Guitar Yoga (My Secret To Lifelong, Pain-Free Playing)

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After decades of playing multiple instruments and doing martial arts, I've never had pain-related issues. I attribute this to my daily, and sometimes weekly if I'm lazy, Guitar Yoga routine. :) See all our videos at: www.the-art-of-guitar.com

[@dukeofmacarthur3636]

Dude you're so cool.

[@mymyandniy]

This comment is everything😂😂 your comment is amazing dude😂😂😂!!!!

[@mauropintodeandrade5276]

He is. One of the poses he presented here is included in a professional mobility program from Calisthenic Movement and I was amazed to see a musician not only know the movement, but also its importance to the shoulders and wrists - it's the reverse bridge one btw

[@valonberchtold]

Thank you for this Mike, I haven't had a single cramp or pain since I've been doing these warmups; I've been learning a 9-minute guitar solo for a school presentation and it was killing me before. I started these exercises a little over a week ago and now I can almost breeze through it and actually enjoy the song instead of powering through on gritted teeth.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Awesome!!

[@user-ww3js8ci7d]

What solo are you learning

[@Ufolinho1]

@@user-ww3js8ci7d yes, I also really want to know haha

[@bradhoyle3963]

9 minute solo? thats even longer than i am the resurrection?!?!

[@Vampire102]

@@bradhoyle3963 every pink floyd solo 😆😆

[@thecollective1584]

+1 on the not over stretching and stopping when it hurts. I am a bassist by trade (wanting to improve my guitar playing). When I first started playing, I would do a few spider crawls and a couple of scales (1-2 minutes total) and then really go for it. Instead of starting on AC/DC and Judas Priest like most, I started out learning Queensryche tunes. When I started getting pain, I went through the old "No Pain, Nop Gain" routine and pushed through. I also over stretched (instead of using open strings or simpler patterns) because I thought that's what the professioinals did. End of the game: Five years later, I started losing feeling in my fretting hand, and started getting sharp pain on the back of my hand... Once again, I pushed through. Eventually, when I started losing function, the doctor told me to stop playing. Six months later, after surgery and rehab, I was allowed to start playing again, as long as I did very specific exercises for a minimum of five minutes and changed the way I played... Thankfully, I have had a long and satsfying career... but almoist lost it because I didn't warm up properly and played through the pain

[@jessica_beck]

Damn okay that sounds like exactly what I’ve been experiencing. I will now start doing exercises haha

[@greg6162]

I’m having slight issues with my fretting hand because I push too hard and do 3/hr practices sometimes. I’d give myself a break only playing 2-3 times a week but I just joined a band so I have to play once a week for couple hours Edit: I just started icing my hand and wrist. My thumb and wrist hurts the most so it tells me I’m definitely pushing too hard on the neck also

[@stevemc5919]

Thank you for posting this. At the tender age of 63, and a guitar beginner, I'm having some issues gettin' my old joints to work together in complete harmony. This has helped quite a lot. I've been doing guitar centric stretching and this is one of the best videos. Thanks.

[@RumbleFish69]

A beginner guitar player at 63! I'm super impressed, my man! I am 58 and even though I've been playing for almost 50 years, and I can tell you that it's never too late to pick up a guitar. I am playing better today than I have ever played and I played professionally and toured with various bands for many years! Sadly, we're in that same age range where pain can be a factor if we allow it. So, no matter how well I am playing today, pain can become a factor at some point. If I could, I would recommend the D'addario Varigrip Hand Exerciser. It's a great tool for building strength and dexterity. I've been using it for over two weeks and it has changed my playing tremendously. I am back to nearly pain-free playing. I am going incorporate the exercises that Mike has recommended on this video, but I will still use the varigrip daily. I use it while I watch TV, at my desk at work, even while I drive. Good luck with your guitar journey, my dude!

[@thomascummins7546]

Guitar Yoga ROCKS!!!!! I just started this practice last night. I don't have numbness in my left hand after wailing for a half hour!!!!! From the bottom of my heart, thank you Mike!!!

[@benink5690]

It's not weird. Some of my best years playing professionally I did yoga everyday. Made me wayyyy better VERY quickly. Gentle safe yoga kinda helps every part of your life. Wish I stayed disciplined with it

[@havilahunction386]

Pls do you mean good ol' yoga or finger yoga?

[@davidparry1973]

Thanks Mike. We had a conversation about this a few weeks ago if you remember. I didn't know that you had started this whole thing to help your nephew. That's wonderful. It gives me a happy feeling that you did for him. Enjoy the day man :D

[@tycovai]

On your first Yoga Pose (Upward Dog) instead of being on your toes, lay the top of your feet down flat to protect your back. Really happy that I found you on KZbin. Looking forward to your Podcasts.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I do both but still healing from a Jiu Jitsu knee injury so top of the feet is painful. Good observation though my friend.

[@guydouglas6094]

I can't believe the difference to my hands and wrist by following your stretches! I do the rubbing my hands under very warm water before I go back on stage for next gig set - that is a treat. Big thanks buddy. 👍

[@jamesrileyldn]

Great stuff. What isn’t cool is injury, or backache as I’ve been suffering from, having returned to the guitar. Stretching right back into the routine and some pointers here were helpful ☺️👊

[@photoguy4212]

I've had a lingering soreness in my shoulder and wrists due to excessive playing. This helps quite a bit. Subbed just for this advice alone.

[@BeaverMonkey]

I got tendonitis on my thumb from down picking exercises. Took 14 weeks to heal and been looking for stretches to prevent injuries. Thanks!

[@utubehound69]

Take coconut oil in capsule or by the spoon, also aloha vera juice drink it heals from the inside out lots of other supplements that will help tendons muscles joints & brain function.

[@paulwenzel8914]

Same dude, can you update me now 5 years later? 2 years in and my thumb cant hold the pick while trem or down picking:(

Stretching is really very important. I had some troubles with my left hand few years ago so I found some stretching techniques for carpal area. I stretch every day before playing and when I feel bored. Not only I feel better but my speed increased, my finger reach etc. Its important! Thank you for more techniques, nice video.

[@nicholaswhite4962]

I've been playing bass for about two months now for probably 2 hours a day on average, and started getting some wrist and hand pain on my fretting hand. Just did this exercise and already feel so much better, I will definitely be sure to do this before every practice session now. (along with getting better left hand technique) Thanks a ton for putting this out for free!

[@realobama1100]

Thank you

[@SteveBeanGuitar]

Brilliant! Thank you

[@grrrrrgh]

Used these exercises for the first time today and noticed that I was much more relaxed when I started practicing. Definitely adding to my daily practice, thank you!

[@frmaha]

Thank you! I recently picked up mandolin and just am getting to a level where it is super fun to play. I overdid it playing for way too long last weekend and have been sore since, and I can already feel a difference doing these exercises!

[@anicepop]

I had hand pains before I picked up guitar and I highly suggest after doing all of the stretches is to shake out your hands and arms. It just feels good after all of the stretching you're doing and it can relieve some of the pain or soreness you get when you are just starting out.

[@jules8159]

Thank you to “Mr nephew” for these videos then, thank you too for making these for all debutants, it’s reassuring knowing they’re here even tho one don’t use them it’s like a reference up above

[@earthsteward9]

Rick Beato mentioned he was going to have surgery until a friend mentioned doing exercises to work the opposing muscle groups that you use in your fretting hand. So I started using my wife's hair band elastic over my fingers and opening them to work out the muscles. It makes sense since with weightlifting one works out the biceps along with the triceps. With guitar we are using the closing muscles a lot but never the opening ones.

[@OKaFee]

Great video Mike. I've had great success using a massage gun daily on my forearms in combination with stretching and wrist curls (forward and reverse). Definitely has sped up my recovery process - getting in deep to work out the knots.

[@bruhmusic6999]

I love your lessons

[@keithcourneyea1609]

I do many of these already. Learned some new ones as well. Thank you.

[@SteveHubbardGuitar]

I stumbled upon this video randomly (after having struggled with De Quervain's Syndrome for the past year and a half.) Strangely enough, I work in IT as a day job, and did BJJ for 7 years. Between that stuff and music, my hands have taken a beating.

[@Negasilver]

Thanks man, I've been dealing with some pretty bad wrist and elbow issues on my left arm due to work and these exercises along with some stretches my doctor showed me have really helped with getting me back to playing. Wish I had found this video sooner!

[@s.amacintyre1440]

Thank you so much, I've been having trouble with wrist pain for a long time, I've used different stretching techniques but this has been by far the most helpful

[@0finale]

Thank you so much. I've been playing for 14 years, and I think it is catching up with me. My fretting wrist has been immobilized for a couple days. I have been icing and whatnot. But this is exactly what I needed. Thank you again

[@masoudsherzada7332]

Howd your status now, can you play again?

[@GoodfellaSoprano]

Mike I want to thank you for all you do. I been practicing about 5-8 hrs a day and needed this.

[@ChristianPaulDelage]

Years later, I still come back to this for refresher on stretches, really helps.

[@flerpiederp]

That last hand stretch really made a lot pop in my hands I have never felt, in a good way of course. But wow it does feel like soft butter playing after these stretches, thank you!

[@lucykpaan36]

Thank you I appreciate it so much.

[@Keithphotorama]

Excellent video,spot on! I’ve got the thumb pain 👍, not fun. Playing the guitar is the main culprit, but I now realize that maneuvering my iPhone with left hand is also contributing to the problem. Also, grabbing the guitar with left hand is another factor. Oh well, life drama goes on.

[@mrcookie97]

Very nice video, my wrists feel so relaxed doing that

[@MarcumUP]

thanks a million

[@MrPhins]

There is something about doing yoga poses with the Kiss poster in the background that makes this especially enjoyable 👍

[@timrault]

4:05 The Offspring - Come out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)

[@keithskelton5596]

🙏🙏✌🏼 Thanks for the warm up tips✌🏼

[@bwskott]

Thank you for leaving leaving this outside the paywall, class act.👼

[@sonofpioneers]

i used to watch you a long time ago... and im still watching to this day, i think your channel got even better

[@researchcapt]

Thanks Mike!

[@clevelandsparrowiii420]

this was really helpful. Thank you, I'll be implementing this in my daily routine moving forward. Really appreciate you sharing. Saw a few exercises I've never seen before

[@stephengrillos]

so happy I found this video! I've been playing guitar for close to 40 years, plus BJJ and a computer gig. Hands are pretty compromised. Thanks for this!

[@RumbleFish69]

Thank you, brother! This is a tremendous help. I purchased a handgrip tool for hand exercising and that's how I ended up here today. I don't gig like I used to, but I still do recording sessions on occasion, so I need to be in decent shape to play. At 58 years old, I should still be able to play with no pain, but sadly, that is not the case for me. But, after watching this, I am going to dedicate some serious time to warm-ups before I play, especially before recording, and daily exercises for overall strength and conditioning. Thanks again, my friend!

[@Jeannek4493]

This was awesome and the yoga is not weird at all!!!! Yoga is seriously amazing. It has solved my back problems. I specifically looked up yoga for guitarists and this was fantastic. When you said you have never had issues with you hands, wrists, etc even though you use them in so many things, it made me smile because it had surprised me how pain free I am with all the activities I do, and it’s because of yoga.

[@evan.snider]

“Sorry if that was weird” 😂 Thanks for the video man!

[@grudarts]

Thanks Mike! I'm a 5 string banjo player and these warmups/yoga are fantastic.

[@danabiondo9243]

Thank You. Excellent!!! 😀

[@JeffTheKiller000]

Good insight, I learned a lot here :D

[@davelake22]

5:33 *cries in lefties* Hand stretches helped immediately, thank you :)

[@brada-smith2807]

Thank you.

[@andrewhart27]

Thank you so much!

[@emmasky6467]

Very cool! Thank you!

[@watsak6840]

Thank you!

[@SqualidsargeStudios]

This is also really useful for other instrument players. Heck even for people who work in an office doing a desk job all day.

[@laszlotorgyik]

Thank You!

[@MARINSEYMOUR]

Thank you soooooo much for this. My wrists always hurt so much after playing one 50 minute set on bass.

[@ryanbowman3522]

Ur a thoughtful dude thanks for this

[@stoneroses22]

Great Video!How you practice depends on your lifestyle and responsibilities. The key for me is understanding how you learn new things. Either in short stints or practising 8 hours a day. For me I learn better in short stints. Practising guitar for 8 hours a day even if I could would not work for me as it would be information overload. For some they can do that, and it works. Its like doing an exam, some people can cram in 8 hours of study and it works out. Rest is such an understated tool. When learning anything new you need to allow your brain to rest and absorb what you have learned. Again, this is different for each individual but for me its key and it allows your brain to develop muscle memory for chords, scales, licks etc. For me with work and responsibilities I can only practice 1-2 hours on the weekdays and 2-3 hours Saturday and Sunday. My routine includes the below… Hand/finger/wrist exercises (Every other day) Hand/finger/wrist yoga and massage (Daily)Guitar practise: Spider exercises (various types), Barre chords (All every other day) Guitar song playing (Every other day) Guitar songs visualisation techniques (Daily)

[@chrollo7102]

saving my guitar experience from day 1. Thank you!

[@newgunguy4176]

Tim Lerch video with a hand doctor is a good watch, too.

[@laurenhargreaves13]

Thank you so much for this!!! This has really helped me. Been having some wrist issues and it's been frustrating. Really appreciate you posting this!

[@arpadelluna]

Hi Mr. Art-of-Guitar! This is great. So much so that you inadvertently inspired my body-mind to invent a new cool-down posture. So, you're sitting on an average-height stool to practice. Guitar at an out-of-danger distance, you put one knee on each side of stool, left and right, bend knees, raise feet, and grap onto upper side of feet with hands. Pull (in a way, it's a sort of sitting Bow Pose), and the elbows will relax out really nicely. Variations -- wrap the fingers around the toes, etc. .......... Thanks again for the tips, I really like those wrist rolls.

[@opeksei]

Solid tips! The last position with fingers pointing backwards (maybe angled a bit sideways, you can experiment) is a nice variation that really stretches and opens up the flexor side of the arms and shoulders.

[@ranch51]

Thank you!!!

[@Humanleague002]

This has already helped in less than one week. Thank you.

[@OpenUnboxDiscover]

Love the video! Here to support!

[@c1-math12]

You’re legend. I’ve learnt to play guitar just because I watched your intro of playing guitar Salut❤️

[@eduardoarosemena655]

Great tips, thanks

[@adamdavid93]

Thank you for this video, this helped me with Barre chord wrist pain.

[@ericdavis8875]

Since I've boarded the Arc of Guitar I've been hitting orthopedic walls rather quickly (the baseball bat neck on the Explorer is also a factor). Usually (when singing, playing, or whistling) I do "Endurance Practicing" in which I go until I literally fall down, pick myself up and catch my breath then go again. Like boxing, at the third fall it's complete and I can lay there. I haven't been hitting the floor because my hands have been cramping up with all the new techniques you've been sharing, so this really hits the spot. Also, having taught blacksmithing to children, your teaching is so palettable, unassuming, and warm I could see a non-player bumping into your work by accident go buy a guitar inspired by how simply you present lessons. Hmmmm, maybe there should be an Art of the Anvil"? STRIKE TRUE MY BROTHER

[@gregbell2117]

Thanks so much for this Mike! I've suffered from RSI from computer keyboarding for about 20 years. Serious bummer. These look (and feel) so valuable, I can't wait to see how they help my symptoms.

[@wandajames143]

Thanks!

[@bryanm3656]

Would love a 2022 updated version of this video where you do the stretches in real time to stretch along to

[@Darkkhorse]

Thanks for these, wish I knew these years ago. I have lots of hand issues from playing.

[@techethicyt]

Thanks.

[@itguy8900]

Thanks broski. Need to do this more

[@mrchow5047]

Good stuff, thanks

[@wearetemporary]

What a wonderful video. Thank you dearly!!

[@KarolMendez-qp4ei]

Thank you for your time and dedication to this :)

[@sejdailkbahar3801]

Thx a lot, this is exactly what i was looking for, i had pain and i didn' know if i had to do the streching before playing, or after a while after my vingers where warmed up.. This is going to help me a lot.. Iam an older(50 jrs) guitar beginner.. So this was essential to avoid more pain or enjury, '... Just awesome.. God bless you👌🙏🙏💫🌹

[@MariUSukulele]

DANKE - these are very good exercises indeed! I learned 'em years ago … they do work! And btw, none of that is weird in any way, shape or form!

[@jmmb92]

Your tips are amazing, i started to do some of these exercises here and my hands and wrists are burning, but the feeling is so good. I felt a instant difference after warming up. The guitar is a lot more easy. (I'm a intermediate player) Thanks and Merry Cristhimas!

[@patrickgibson2792]

This is incredibly helpful information. Thank you.

[@knowalternativetradingco.2545]

This was super cool. It was so different and sincere. Very helpful. Thanks!

[@andresalbornoz1935]

Love your Kiss poster in the background, my all time fave band and ace all time fave guitar player.

[@acoustical.ly_]

Thank you for your effort. 🙏

[@panayiotisk.7005]

I was searching for something to do after I finish my practicing bc my wrists hurt and after trying these yoga poses, man they really help! 🔥

[@siperonoway19]

Thanks for your time and effort with these videos. Great info and a calm approach. Very cool you started this for your nephew. 👍🏼

[@unit333angel]

Coool thanks! I already feel it helping my wrists already!

[@BrettFunkGuitar]

Fantastic! I'm going to use this myself, and I'm sending out a mass email right now to all my students. Thanks Mike!

[@JsnHgl]

Dealing with wrist pain hoping this will help. Mike you do great work. Appreciate you.

[@lyndsaystone]

This is helpful, thank you for your compassionate guidance!!

[@opalaa5874]

Super cool, with the second pose you can also push your whole body upwards to get some extra shoulder stretching

[@chrisharbin623]

This is the other one I really liked. Again, for my musical life, I've been the embodiment of of tense playing. At my age, this has led to chronic pain. But since these two vids, it's been much better. It's hard to learn this stuff at 58, but I love to play and the pain has been a real problem lately.

[@LBenvo]

Thank you so much for this, this is exactly what i need!

[@faustoorieta]

jeez man, my hand and fingers just feel so good now. thanks!

[@DevinRyanVitek]

Thank you for this, I’m gonna try these techniques. Been playing for three years every day, but recently this winter my wrists have had tiny small aches. I’m definitely gonna warm up much longer now rather than for only one or two minutes.

[@ruggie.74]

Hey Mike, I'm sure you won't read this, but I want to ask you with all sincerity that you make this video the first video people see when they click your channel. This video saved me from a very dark time in life when I thought I would never play guitar again! Thank you so much!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Hey Brandon. I read every comment. That's awesome to read yours. Hope you're past your dark time. I've had a few too and know how bad it can sometimes be.

[@ruggie.74]

@@TheArtofGuitar Oh wow, I never expected such an unbelievably huge KZbinr to read every comment! That is amazing, Mike! I am so far removed from my dark time and this video REALLY helped me get back into guitar when I had given it up do to so much severe pain in my left wrist. I just saw the title again now while exploring some of your newer content and I just had to watch it again. Thanks so much again Mike, and I wish nothing but the happiest of times for you going forward. You've done nothing but bring so much happiness and optimism to (literally) millions of peoples' lives!

[@ruggie.74]

@@TheArtofGuitar I forgot to mention that I will be subscribing to your website stuff soon! Thanks again!

[@lucarav]

THANK YOU! Super useful!