The physical benefits of yoga are well known. Flexibility, increase in strength, better posture, to name a few. But did you know that yoga can help with stress, anxiety, stage fright and focus? As dancers we can experience all of these whether we are just training and preparing or are actually in a performance. The demands of being in a company or troop can also increase stress.
The physical postures of Yoga can help us to learn to communicate with our body, spirit and mind. They teach us to be present in the moment and feel what our bodies need. As we learn to listen to our bodies we find that it is easier to focus. It becomes easier to be the movement rather than thinking about the movement.
The breathing that is learned in yoga can also help relieve stress and improve focus. As we learn to control our breathing we increase the oxygen that our bodies receive. This allows our muscles to relax.
Stage fright can be a minor problem for some or a major hindrance for others. Learning to use our breath to decrease the feelings of adrenaline can help us to get through the pre-performance jitters. Try this exercise to help relieve stress, or for panic attacks and stage fright: Put one hand on your stomach and one hand on your chest, take a slow deep breath while counting to 6, as you inhale through your nose you should see your hand on your stomach rise first then the other hand as you fill your diaphragm with air and then your lungs. Exhale to the count of six, repeat and increase the count to the best of your ability up to 12 or more.
As dancers we learn to use our diaphragms to breathe while we are dancing but we often forget to do so when we are not dancing. This kind of breathing should be done all of the time. We are able to get much more air if we are filling our stomachs with air first. When we are tense or stressed we tend to breath very shallow and with only our lungs. This exercise will increase the amount of air your body is receiving and help to relax and rejuvenate you. Namaste

Brooke Murray is a registered Yoga instructor teaching private
and small group lessons.
For more information call 206-853-4997

Click Here for Part 1 of this series.