Yoga for Musicians:
The benefits of a daily yoga practice
—Jesse Stacken


Benefits of Yoga:
Physical Condition
Improved physical condition is just the beginning of the benefits of a yoga practice. When I first began practicing, I noticed how little I knew my own body. I really didn’t know where my limbs were in space without the use of my eyes, or that I was tensing or relaxing certain muscles. But simply spending an hour a day concentrating on my body quickly built awareness, and it keeps growing stronger today. This can come in handy for musicians, as we often spend hours a day playing our instruments. Poor posture and unnecessary muscle tension lead to problems such as back or neck aches, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. These have forced many musicians to quit or completely relearn the physical aspects of playing their instrument. Because a practitioner of yoga spends a lot of time “listening” to his or her own body, he or she becomes more aware of potential problems arising, and knows how to correct them. I myself used to suffer from neck pain while practicing. That pain disappeared after a few months of practicing yoga. I believe it is because I’ve gained greater awareness to know when I’m slouching, and I now avoid it as much as possible. And I’m sure it helps that the area gets a thorough stretch and a fresh supply of blood each day.

That brings me to another benefit of a yoga practice that can be of great use to musicians: improved circulation. In his most famous book, Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar explains how to properly practice hundreds of asanas, and then lists the benefits of correct practice of them. In many of the descriptions of the benefits of each pose, Iyengar explains that a certain area of the body benefits from better circulation. Here’s a part of what he says for Salamba Sarvangasana (supported shoulder stand):

Since the body is inverted the venous blood flows to the heart without any strain by force of gravity. Healthy blood is allowed to circulate around the neck and chest. As a result, persons suffering from breathlessness, palpitation, asthma, bronchitis, and throat ailments get relief. As the head remains firm in this inverted position, and the supply of blood to it is regulated by the firm chin lock, the nerves are soothed and headaches – even chronic ones – disappear.