Lessons from My Yoga and Meditation Teacher That Transformed My Practice

This past year has been one of much change, growth and awareness of myself. I have found myself drawn to the practice of yoga and meditation as well as more challenging practice at the piano for myself. I find that these two practices share a similar mindset and that in developing the skill of mindfulness much can be achieved.

First of all I want to share three types of breathing. These types of breathing are all used in my yoga and meditation classes with Sheila Miller of Sound of Body.

1. Passive breath - this is simply what your body does without your input. You are always being breathed whether you like it or not. Observing without changing the breath is a main tenant of mindfulness practice.

2. Ujjayi breath - ocean sounding breath. This is where you make a sound in the base of your throat as you inhale and exhale. This breath has more fire to it, and it is easier to pay attention to because you are making it more forceful. The sound of it should be like waves coming in and out of your body and can be very relaxing.

3. Alternate nostril breathing - this is the most active form that is helpful when you really need to stop and quiet the mind. Place finger 4 and 1 (ring finger and thumb) of your dominant hand around your nose and press one nostril closed. Exhale and inhale through the open nostril and then switch and repeat. I find this extremely good for focusing because there is so much to pay attention to. It doesn't work so well if you are stuffed up or have allergies, but for the days when you are clear it works wonders. This helps slow the breath as well and can be used to lessen anxiety quite quickly.

During my classes with Sheila, she guides us through the poses with many wise sayings that resonate with me as a musician and music teacher as well. Here are a few choices tips from her:

1. Minimal effort, maximum attention - when doing a yoga pose or practicing a tough passage at the piano, letting go of effort seems to really do the trick. I find when I remember to let go, everything gets easier.

   
   

2. Serene face - similarly, when she draws our attention to our face, I find I notice a lot of tension in my cheeks and jaw. When I let that go, my whole body feels better. When playing a tough passage, I sometimes tell my students to chew gum because I can tell that they are screwing up their face/jaw to get it right. What a relief to be able to let go of that tension that isn't serving us.

   
   

3. Relax around the effort - it's in the same vein but I just love this idea of letting go around the effort. The effort is still there, and the attention and focus, just not all the negative stuff holding us back (stress, worry, doubt, tension).

4. Be curious, see what's possible in this moment - this is great for pieces that perhaps are more familiar and have been played a lot. Instead of zoning out, or going on auto pilot, always be attentive and curious. Everything is always different, everything is always changing.

5. We are aiming for a moving target - like the last point, the idea that we are never "done" that there is always a target to aim for.

   
   

6. Fun challenge - Sheila says this a lot - she encourages me to work at a level that is a fun challenge for me. Not too easy, but not too much. Finding the middle way to develop grit, tenacity and resilience.

   
   

I've also done some piano festival adjudicating lately and I'm noticing a common theme among the students that really move me - they are embodying the music. When I see someone moving organically with a phrase, I know they are listening and more importantly feeling the music - adapting and responding in the moment. They aren't just doing what their teacher said to do!

Lastly a quote from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland that has become a bit of a mantra for this year: "don't just do something, stand there!" I need this counterbalance and reminder that it is perfectly ok and sometimes necessary to just stand and breathe and be.

Do you want to also take yoga & meditation classes with Sheila? She's awesome and here is her website.

Are you interesting in taking piano lessons with me? Registration form is here

~Namaste~