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For the past 2 years I have been exercising on a regular basis at a gym. Doing cardio exercises like running, pushups, jumping air squats, etc. I have noticed that these exercises have impacted my guitar playing when bringing more intensity to my sound or when playing faster tempos. However, I have also noticed that I'm lacking fluid and smoothness, on my guitar playing. Most likely because of tension.
I decided to google my concern and found the following article from Guitar World.
RE: Yoga Can Improve Your Guitar Pla... (in reply to 31special)
The author of the article seems to suggest that, through yoga, he learned how to be more aware of his body while playing. I don't know how he learned the guitar, but any teacher worth his salt will tell his students to try and be aware of movement, tension points, etc. so it strikes me as odd that he somehow wasn't paying attention to these things before practicing yoga. Part of the reason slow practice is good is precisely for that: to have time to pay attention to what is happening. If the issue is tension, then sure getting more flexibility could help, but I find a lot of people overestimate the benefits of "gym yoga" compared to a simple stretching regimen (if done correctly...). But if the issue is tension, eating better, sorting out personal issues, exercise, adapting a better posture at work etc. can all help. I would do yoga if you're generally interested and you think it can benefit you in general, but I wouldn't do it just for guitar.
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RE: Yoga Can Improve Your Guitar Pla... (in reply to 31special)
quote:
ORIGINAL: 31special Does anyone here at the foro flamenco practice guitar along with yoga?
I was doing Ashtanga yoga for a bit. The main benefit I found was in the hamstrings. I asked the teacher about hand stretches, because there was fairly little hand stuff other than pushing palms together in prayer style a little. Her advice was to really splay out the fingers as much as possible when the hands are in contact with the floor. The results were pretty good.
I can confirm from personal experience that yoga is much better for your guitar playing than rock climbing - but unfortunatlely I suffer from bi-polar disorder with that one
I have found light swimming can help remove excess tension from hands.
This video has been very useful helping me get my guitar playing back in shape after a summer of finger abuse
RE: Yoga Can Improve Your Guitar Pla... (in reply to 31special)
Convinced yoga practioners always suggest to make special things better. For playing an instrument you need to practice motorics. Meditation, as being a could-be part of yoga, is a relaxation form to get your head free of needless things to stay better in focus. But that´s nothing you would need yoga for.
RE: Yoga Can Improve Your Guitar Pla... (in reply to 31special)
I injured myself pretty badly working with a poorly trained yoga instructor. Yoga is only as good as the teacher, and there are a lot of under qualified teachers out there. Be careful.
Yoga is also not a silver bullet, some people are inherently not flexible an poorly trained teachers can not understand this and push people too far.
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