Sydney is a singer and a yoga practitioner…
The idea for the logo for Sing Speak Swallow was born out of Sydney’s passion for yoga. With a primary focus on voice and laryngeal disorders, Sydney designed a logo adapted from Vishuddha (throat chakra), the fifth chakra in the spiritual energy system, and the anatomical structure of the vocal folds.
Vishuddha is located at the base of the throat and is represented by a downward pointing triangle containing a circle. Its symbolic element is space or ether, and it’s color is blue. Vishuddha acts as the body’s communication center. A balanced throat chakra is thought to open the energetic channel for clear communication, truthful/authentic expression, creative flow, confidence, self-empowerment, wisdom, discernment, and understanding others. A blocked throat chakra is thought to lead to difficulty in communication, inhibited creativity, disharmonious relationships, fear of judgment, feeling silenced, and struggling to express oneself. Vishuddha is associated with the throat, tongue, lips, cheeks, jaw, ears, back of the neck, and shoulders—all anatomical parts that relate to communication and speech therapy!
The vocal folds (vocal cords) are two bands of muscle tissue overlaid with flexible tissue that sit at the top of the airway in the larynx (voice box). When the focal folds are brought together, and air passes from the lungs up through the larynx, the vocal folds vibrate to produce sound. They form a “V” shape (much like a downward pointing triangle!) when viewed from above. The open airway below the vocal folds resembles a circle (much like the circle depicted in the throat chakra!) While named for their ability to create voice, vocal folds also play a critical role in protecting the airway during swallowing.
The parallels between Vishuddha and vocal anatomy were clear., and the three alliterative words in the practice name fit so nicely on the edges of a triangle!