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Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
staying in shape and guitar playing
what do you guys do to stay in shape? im pretty sure playing guitar doesn't burn that much calories. what do you like to do to counter act all that time just sitting in a chair?
are there any physical activites or sports that you stay away from because you know it will affect your hands/guitar playing negatively? do you avoid anything that puts strain on the hands?
i've been trying indoor rock climbing lately. i know that directly after climbing, guitar playing is challenging. but i'm worried about that it will have some negative effect in the long run.
Posts: 42
Joined: Jun. 9 2011
From: Granada, España
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
Personally I think Yoga is the perfect exercise, even more for a guitar player. It will stretch muscles, your back, very important for guitar players. It will relax both body and mind. If you have the chance, try it!. It is specially good for people that have back problems, as myself. Tried everything, doctors, etc, only Yoga has made my back recover pretty much. If you're interested I would recommend "Iyengar Yoga" as it is very precise and is focused on the body. Not all that shakras business and all that...
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
ve been trying indoor rock climbing lately.
Hope that doesn't @#$k up your nails, Leo?
I used to climb in the Welsh mountains when I was a teenager. Really ripped up my nails.
Nowadays (60 years later) I work hard on the farm and swim several times a week for an hour or more. However, sometimes I find it hard to play longer than 10-15 minutes continually, so I have to stop and rest. Arthritis in the hands doesn't help either. . .
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
yoga and any form of stretching in general is a great idea. i've done a little of it before in the past and liked the mental aspect too. but will it burn enough calories? i might try it again either way for the stretching.
i still do weight lifting and haven't noticed any negative impacts. flamenco dancing is a good idea but i'd like to get from flamenco, more specifically the dancers, once in awhile to stay sane.
i do indoor rock climbing so it's not as tough on the hands or nails. and i tape up my nails anyways. i'm more worried about what might happen internally with my tendons, muscles, etc.
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
Seems to me like your prime concern is calorie burning. Have you been eating too much pork lately? I recently heard it is quite fattening and very disgusting.
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
Working out is something essential and no matter how careful you are, suddenly a nail is broken and you feel like.. Hence, i try to moderate with the limited time on my hands just not to stop the sports for the sake of the instrument at all so i go to the Gym twice a week and sometimes three days a week. Honestly, i don't practice guitar as i should. My teacher says that i'm not taking it seriously but it depends on the timing ( playing at night is not always working) the social life ( Partner) , and neighbours
I do enjoy working out so much as it makes you feel so active and in shape even if i'd prefer sometimes to practice guitar and solve lots of issues to be a better player.
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RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Tomrocker)
About nails and sports - I've given up a lot of the sports I used to be involved in before getting into guitar. I used to be one heck of a goalkeeper or right-back in soccer, but that doesn't work much with flamenco nails. I've since switched to tennis which I really enjoy (when my backhand is working well). I also am consciously very careful about how I use my right hand in everyday matters. For example, I always put my keys in my left pocket because I try to avoid sticking my hand in my pocket and having the keys scratch up or break my nails. I also try to do things like opening/closing zippers with my left hand. That sort of thing.
But then again, I'm somewhat anal in general, so...
Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
but even with a good diet... between being on the computer, playing guitar, and driving, i'm basically sitting around all day...
ugh, your routine sounds like mine. Ramzi's the same. I fooled my self two years that soon I'll start some physical activity, but it never happened Just accept it boys, theres no slim future with the guitar. Its a bit like computer coding, you cannot run away from the pizza and coke.
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
I also am consciously very careful about how I use my right hand in everyday matters. For example, I always put my keys in my left pocket because I try to avoid sticking my hand in my pocket and having the keys scratch up or break my nails. I also try to do things like opening/closing zippers with my left hand. That sort of thing.
I also do that.
I've attended a primal school specialized on sports, so I swim for about 2 years, later I started to do wrestling (I mean the real one - not that american bullsh*t ) for 10 years or so and I almost got to olympics, but I played in basketball team as well.
Then I got touched by the guitar and stopped sport right away. It's been like that until october last year, when I started Squash. I knew I almost don't have any spare time so I looked for something that burns LOTS of calories. This one surely does I can tell ya! And it's fun!
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
ramzi and ahmad, i just found the hambone thread and got the joke.
quote:
I do enjoy working out so much as it makes you feel so active and in shape even if i'd prefer sometimes to practice guitar and solve lots of issues to be a better player.
i think humans need physical activity and sunlight to be happy. i feel alive after a long run in the woods. this actually helps me feel motivated to play guitar.
the best is when i get in plenty of practice then i go work out without feeling guilty that i haven't practiced enough then i get to go back and play more. but this is rare because of the things you pointed out... neighbors, partner, house chores, etc.
about nails, i bet being in shape and healthy in general will help grow stronger nails. that and superglue.
quote:
Just accept it boys, theres no slim future with the guitar. Its a bit like computer coding, you cannot run away from the pizza and coke.
noooooo, i cant accept it! i'm going to go practice picado and do crunches at the same time.
Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
I like this talking about sports. It makes me feel like Im almost doing them But Leo, try to get your picados so fast that it makes you sweat, that should keep you fit. Heres a video for motivation.....SPEED!
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
i cant do anything that involves water. that's really bad for my nails
Don't tell me about water and nails!
I swim several times a week in winter, and every morning at 6 during the summer in my garden pool. I ALWAYS wear a skin-tight latex glove on my right hand ( even in the shower) to mitigate the nail/water damage. Provokes a few strange looks in the swimming pool, and comments like :" Why are you wearing a condom on your right hand" (No joke!). But it seems to work O.K.
Also wear think gloves when doing heavy manual work on the farm. Tha works well, also.
Most of my nail damage is either heavy playing or opening cabinet drawers, and there's always a tube of nail glue in my briefcase, and in the truck.
RE: staying in shape and guitar playing (in reply to Pingaloka)
quote:
Personally I think Yoga is the perfect exercise, even more for a guitar player. It will stretch muscles, your back, very important for guitar players. It will relax both body and mind. If you have the chance, try it!.
sweet! have you tried "hot yoga" ?how is it compared to regular yoga? I would love to try yoga one day for sure!
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but it depends on the timing ( playing at night is not always working) the social life ( Partner) , and neighbours 
) for 10 years or so and I almost got to olympics, but I played in basketball team as well. 
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