If you’ve ever watched a concert pianist, it seems like their fingers float over the keys, gliding seamlessly from one note to the next. The ability to move the fingers with this fluidity requires simultaneously relaxing the hands while pressing the fingers over the keys. Similar to Yoga, perfecting this balance of effort and ease takes years of practice. Too much tension in the hands interrupts the smooth flow of the fingers over the keys like too much tension in the body interrupts the flow in a vinyasa.
The tension that builds in the thumb joint as a result of overworking the thumbs is a common complaint with people who spend a lot of their day texting or emailing from their phones. Recently, a friend complained that she felt pain in her right thumb during down dog. The pain began shortly after a long train ride where she spent hours texting from her phone. During the vinyasa class she wasn’t able to get any relief for her thumbs as there were no counter poses targeting this area.  I suggested she try Piano Fingers from the Yoga Tune Up® Quick fix Rx for the Hands and Wrists.
This exercise helps articulate the movement of the thumb in opposition to the other fingers – adducting and flexing the thumb as opposed to abducting and extending the thumb as in texting. The beauty of this exercise is that it requires very relaxed hands in order to rapidly move the fingers like you’re playing the piano. This helps to release tension in the thumb joint arising from too much texting. After a week of weaving this exercise into her yoga regime, my friend reported that her thumb felt better and less painful. She was even inspired to play the piano which she hadn’t done in years!
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It’s so simple, but when i do these excercises its like my brain is working overtime!
I am a bodyworker so my hands get a work out on a regular basis! I find that they get stiff and achy and I am always looking for ways to relieve the tension in my hands. This exercise is so simple and although I only tried it for a minute or two I can tell it’s going to be really helpful. Thanks for this post!
wow! I did this along with the video and my hands were red too! it’s amazing how powerful just moving your hands can be.
Again, thanks for providing ways to relieve pain in my fingers. Between yoga, playing the guitar, texting, emailing, on top of being in school… my fingers are dying for relief. This is such a simple technique that I can use when riding the train or even walking around the city. Thanks for the tip!
Thank you Maria; for reminding us of our often neglected fingers. So amazing how it does perk up alertness.
I played the piano for many years then stopped for a number of years. After trying to play again, of course, I was not at the same level I was before but it wasn’t simply because I was out of practice; it was because my brain and finger no longer had the lightening fast connection they used to have.
I’ve been having a lot of pain in my right wrist lately from typing all day. I don’t take care of my wrists and hands the way that I should… In fact, I wouldn’t have thought that they needed to be worked out just as much as the rest of my body. I’m going to be adding piano fingers and more wrist and hand tune up exercises to my routine as well.
I have to agree with Jen. So many people – including myself, too! – forget about those small muscle groups. I have a couple of clients who will just love this YTU ball sequence!
Thanks for sharing this also informational video, Maria! (:
As a sales associate who works in the retail environment, I use my hands A LOT…..not only typing emails on my phone and texting, but folding clothes, hanging clothes, moving it around, etc. I started doing this exercise at the end of my day, not necessarily because my hands felt tight and sore, but just to free up those muscles. After a few days I actually found that I was able to use my hands in my yoga practice so much more effectively! The reverse way of doing this-starting with curling the thumb in first and the pinky last- is still not as natural as the other way, but it’s something to work towards right?! My mom also had carpal tunnel in both her hands and had surgery to correct it, so I will definitely be showing her these exercises as well.
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Great and simple exercise for an often overlooked area. This becomes doubly important as we age, going about busy lives neglecting the harm we’re doing through repetitive movements that break down connective tissues and cause inflammation. We’re fast become so linked to digital interfaces with our various modern tools, that exercises like this should be a mainstay in our daily activities…well if you to keep all your “tools” up and running.
As a chronic texter, I am thrilled to have this as a tool to protect my weary digits! Prevention is the best medicine!