Question:
I am 21 years old and have loved to sing from childhood. Last year I went to a weight lifting gym (body building) and exercised for almost 8 months. I now find I can’t sing the way I did before. My voice is hoarse. I am really worried about it and want to sing again the way I did before.
Answer:
One often grips the voice when lifting something heavy because it stabilizes the torso. If there is a grunt released it could strain the vocal folds. Also, if you took any hormones, this will also change the vocal folds and that can be irreversible.
The first thing to do is to see a laryngologist and determine the condition of the vocal cords. The next thing is to work with a good voice teacher or coach to develop a technique that can retrain the vocal cords and restore flexibility.
In general, extreme weight training and voice work do not go together well. Light weight lifting with mindful vocal release can develop the body to improve support and do no harm.