The Hands of the Musician

by: Anna voor de Wind (professional musician and certified Iyengar yoga teacher)

I have been playing the clarinet since I was 9. Through the conservatories in Amsterdam and Frankfurt with a specialization in contemporary music, it has been my profession for many years. I spend a lot of hours studying this challenging music with great pleasure. And then, in 2023 and after the three-year training with Kristien, I became an Iyengar yoga teacher. I find that so challenging that I expect to be busy with it for the rest of my life. Two vocations at the same time, is that possible? I say yes!

As a musician, my hands are my most precious tools. With enormous patience and attention, they have become intelligent, virtuoso and delicate machines, in perfect condition to do with fingertip speed what my brain tells them to do, streaming the superhighways of the nerve pathways.
Once so delicately sophisticated, those fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders should never change, you think. No hiccups, no blockages, no delays on the line.
From the yoga philosophy, the fear of going further into unknown places, can always be traced back to the fear of losing control. We call that in yoga terms: Fear of death.

My knee, my leg, I didn’t care much, but with the slightest fatigue or unknown feeling in my wrist I became anxious. For everyone, the hands and arms are important, but especially for musicians ‘Fear of death’ is in their hands and wrists.
It took me some courage and perseverance, now I trust in yoga which in no way affects my fine motor skills. I have strength and stability in my arms and upper back, and so my arms and hands are less strained while playing. And so I can avoid future injuries.
Downward – or upward facing dog, handstand, elbow stand, bridge, of course I still encounter fatigue sometimes, but after years I now know that being worried is not necessary, but technique is. You learn that in an Iyengar yoga class: if you work in the right way, you gradually become stronger and more agile.

The good energy flows from your fingers and then … beautiful music sounds.