next »

[anon99]

Dog walks
Running
Yoga
Alexander tech
Naps

Tell me more about Alexander tech. You're the second to mention it and I have never heard of it before.

My sister took a series of Alexander Technique classes --- she loves to sing in the choir and her choir director told her that her jaw was too tense. I still don't quite understand what it is, but I am reading up on it:

http://alexandertechnique.com/at.htm

[zarathustra]

Dog walks
Running
Yoga
Alexander tech
Naps

Tell me more about Alexander tech. You're the second to mention it and I have never heard of it before.

My sister took a series of Alexander Technique classes --- she loves to sing in the choir and her choir director told her that her jaw was too tense. I still don't quite understand what it is, but I am reading up on it:

http://alexandertechnique.com/at.htm

I'm sure this isn't a complete answer, but it's how I like to think of it:

It's a method for approaching things you do everyday, whether as a singer, instrumentalist, actor or computer programmer, by being mindful of your posture and where you hold tension.  It's particularly helpful for performing artists because tension in the wrong places is not only a gateway to injury, but it also inhibits expression.  For instance, after my AT teacher works with me on my posture, my tone is immediately and noticeably better on the flute.  It's also easier to do everything when all the unnecessary tension is removed, so my technique is better and I miss fewer notes in super difficult passages.

When I come out of an AT lesson, I feel fantastic and floaty and at least 3 inches taller. 

[crumpet]

I'm sure this isn't a complete answer, but it's how I like to think of it:

It's a method for approaching things you do everyday, whether as a singer, instrumentalist, actor or computer programmer, by being mindful of your posture and where you hold tension.  It's particularly helpful for performing artists because tension in the wrong places is not only a gateway to injury, but it also inhibits expression.  For instance, after my AT teacher works with me on my posture, my tone is immediately and noticeably better on the flute.  It's also easier to do everything when all the unnecessary tension is removed, so my technique is better and I miss fewer notes in super difficult passages.

When I come out of an AT lesson, I feel fantastic and floaty and at least 3 inches taller. 

Aha! That is really helpful. I looked at the website and didn't fully get it. Thanks for explaining. I will take a look at it. I hold my tension consistently in some areas of my body (shoulders) but this has expanded recently. It sounds really helpful.

In other news, I have been working with the tennis ball to the shoulder...it has been really amazing. I can't wait for my real massage though!

[marfa]

<bookmarking>

Thanks for all of the tips.  For the last 2-3 weeks of the semester, I noticed that I was pushing my tongue against the back of my top front teeth hard enough that both teeth and tongue would be sore, yet I couldn't stop doing it.  I'll be trying all of these techniques to de-stress in time for the craziness to start again.

~marfa

[fiona]

Do some kind of movement exercise, but DON'T feel you have to follow someone else's rigid rules, such as 25 hits of exercise A, followed by 15 of exercise B, and so on.

If it feels like rigid drudgery, doing it will make you feel worse, not better.

Most people who buy exercise bikes in January are selling them by April.

Do some kind of exercise you like, such as swimming or walking, that's not high pressure and that gives you mind time to think.

Lots of stretching in bed always feels good.

The Fiona