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Yoga for Musicians:
The benefits of a daily yoga practice
—Jesse Stacken
Benefits of Yoga: Relaxation
So far I’ve been writing about physical benefits of a yoga practice. These are the most obvious to the average person. However, there are several other ways that yoga can help people—especially musicians. Certain asanas have an energizing effect when performed correctly and for a certain length of time. For example, one of the most popular energizing poses is Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog pose). In Light on Yoga, Iyengar says, “When one is exhausted, a longer stay in this pose removes fatigue and brings back the lost energy.” I’ve found this pose to be very helpful during a long practice session. If I feel tired, I’ll take a short break and do the pose. After a couple of minutes my arms will be a bit tired, but that feeling quickly dissipates and is replaced with a relaxed energy. I find I can focus much better afterward, and it only takes a minute or two. The alternative is making a cup of coffee, which takes more time away from practicing and I find to be a much harsher energy, which usually ends in a crash.
On the contrary, certain poses can be calming and relaxing. These poses are great for dealing with performance anxiety or any feelings of nervousness. My favorite of these poses is Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend). Iyengar explains the effects of this pose: “Any depression felt in the mind is removed if one holds the pose for two minutes of more. The posture is a boon to people who get excited quickly, as it soothes the brain cells. After finishing the asana, one feels calm and cool, the eyes start to glow and the mind feels at peace.” The pose is easy to do anywhere. I practice it often before performances, or any time I’m feeling anxious. If I have trouble falling asleep, I get up and do Uttanasana for five minutes or so. When I go back to bed, I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow!
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In addition to energizing or calming, the practice of yoga can help focus and concentration. I notice this benefit most when I finish a nice long sequence of asanas. I usually practice first thing in the morning, and yoga seems to set me up for a productive day. I find it is the balancing asanas, such as Vrksasana (Tree pose), that help with concentration, simply because I need to have intense focus in order not to fall down. When I practice Vrksasana, I am often paying close attention to the foot that is on the floor—feeling for changes in pressure on the ball of the foot, or the heel or the right or left side of the foot, which could cause a loss of balance. I am often making frequent adjustments for this reason. Other times the balance is much easier. Also, a good instructor gives detailed directions for each pose, usually involving the action of a body part that can be easily forgotten. This also brings concentration and focus to a practitioner. For example, when practicing Uttanasana properly the back of the knee is fully open; the knee is not bent at all. At this point in my practice, if my focus drifts from the back of my knee, it will lose its full stretch. My attention returns to the knee to find it slightly bent, which I then must correct. Musicians are required to have intense focus, whether it be practicing a solo piece or performing in an ensemble. I’ve found these two ways of exercising my concentration to help a great deal. I feel much more focused nowadays than I did years ago, and I’ve learned that careful, focused work is much more valuable than its opposite.
Next page: Benefits of Yoga, part 3 |
