There is a moment of ‘no-movement’ of air at the top of the breath when your air current transfers from an ​inhale to and exhale. ​

This place of no breath motion is called, “Stillness”.  

The ‘still point’ has a clear sensation inside of the body. You may not have noticed it before. But when you slow the breathing cycle and focus upon the place between the inhale and the exhale, the sensation of stillness become apparent.

It is the split second when you can detect the change in air direction.

The "Still point," is a hidden point of secret power for your voice. Here, you will suspend motion of the breath, unwind tension and initiate important vocal movements. 

Breath stillness is as important as the inhale and exhale. 

- Zero Point - One specific sensation - Your breath is moving neither in nor out of your nose. 

Stillness is a specific, clear sensation where your breath current is NOT moving. When you study voice, many things happen at once. The air moves in different parts of your body. You could easily become confused.

However, these three important states: inhale, exhale and stillness are the most important signals. Once you know just these three stages, everything else becomes far less important.  

You will be able to gain control and certainty of your breath with a few simple questions: 

- Is my breath still or in motion?  

- Is my larynx relaxed?  

- Direction? Is air moving into or out of my nose and vocal core?

You will make specific vocal movements ​​AFTER you determine that your breath is still. ​​

​​​A stillness, the point of no movement of your breathing cycle, ​you will engage specific breathing techniques.

​Much like the gears of a motor, you can't move directly from one gear to another unless you dis-engage the previous gear. You must get to 'neutral' before you can switch.

The same is true for voice breathing. The breath must be still before the next gear, or technique can engage.

You don't need to make any special effort in your larynx or throat to "Still" the motion of the breath.

This is not a new skill to you. In fact, you do it all the time without knowing it. Now we are just bringing it into your conscious awareness. 

​Simply inhale to a comfortable full level of air and and observe the place at the top of the inhale where the inhale shifts to an exhale.  Between the inhale and exhale you will detect the still point; a moment of no air motion, of stillness, between the breaths.

​The larynx ​remains completely ​at rest. Your breath is silent. 

Simply think, “Still” and then ​notice how your larynx can remain at rest. And ​your body naturally takes care of the rest. There is no extra effort.

​

​​​​The top of the breath​ is the most common place ​where we engage tension. (And we ​​​usually don't even know we're doing so.)

​This throat closing motion ​causes​ vocal damage, deadens ​voice tone, and limits​ high and low ​pitches. ​

​Your ultimate training goal is to maintain an open, relaxed throat and larynx.

Preparation:

-  Home position.

- Establish an easy, comfortable, cycle of breath.

-  Inhale all the way to Comfortable Full to establish a volume mark.

Exercise:

1. Still the breath at Comfortable Full.
2. All parts of the vocal core remain at rest at the still point at the top of your breath. Check the larynx and throat that they remain in their resting positions.
   
3. Notice if you make a sound when you begin the exhale. A noise in your larynx means that you have unconsciously closed your throat at the top of your breath. 
4. Begin the next inhale slowly with your throat open and relaxed. Your full attention is trained upon on your larynx.
5. Notice how you can inhale to a comfortable level of breath, then "Still" the motion of your air at the top of the breath and exhale without sound or motion in the larynx.
6. Play with the space at the top of the breath: end of the inhale where the breath comes to a still point.