Piano Yoga

Can Practicing Scales Do the Same Thing for Your Body as “Tree Pose”?

What associations do you have when you hear the phrase “practicing the piano”? If you’re like most modern Americans, you picture yourself sitting rigidly upright, concentrating crazily on notes, rhythms, and instructions, and perhaps playing with a bit of fear that your piano teacher might wrap your knuckles if you “screw up.” In any event, you think of playing as an effortful activity that’s intense, physically demanding and possibly even stress inducing.

But a new school of thought has emerged to challenge this conventional way of thinking about
piano practicing. The “piano yoga” approach suggests that playing the piano can be as relaxing,
meditative, stress relieving and health-inducing as practicing asanas and deep breathing. That
may sound outlandish. But consider it deeper. When you play the piano, you bring yourself
into deep awareness of the present moment – just like you do during other kinds of yoga and
meditation. You are not thinking about the past. You are not thinking about what you’re going to
eat for dinner tonight. You are thinking simply about the music being played.

Secondly, your posture – ideally – should not be rigid or overly upright but rather relaxed and
well conditioned – much like a professional golfer swinging a 9 iron. A practiced pianist will
flow through the motion of playing in a relatively effortless way that validates and improves
posture, breathing and general fitness – just like traditional yoga does.

Then we have the emotional, therapeutic benefits. When you connect with deep rhythms,
harmonies, melodies and the wisdom of brilliant composers, you participate in a vital experience
that delights the senses on many levels. This all leads to positive physiological effects, as
well. “Proper” yoga-like piano playing should reduce your stress, increase your happiness and
buoyancy, improve your musculoskeletal system, enhance your ability to concentrate and even
potentially change the way you look at the world.

If you are an Bay Area resident, musician or teacher, the authorized Yamaha piano dealers of
Pianos Plus can help you find an piano (new or used) that meets your needs at the price you want. Learn
more about our unique approach at www.pianosplus.com, or call our offices to get all of your
questions answered by enthusiastic professionals: 510-581-1660