Killer Joe
New member
I have just finished an extra-curricular course called "The Alexander Technique for Musicians". The basic idea behind this technique is: when your head/neck and shoulder area is free of tension, the rest of the body will feel better. This is a huge concept for us musicians because many of us have learned all kinds of bad habits ie sitting incorrectly or holding our instrument incorrectly or, for me, standing incorrectly while playing drums. One way to correct these 'bad habits' is to become aware of how you're sitting or standing or holding you're instrument while playing, it sounds easy enough, but stop reading this right now and notice if you're slumping.....................is your jaw tight with your teeth pressed together.....................how about your feet, are they firmly flat on the floor or are you torturing them by having them in an uncomfortable position right now.......hm?
So I got to thinking, I love playing "Control" decks, which means longer games, which, in turn means I have to sit much longer in my chair than I normally would say, if I were watching TV. Plus, I have my arms holding up cards in a fanned position, this is not the normal way in which our hands are meant to be in, how often are your hands upside-down and holding seven pieces of cardboard? I mean, in your everyday non-magic life.
My back starts to hurt a little after sitting there for 40 to 50 min. matches during a tournament, so I'm thinking that I might apply this technique to Magic playing:
Fisrt-how many times do we just "plop" down in a chair before we start to play? Alot. That's just brutal to our spinal chord and is very destructive to our body's in general. So, let's sit down by bending our knees first and then letting our head drop forward (slightly) and THEN let our bottoms ease into the chair.
Next-While sitting there shuffling your cards, notice if your neck and shoulders are tense, if so, try to widen your shoulders from the center of your chest and outward.
Head position- Most of us hold our head back and downward too much, let your head drop a little so that you chin is just below level. This can be a little "odd" at first, but rest assure, it's the best thing for our heads (it's a 10 to 12 lbs. sphere to deal with).
Another thing-we all think that we can bend at the waist, however, there is no bone joint there, WHAT!? Yep, no bone joint, so we must not be built to bend at the waist, our bodies bend at the hip joint, oh yeah, check it out for yourself..........................think of the head as connceted all the way down your butt, and hold it that way..........I bet you feel taller, huh?
Our feet-we abuse our feet so bad, I'll be willing to be that none of you pamper your feet like soaking them in warm water every now again, or always wear the best feeling shoes (women are huge violators of that one
). Try this, during the tournament, beaware of your feet, keep them grounded, you'll have much less tension.
Think of it this way:
Head-keep centered (don't allow it to tilt) and at least level (not higher)
Neck-keep free of tension but lifted (think "UP")
Arms-If you can allow your arms to rest on the table, then do so, if not, don't allow them to pull your body towards the table, but lift them to you (this will help you NOT to try to bend at the waist)
Lower neck/chest area-keep free and wide
Back-keep connected with head and neck when standing and sitting (remember, we don't have a waist joint, so don't bend from there)
Feet-Keep them grounded!
I highly reccomend you become aware of these things, especially if you suffer from any kind of tension or pain while playing and OH, one last thing, you should take a deep (but silent) breath through both your nose and mouth before your draw phase, this may allow you to remember to put yourself back into alignment and the oxygen is good for the brain. It might help you to Top Deck that needed card!
Try this, and let me know how it works out for you!
This is Mark Ortego
Still, a fan of Team CMU
So I got to thinking, I love playing "Control" decks, which means longer games, which, in turn means I have to sit much longer in my chair than I normally would say, if I were watching TV. Plus, I have my arms holding up cards in a fanned position, this is not the normal way in which our hands are meant to be in, how often are your hands upside-down and holding seven pieces of cardboard? I mean, in your everyday non-magic life.
My back starts to hurt a little after sitting there for 40 to 50 min. matches during a tournament, so I'm thinking that I might apply this technique to Magic playing:
Fisrt-how many times do we just "plop" down in a chair before we start to play? Alot. That's just brutal to our spinal chord and is very destructive to our body's in general. So, let's sit down by bending our knees first and then letting our head drop forward (slightly) and THEN let our bottoms ease into the chair.
Next-While sitting there shuffling your cards, notice if your neck and shoulders are tense, if so, try to widen your shoulders from the center of your chest and outward.
Head position- Most of us hold our head back and downward too much, let your head drop a little so that you chin is just below level. This can be a little "odd" at first, but rest assure, it's the best thing for our heads (it's a 10 to 12 lbs. sphere to deal with).
Another thing-we all think that we can bend at the waist, however, there is no bone joint there, WHAT!? Yep, no bone joint, so we must not be built to bend at the waist, our bodies bend at the hip joint, oh yeah, check it out for yourself..........................think of the head as connceted all the way down your butt, and hold it that way..........I bet you feel taller, huh?
Our feet-we abuse our feet so bad, I'll be willing to be that none of you pamper your feet like soaking them in warm water every now again, or always wear the best feeling shoes (women are huge violators of that one
). Try this, during the tournament, beaware of your feet, keep them grounded, you'll have much less tension.Think of it this way:
Head-keep centered (don't allow it to tilt) and at least level (not higher)
Neck-keep free of tension but lifted (think "UP")
Arms-If you can allow your arms to rest on the table, then do so, if not, don't allow them to pull your body towards the table, but lift them to you (this will help you NOT to try to bend at the waist)
Lower neck/chest area-keep free and wide
Back-keep connected with head and neck when standing and sitting (remember, we don't have a waist joint, so don't bend from there)
Feet-Keep them grounded!
I highly reccomend you become aware of these things, especially if you suffer from any kind of tension or pain while playing and OH, one last thing, you should take a deep (but silent) breath through both your nose and mouth before your draw phase, this may allow you to remember to put yourself back into alignment and the oxygen is good for the brain. It might help you to Top Deck that needed card
!Try this, and let me know how it works out for you!
This is Mark Ortego
Still, a fan of Team CMU