In this pandemic era, our breath has become extremely important to protect. The wearing of masks; being conscious of other people’s breath and what that breath can carry; the quality of air in terms of pollution – we think about what we inhale a lot more than we used to.
But we don't often think about the quality of our breath – not just what we breathe, but how we breathe.
Our bodies are so incredible that we breathe by complex automated mechanisms rather than having to consciously do so. However, when are on auto-pilot all the time we miss out on the power that conscious breath can have.
This is why we breathe with our yoga poses.
[This excerpt is taken from the course ’ Yoga for Pianists’ find out more about this course here.]
Anyone can go through yoga poses in order to tone and stretch the body, or to keep physically fit, but without connecting the mind and breath to those poses they miss out on the additional benefits:
Breathing helps us to move better and further - helping the body to relax while reaching farther.
Breathing helps us to feel emotion more deeply and keep more in tune with what is happening in our bodies.
Breathing helps us to avoid injury caused by over-stretching, or unconscious movement (not thinking about how we move).
Breathing increases our circulation.
Breathing calms the nervous system.
Breathing regenerates the organs, including lowering heart-rate.
Breathing cultivates balance in the hormones.
These benefits aren't just from the usual unconscious breath, but from inhaling and exhaling rhythmically - something us musicians are predisposed to do!
Try this quick 'box' breathing exercise:
breathing in fully for 4 seconds,
hold for 2 seconds,
breathe out steadily for 4 seconds,
and hold for 2 seconds.
Here’s another exercise called 'Alternate nostril breathing’:
Sit in a comfortable position with your legs crossed.
Lift your right hand up toward your nose.
Exhale completely and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril.
Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your pinky finger on the same hand.
Open the right nostril and exhale through this side.
Inhale through the right nostril and then close this nostril with the thumb again.
Open the left nostril and exhale through the left side.
This is one cycle.
Continue for up to 5 minutes – if you begin to feel light-headed stop the exercise and breathe normally.
Always complete the practice by finishing with an exhale on the left side.
There are many ways to breathe in yoga - we call conscious breathing in yoga 'pranayama' - it gets very geeky! But as long as you are taking time each day to focus solely on your breathing in some form - even for 5 minutes, your body and mind will feel better for it.
Listen to this relaxing piano track - composed for the Yoga for Pianists soundtrack:
Adding to the breath
Breathing alone can calm your nervous system - but breathing in conjunction with the poses of yoga and with regular meditation as well, can bring about a whole new level of calm, that you may not have experienced in a while.
As I was putting the videos of the course ‘Yoga for Pianists’ together, I realised that yoga isn't the whole picture for my journey to recovery.
In fact, it has been a combination of meditation, mindset, journalling, breath-work and yoga that has combined to relax my body, but also my mind. I have struggled with anxiety most my life and until I harnessed these tools I hadn't been able to manage it fully (at least not healthily!).
I'm also very aware of how trendy it all is – and yes, I may have gotten swept up in the fervour of this yoga-obsessed town I live in (Raglan, New Zealand), but I also know how to buck a trend when it doesn't suit me, and certainly loathe to follow hype without personal experience.
Relieve tension in the body & mind with Yoga for Pianists – created especially for pianists by a professional yoga instructor.
But I can honestly say that the tools that Bexie and I are sharing in this course have helped me, and her, and many other people - I'm sure they will help you too.
Breathe deeply and lusciously!
