Yoga in the Music Studio with Lesley McAllister Pt. 1

Show Notes and Links (Part 1 and 2)

Dr. Lesley McAllister holds an impressive career while being a wife, mom and a yogi.

Her spirit and vibe are contagious.

If you’ve ever wondered about the benefits of yoga, Lesley will have you wondering no more. In addition, her research and years of expertise have shown that yoga benefits musicians physically, mentally and emotionally.

I’m extremely pleased that Lesley joined me on the podcast.

More people need to hear her wisdom and insight as a pianist, yogi and a human being!

Author of two books on musician wellness, Dr. Lesley McAllister is a pianist, yoga instructor, and advocate for using yoga, sport psychology research, and mind/body relaxation techniques like imagery to assist musicians of all levels in attaining peak performance. As Professor of Piano at Baylor University, she directs the piano pedagogy program and teaches classes on Performer Wellness. Her book The Balanced Musician: Integrating Mind and Body for Peak Performance was the first textbook intended for musician wellness classes.

Her newly released book from Oxford Press, Yoga in the Music Studio, describes how music teachers can use yoga with students at all ages and levels, including preschool students in early childhood music classes, adolescents who are beginning to experience performance anxiety, and seniors in Recreational Music Making, as well as college music majors and professional musicians. The book is filled with sequences and strategies to use immediately before performance and throughout one's life to reduce the impact of stress, anxiety, and fatigue while enhancing performance ability and overall well-being.

Dr. McAllister holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. She regularly coaches musicians and gives workshops on mind/body relaxation techniques including imagery, meditation, mental rehearsal, and yoga for musicians.