Time Away From Instrument

brianf · Post by **brianf** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:08 pm

A week off the horn isn't going to kill you. Bronchitis is a different thing - I went through that last year. The problem I had was taking shallow breaths and coughing up crap from the bronchitis. When this got better, my body was use to taking shallow breaths. Luckily, I realized this and pulled out some of the breathing toys, especially the air bag. Had to retrain the body what a full breath was.

A few years back I met a player who had pnemonia and had a hard time coming back because he developed a habit of shallow breathing. Took 15 minutes on the inspiron to get him back.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:00 am

You might actually notice an improvement. You might discover something you hadn't noticed before when you get back on the horn.

I can recall that after 2 weeks of the worst lay-you-flat-on-your-back case of flu, my teacher listened to me play and said "You should get sick more often"...

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:14 pm

Focus on completely expanding your abdomen slowly as you inhale, then completely contracting your abdomen slowly as you exhale, releasing any tension or stress you sense in any muscle, from the top of your head to your feet, you notice as you go. Start slowly at first so you don't get light headed. Very similar to yoga breathing. Tension will most likely show up in jaw, arms and sides.

I believe Pat Sheridan addressed this issue, but I can't remember the reference.