Issue 2: Hear from the ENO Breathe Community

We asked you if taking part in ENO Breathe inspired you to learn new skills, or try new things to help you manage your long Covid symptoms. We wanted to share these inspiring stories, and hope that they might encourage more of you to try new things – or things that you thought might not be possible. Perhaps there are some glimmers of silver linings to having long Covid!

Taking to the stage – finding my voice again: Louise

You asked if participants had been inspired to do new things after completing the programme, and I wanted to share that before doing the programme I had thought I would never sing again. Covid, and then long covid, badly affected my voice, and I found even just talking was exhausting.

Prior to getting Covid, I had been a member of a local choir (Oxford City Singers) for about 6 years, and loved it. I have never had a singing lesson in my life, and I should add that I was not a confident singer, I just really enjoyed it.

Having done the programme and the Twilight sessions I re-discovered my voice, and learnt the helpful breathing and warming up techniques for my vocal cords. I can honestly say it was transformative!  I regained my voice and felt brave enough to sing again.

This gave me the confidence to decide to sign up to sing in ‘ The Messiah from Scratch’ at the Royal Albert Hall on November 13th 2022 with some others members of my choir. I plan to find a local singing teacher to help prepare me for this. I have always wanted to learn to sing properly, and so with this event in the Autumn I intend to fulfil this personal goal!

Taking to the water – ‘Synchronised’ Swimming (think synchronised breath and movement, rather than choreographed synchronised arms and legs!): Sam

I caught Covid 19 in December 2020, and then subsequently was diagnosed with long Covid; it really was a club I didn’t want to be in. When I was first referred to the ENO programme, I must admit I was a little hesitant, however as with all things Covid, it for me was another unknown. I attend the sessions weekly and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed them, and started to see small improvements with my breathing issues. The sessions were delivered so calmly that they had a tranquil effect on me too. I have since caught Covid again December 2021, this time I was armed with my ENO breathing exercises, which helped enormously.

The sessions and the breathing work have encouraged me to learn another new skill: I have recently started swimming lessons, and this really expands my lung capacity too. The swimming lessons I have enrolled on in are at beginner level, and I am being taught the front crawl. This, for me, really needs a lot of concentration: legs, blowing bubbles, counting to 3, breathing etc.  Being able to concentrate on my breathing, and open my lungs is easier to follow due to being a part of the ENO Breathe programme. I am not sure if I would have enrolled on this activity had it not been for learning the breathing techniques.

Taking to the Piazza – finding new confidence: Hetty

Guess what? I sang with a busker at Piazza de Michelangelo overlooking Florence 2 days ago! It’s not usual to ask…..but I did!

I’ve been doing my ENO Breathe exercises on and off, and my voice, maybe my confidence, is much stronger!!