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THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADAMS APPROACH The Adams Approach is designed for professional musicians to overcome the rigors of performance and practice. The Adams Approach works with musicians who are under intense physical and mental strain—such as classical violinists who practice/perform hours a day, pro guitarists with Shoulder Problems /spinal injuries, and more chronic and localized injuries like Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome . Early History At the age of 20, Jason Adams sustained a low-back injury--a Vertebral Subluxation --in the Lumbar Spine . Turning to Yoga as a means towards strengthening his back's muscular structure and flexibility, he was able to avoid lumbar surgery. During the next few years, while studying music performance as a graduate student, Adams began incorporating Yoga into his musical practice, focusing on improving breath capacity and postural alignment of the spine. With this perspective, Adams began offering Yoga for Musicians lectures and clinics. By incorporating massage therapy techniques and the encouragement of postural awareness, the Adams Approach soon developed into therapeutic system that assists musicians in performance and practice, not unlike the Alexander Technique , Feldenkrais Method , and other complimentary and Alternative Medicines . COMPONENTS OF THE ADAMS APPROACH Yoga With Hatha Yoga 's emphasis on balance and proper alignment, and the advantages of incorporating Meditation & breathing exercises, Yoga is used to help improve musical performances by increasing lung capacity, relaxation, and improving blood circulationAdams, Jason. “Yoga for Saxophonists, Part One.” Saxophone Journal 29.2 (March/April), 2005.. A session incorporating yoga includes a combination of meditation/concentration, pranayama, & asanas: Meditation exercises Meditation /Concentration exercises (including Mantras , Tratakam) Breathing exercises Breathing exercises ( Pranayama ) Hatha Yoga Physical exercises/ Asanas ( Hatha Yoga ) Instrumental/Vocal Incorporation Specific work with the individual's instrument Massage Therapy Massage Therapy is also incorporated in an Adams Approach session Massage Therapy techniques are used to increase relaxation and remove restrictions throughout the body. Soothing the body into a balanced, tension-free state, a musician's body & mind can then be uninhibited, allowing for more expressive musical performances. Specifically, benefits of massage include Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals public education massage therapy site National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Touch Research Institute, University of Miami AboutMassage.com :
Postural Education Postural Education is more of a hands-on, real-world aspect of movement therapy. As the musician performs a musical excerpt, the Approach analyzes instrument-specific postural tendencies. According to Adams,Adams, Jason. “Yoga for Saxophonists, Part One.” Saxophone Journal 29.2 (March/April), 2005. maintaining a properly aligned spinal column allows many of the body's functions to transpire with ease. Some of the benefits include: an increase in lung capacity, increased relaxation, reduced stress, and improved circulation of blood and energy. Keeping the spine in proper alignment will allow the lungs to be unhindered and able to expand to their capacity. The body is no longer putting extra weight against the lungs, which enables you to breathe more easily. As this alignment improves the respiratory system, less stress is placed on the body, which can help to make you more relaxed. An often forgotten aspect of alignment is its affect on the flow of blood and energy. The spinal alignment affects the ease or difficulty with which blood flows throughout the body to all of the various parts. It is important to ensure that oxygen and nutrients are reaching the brain and all other areas of the body. APPLICATION Individual Adams Approach sessions usually last 90 minutes, and small group sessions are also utilized for similar instrumental groups. The Approach claims to be ideal for the following musicians The Adams Approach :
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