If you've experienced any strain or pain as a result of playing piano – or maybe as a result of something else in your life but certainly exacerbated by playing piano, please know that it is normal!
But just because it’s normal, that doesn’t mean you have to put up with it. Stretching into those forgotten corners of the body can do wonders for your energy, motivation and creativity too!
Want to go straight to the yoga taster session? scroll to the end!
the problem for pianists
With the prevalence of sitting at a computer or watching TV, or having our heads in our handheld devices - humans are already in danger of neck craning and postural problems. From sedentary lifestyles to the influence of the colder seasons, everyone can suffer from stiffness, aches, strains and pains.
For pianists, unfortunately we can exacerbate those problems more if we don’t pay attention to our bodies. I’d had my fair share of strain & pain before I moved to Raglan about 5 years ago.
the birth of an idea
Raglan has black sand beaches with a high iron content that do a great job of ‘earthing’ or grounding your body to the natural world as you walk in bare feet. Many who come here consider it to be a place of healing.
As well as that, it’s the self-titled ‘Yoga Capital of New Zealand’.
It was here I began regularly doing yoga, going to the weekly ‘Gentle Yoga’ class with the instructor Bexie, to rehabilitate my shoulders, back and neck.
looking after your body & mind
If you don’t want to give up playing piano after a few years due to strain or pain, it’s important to put some good habits in place and look after your body!
I’ve been going to Yoga for a few years now and got talking to Bexie who co-owns The Space yoga in Raglan. Bexie helped me with my specific issues due to being a pianist and daily computer user and I’ve been much better for it.
It’s given me the tools to destress my mind & body before and sometimes after I play, so that I can have a great session and neutralise my body and avoid bad postural habits.
I now really miss yoga if I don’t do it for a few days to the point that I can’t imagine ever not doing it!
It’s given me the gift of longevity as a pianist which is a huge relief considering the thoughts I’d started to have about throwing it in, when the pain was at it’s worst.
about the ‘yoga for pianists’ course.
So I enlisted Bexie’s help to create a program specific to the needs of the pianist using some of the poses I’ve found most beneficial that targeted those problem areas. This program is called Yoga for Pianists!
This is incredibly beneficial to all pianists, no matter what your stage. Whether you’re experiencing pain like I’ve spoken about, or whether you haven’t yet - this is a program made especially for you by a piano teacher and a professional yoga instructor in partnership.
“It’s designed to be really accessible, with something for ALL bodies, in ANY space you have.”
SUITABLE FOR TOTAL BEGINNERS
It’s going to be a fun exploration of our bodies in a different way - if you’ve never tried Yoga before thats OK, if you’re not young and spritely, that’s also ok - this program is designed to be really accessible, with something for ALL bodies, in ANY space you have.
So today I’m giving you a taste of this yoga program with a little excerpt - so you can see what to expect in this course releasing soon!
This video includes a 3-minute excerpt from the mini-sequence for upper body! If you’d like to skip to the session itself it’s at 4:20.
It’s especially good as part of a regular routine - you’ll need to be seated on a chair with a back on it. Give your self some space in the room and let’s do it together!
