Exercises for Strengthening Vocal Cords - Shabbat
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Question
Exercise is not performed on Shabbat; are vocal exercises for strengthening the vocal cords also prohibited?
Answer
Hello
The sages prohibited taking medicine on Shabbat, lest one grind ingredients for this purpose.
They further decreed that one should not perform treatments that do not involve grinding ingredients, as a precaution against treatments that do involve the prohibition. For example, one should not perform actions on the body to induce vomiting, as there are medicines that facilitate this.
However, this applies only to issues for which medicines can be made. In such cases, they decreed a prohibition on treatments without medicines, lest one make medicines.
But for issues that have no solution in medicines, they did not decree a prohibition on treatments without medicine.
Therefore, regular 'exercise' aimed at strengthening the body and warming it is prohibited, as there are types of medicines that help with this.
But exercise for the mouth muscles, for which there is no 'medicine' involving grinding and crushing ingredients, is not prohibited.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Laws of Shabbat, Siman 328, Section 42
One should not engage in exercise, which means pressing on the body with force to become tired and sweat; and it is forbidden to press a child's belly to cause excretion.
Section 43
It is permitted to place a hot cup on the navel and lift it, and to lift ears either by hand or with a tool; and to lift an onkali, which is the earlobe bent inward, as none of these are done with ingredients that we should be concerned about grinding, and they cause discomfort.