music and the gym

Whistle
1

Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone had any anecdotal evidence that lifting weights or other exercise can affect finger dexterity on your instrument. Thanks.
james

2

it’s the right opposite. lifting weights doesn’t relax your muscles. you only build up tension. after a while it becomes an addiction.with too much muscle mass you are out of balance.

but there’s a lot of other things that are good. the main thing is stretching, they do this in every sport. but the trick is how to stretch and how far (you can stretch too far!!). there’s swimming, tai-chi, yoga,…and a relaxed mind

another issue is your whistle chair http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=13756

3

I’ve been lifting weights for years, there has been no adverse affect
I can tell. The additional strength seems helpful. Best

4

would there be any famous whistlers or uilleann pipers who do weight training to increase their speed or whatever?
i only know that declan masterson is into jogging.

5

Bill Ochs is an avid swimmer.

6

Swimming is very good for wind and breath control.
Sit ups, lots of em, are very good for breath control.
Weight lifting basically builds muscle mass–that doesn’t
make you quicker or slower, just stronger. It may make
you less prone to injury. If your muscles are weak, joints
tend to hurt. Of course a basic weight lifting regimen
includes aerobics. I also do yoga.

Weight lifting is very good psychologically
and it’s quite helpful for elderly people, I believe, who
tend to lose muscle mass. Makes you feel
much younger.

7

if i do heavy work, i also have the tendency to work with weights. this is because some muscles shorten and others get longer from the heavy work. if i stretch these muscles, i’m in balance again.

working with weights does slow you down in every way. pure belly breathing is way better then sit-ups. just try and play a fast reel after your work-out, or ask a realy fast player about this. too much muscles is as bad as too much body fats.

if you won’t believe me, time will tell you…

8

For hand and fingers, I would suggest the same exercises I recommend for keyboard workers. Place your hand flat on a desk or table and lift each finger one at a time. You can also close your hand with all the finger tips together and put a rubber band around your fingers. Then stretch the rubber band.

These exercises tend to work the muscles that balance the ones you are using the most.