if you are here reading this, perhaps your story is similar to mine…

I began playing flute when I was 9 years old. Music came naturally to me and, as a shy kid, gave me confidence and a strong sense of identity. It became my outlet for expression and an authentic way for me to connect with others. I had found a clear focus and trajectory for my life. Music was my calling.

I was always praised for my natural musical instincts (“You even play your scales so beautifully!”, one of my teachers would say), but my playing lacked a certain resonance and ease. No matter how much I practiced it eluded me. I was passionate but hard on myself in the practice room, unaware of how this was actually making things worse. 

Soon after completing my Master’s degree, I developed a debilitating repetitive stress injury.

I was in the midst of intense rehearsals for a concert series when one day my arms went entirely numb. I tried to lift my flute up but couldn’t raise my arms above my waist. I had no choice but to take time off from playing.

Through an exploration of several healing modalities, I slowly began to restore and strengthen my body.

Neuromuscular therapy helped release embedded constrictions from years of bad postural habits. Acupuncture and study of nutrition brought an awareness to my inner body systems and optimal health. Feldenkreis showed me how to be gentle with myself and how micro-movements of our joints interplay with the larger muscles and bones. Alexander Technique helped me with functional movement and the power of reflection before action. Yoga practice brought awareness to the integration of mind and body which helped my performance anxiety and overall stress relief. All these helped me create a pathway to build strength, release old habits, and continuously refresh my perspective. 

I became fascinated with exploring resonant chambers of the body.

What is the relationship between our mind and how we hold patterns of tension in our bodies? How do the arches of the feet and dome of the pelvis affect the ease of our neck and shoulders? How does the quality of our breath affect resonance and creative freedom? My curiosity has been awakened. I am still amazed how certain yoga poses enrich my flute sound more than practicing traditional tone exercises!