily life. Through voice lessons, my students learn the value of personal discovery and self-care, as well as a foundation in healthy technique. I actively support the voice community and learning opportunities for singers. I serve on the board of the San Francsico Bay Area Chapter for the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
The power of yoga to free the body, relax the mind, and challenge one's self with a patient but determined attitude is exactly what it takes to sing classical music. Without the willpower of the user, the desire for growth and continuous learning, we are not yogis, we are not singers. In 2019, I created a podcast for young singers pursuing a professional music career, the Operapreneur Podcast often highlights the challenges and rewards of being a singer in the modern world, and more often than not, I've found myself talking about the benefits of a yoga practice & incorporating yogic principles in the lives of singers. It was clear that this has become my mission, and that I need to help young artists overcome the fear and anxiety involved in performing so that they can truly create art with their voices.
When our bodies can express joy, fear, anger, and sadness freely, our voices can do the same. Through Asana practice and meditation, we can teach ourselves to feel deeply, express our truths, and build courage and strength to face adversity. I hope you will join me in practice and we can celebrate our singing and movement together.
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