Taking care of your most important instrument: Yourself.

The new year is vastly approaching and like most people we all make new years resolutions.  One of the most common resolutions of course is to eat healthier, join a gym and improve your overall being- thats why gym memberships always spike after the new year.  Every instrumentalist should be aware of the potential dangers from playing their specific instrument.  Harp is a special case as it truly is a beast in every way shape and form.  Most harpists spend countless hours practicing and sitting behind a harp weighing at least 80lbs but how many of them spend time on themselves?  Daily exercise is a vital part of staying fit and healthy.  The best part is that you don't have to spend hours at the gym or on the treadmill, a simple 30 mins/day will suffice with an elevated heart rate. If you really want to get specific do arm exercises to help you lift your harp while loading or heaven forbid you have to cart it up a flight of stairs, you'll end up with 'harp arms'.  Ab exercises help strengthen your core and make playing for hours on end a breeze especially if you're stuck with a chair that is not the correct height.   The list goes on and the benefits from regular exercise is even longer, not to mention improved cardiovascular health.  There are 24 hours in a day, surely you can spare 30 min of your time to better yourself?