Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Gross.
Hi Heather, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Thank you for having me!
Throughout my entire life, singing and performing have played a significant role. My voice has always been a source of joy, passion, expression, and love. Whenever I was around, there would be humming, creating harmonies, or breaking out into song and dance at any moment. I have always loved telling stories through songs.
Ever since I was a young child, I have been fascinated by the human voice. In my voice lessons, I would ask about the physiology of the voice and how to best care for my instrument. I have always viewed the voice as a reflection of our whole, authentic selves.
My vocal journey began at a young age. As a child, I struggled with projecting my voice. No matter how hard I pushed my voice out, it was never loud enough for a lead role. I remember feeling so frustrated because all I wanted was to be heard. I made it my life’s mission to study the voice and learn how to increase my volume in a healthy, efficient way. After years of vocal training and learning to love and connect to my voice, I made my way from the back of the stage to the front and center. I could finally be heard.
Throughout my vocal journey, I learned about the different roles our voices can play. As a performer, the voice primarily served as a source of expression, communication, art, music, connection, and laughter. However, when my voice became silenced, I would learn that the voice, first and foremost, serves a critical purpose for survival. It serves as a protective mechanism.
When the voice becomes locked, this can lead to misalignment, disempowerment, and inauthenticity. I have lost my voice in relationships and through chronic illness. I suffered from a traumatic experience where my voice literally would not turn on. By losing my voice, I lost my authentic self. I lost my sense of empowerment. Through a long road of vocal and whole-person wellness recovery, I learned techniques to tune into my inner voice, heal my nervous system, and live a life filled with passion, resilience, and joy. If you can relate to my story, know that your authentic voice is already inside you.
Flash forward to today, I am an integrative and holistic voice therapist, voice teacher, and wellness coach. I help humans access their authentic voice by exploring the connection between mind, body and voice. In addition, I have created my own unique approach to help singers and speakers find and free their voices!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I started Live Vocally, my virtual voice practice, in 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic. It was actually a good time to start a virtual company since most people didn’t feel comfortable taking voice lessons in person at the time. My vocal studio has been an integration of all of my passions, from voice to the mind-body connection to transformational coaching. As a result, I have had the opportunity to connect with soul-aligned clients waiting to connect with their voices. Helping clients unlock their true voices has been magical, and it is my deepest privilege to be able to witness their transformations.
As far as my own vocal and health journey, it definitely has not been a smooth road. Throughout the pandemic, I navigated some pretty complex medical issues, which I stayed silent about for a long time. Keeping my voice down, hiding my invisible disability, and ignoring my symptoms led to severe vocal tension. Having debilitating symptoms and being told there was nothing wrong, I had no choice but to return to the practice of finding my voice. I had this inner knowing that not only were all of my symptoms connected but that I had the capacity to heal. I had to listen to the voice of my body. When I began to share my story, my voice opened up again! That tense, locked feeling in my throat finally released. When I started to heal myself, my voice became whole again. My health journey has inspired me to empower others to listen to their own voice and to continue to advocate for themselves. I believe it is a human right to live vocally and fully.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an integrative voice therapist, voice teacher, and wellness coach! I offer individual and group voice lessons. All lessons are gender-affirming and trauma-informed. I work with a diverse range of clients and aim to create an affirming and positive space for individuals to step into their full, authentic selves.
I have had clients compare the feeling of finding their voice to the feeling of flying. By freeing the voice from within, the person behind the voice is freed. I have created an approach that combines vocal pedagogy, breathwork, mindfulness, somatic techniques, transformational life coaching, and movement to help individuals get in touch with their inner voice, access their authentic voice, and become vocally empowered. To live vocally means to find a voice that you love. To live vocally is to say: “I feel heard.” “My voice matters.” “I love my voice.” “I truly love and accept my voice.”
My mission is to help millions of people love their voices.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I would not be the voice therapist and coach I am today without my voice mentors. It has been a blessing to be able to study with the world’s most brilliant vocal pedagogues and voice scientists, including, but not limited to, Betty and Jim DeMonic, Timothy Walton, Dr. Sarah Hoover, Millicent Scarlett, Dr. Jeanne Goffi-Fynn, Dr. Ingo Titze, Dr. Aaron Ziegler, Shauna Fallihee, and Heather Lyle to name a few!
Thank you, Eryn Gitelis, for being a cheerleader and supporting me and my business.
Thank you, Amanda Rogers, my life and writing coach, for inspiring me to share my story with the world.
Thank you to my healers for helping me find my way back to wellness. You have saved my life.
I cannot thank my family and friends enough. Every resilient journey requires a strong support system.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to my support system for giving me a voice.
Contact Info:
- Website: livevocally.com
- Instagram: @live_vocally
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Brett Roell
