Episode #11: 5 Ways to Care for Your Physical Wellness Everyday

"As music therapists, our bodies are our main tool for work.  We depend on our voices, and our hands and often the line is blurred between “used” and “abused” to put it bluntly. It is  so important to be mindful of how we may be causing harm to our voices, hands, backs, and every area of our body in the ways that we use them.  I’m going to share 5 ways to tend to your body everyday and I strongly urge you to prioritize these wellness practices as an essential part of your music therapy practice. Just as you maintain your instruments, you must maintain yourself." 

5 tips to care for your physical wellness everyday:

  1. Vocal warmup and cool-down routine

  2. Drink plenty of water

  3. Wrist, finger and hand exercises & stretching breaks

  4. Be mindful of your routines and adjust as necessary

  5. Take visual breaks (20-20-20 rule)

Resources for a Music Therapist’s Physical Wellness:  

Hand, Wrist and Finger Exercises

5 of the Best Daily Vocal Exercises 

10 Best Stretches for Office Workers

Yoga for Musicians, Yoga with Adriene 

Computer eye strain: 10 tips for relief 

Article: Voice Disorders and Related Risk Factors among Music Therapists: Survey Findings and Strategies for Voice CareEric G Waldon, PHD, MT-BC,  Derek Isetti, PHD, CCC-SLP

Music Therapy Perspectives, Volume 37, Issue 1, Spring 2019, Pages 37–44, https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miy010

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WellnessKristin Vetetowellness, strategies, physical health, vocal health, stretches, warm-ups, waterComment