Embodied Musician

AT at IMC!

It’s easy for flutists & other performers to get stuck in position: you bring your flute up to play & you lock in until the end of your practice session.

This happens to me when I forget about myself & get over focused on the task at hand. Over time this approach can lead to shortness of breath, discomfort, & potential injury.

My favorite game to counteract this tendency to stiffen, prioritize balance in 3D, & put together all the AT ideas we’ve been playing with this summer is kelp forest (shout out to ).

🪸 Imagine you’re under water. Let your feet/roots connect to the ground so that the ground can send you up towards the sun.

🪸 Allow yourself to sway gently with the movement of the waves, noticing your weight shifting over your feet. Let there be free movement at your ankles, knees, & hip joints.

🪸 Notice that upward flow traveling along your spine up toward the top of your head (still connecting to the ground).

🪸 Let your head bobble & balance on your a-o joint (& notice your feet).

🪸 Allow your arms to float up like the fronds of a kelp plant, responding to the movement of the currents (& keep connecting with your feet).

🪸 You can imagine the waves getting stronger & taking you into bigger movements. You can allow the currents to calm, gradually reducing movement until only you might notice the subtle balance & rebalance possible in all directions from moment to moment.

Notice if standing feels different when it’s more about balance & less about position or holding a “right” posture when you practice & move through your day.

Stay tuned for an upcoming reel taking you through a quick kelp forest reset - coming soon!