Introduction
Through dealing with consistent pain in my abdomen, I have become motivated to find a solution to both alleviate this pain and release tension from my playing. To pursue this goal I implemented daily yoga practice into my schedule for eight weeks to measure how effective it can be as a method of reducing the pain and tension present in my playing. Each day a twenty minute yoga sequence was practised along with an additional five minute meditation or breathing exercise. The sequences varied in its variety of asanas and the difficulty progressed over the course of the eight weeks. Alongside this, a diary was kept to record any notable realisations and changes in the pain/tension felt. Throughout the eight weeks a methodical physical process was developed in my practice to reduce tension with successful results. There were some temporary negative consequences to my technique as the regular practice of nasal breathing lowered my airpspeed and tone quality reduced in intensity. However, these repercussions were brief and pain/tension levels were reduced. A summary of the relevant findings from each week is presented below:
