Yoga for Performers

sequences designed with performance in mind

Uncover New Layers in Your Art

Whether you’re an actor, musician, dancer, or any kind of performer, yoga is the perfect way to support your craft. It helps you to stay grounded, build body awareness, control your breath, and sharpen your focus—all while keeping you calm and connected. Yoga is here to help you perform at your best, both on stage and off.

The Benefits

Yoga offers performers (actors, dancers, musicians, etc.) specific benefits that enhance their physical, emotional, and mental well-being, which is essential for maintaining stamina, presence, and creative expression.

Enhanced Body Awareness & Control

Dancers rely on precise movements and emotional expression through their bodies. Yoga strengthens awareness, allowing performers to direct their posture, gestures, and physical energy with greater ease.

Improved Breath Control & Vocal Power

Breath is at the core of both yoga and performance. Techniques like pranayama help musicians and actors extend breath support, increase lung capacity, and calm nerves. Breath control also aids vocal performance, giving performers stronger projection and endurance.

Stress & Anxiety Reduction

The pressures of live performance, auditions, and long rehearsals can lead to stress and anxiety. Yoga's meditative practices, particularly focusing on the breath and mindfulness, help manage nerves and bring performers into a state of calm and focus.

Increased Flexibility & Range of Motion

For dancers, flexibility and mobility are crucial. Yoga stretches and strengthens muscles, increases joint mobility, and prevents injury by maintaining optimal alignment and balance.

Enhanced Stamina & Strength

Yoga builds core strength and stamina, which is essential for long performances or physically demanding roles. The focus on dynamic movement through asanas helps improve endurance, allowing performers to stay energized and engaged.

IMPROVED COORDINATION & RHYTHM

Yoga fosters coordination by requiring the synchronization of breath with movement, which enhances a performer’s timing and sense of rhythm. This is especially valuable for dancers and musicians, as it strengthens their ability to move or play in sync with music and other performers.

Mental Focus & Clarity

Dancers need to stay present, focus on multiple cues, and adapt quickly. Yoga helps sharpen mental focus, improving concentration, memory, and presence during performances.

Emotional Release & Expression

To deliver meaningful performers, dancers need to tap into deep emotions. Yoga creates a safe space for emotional exploration and release, helping performers access a fuller range of emotions and expressions in their work.

INJURY PREVENTION & RECOVERY

Performers, especially dancers and musicians, often deal with repetitive strain or overuse injuries. Yoga helps to counteract these issues by increasing flexibility, strengthening stabilizing muscles, and promoting proper alignment. It also speeds recovery through gentle stretches and restorative poses, ensuring performers stay at their peak.

Meet the Instructor

Erik Stonikas

Erik’s yoga journey began at theatre conservatory and has evolved into a lifelong practice. In 2008, he was certified at Chicago's renowned Yogaview studio, where he was mentored by a diverse team of instructors specializing in Vinyasa, Mysore, Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Anusara.

This broad training, along with anatomical studies and daily meditation, revealed the shared principles at the heart of every yoga tradition. Erik continually explores new possibilities in yoga sequencing, style, and community, blending creativity and tradition to craft enriching experiences for his students. His teaching fosters personal growth and connection, both on and off the mat.

Website by Erik Stonikas

Payments and Donations