Inefficient Body-Use Patterns Which May Lead to Accumulated Tension, Fatigue, Pain, and Injury

Torso/Upper body
• General poor spinal alignment and imbalance resulting in loss of skeletal
  support and the 4 natural curves of spine--cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral
• Slumping, compressed torso resulting in inadequate breathing, spinal
  misalignment, and improperly supported arms
• Failure to find optimal balance and mobility of torso on sitting bones
• Unnecessary raising and tightening of trapezius (shoulder) muscles
• Jutting head forward, tightening jaw, tongue, and facial muscles
• Tightening of neck muscles

Arms/Hands
• Unnecessary and continuous contraction of triceps (upper back arm) in
   opposition to biceps
• Continuous holding out of upper arms (like flying buttresses) instead of
   allowing the upper arms to be pendulous and release into gravity from the
   shoulder socket
• Continuous tightening of wrist and hand area
• Sustained excess tension in lower arm
• Hyperextension (excessive lowering) of wrist
• Gripping-type movements and contractions of the hand muscles
• Lifting of fingers while curling them in (co-contraction) or holding fingers up 
• Continuous fixation of joints resulting in muscle fatigue, loss of joint
   mobility and flexibility

Legs (for organists)
• Misalignment of spine so that balance on sitting bones is not established
   and maintained
• Holding or squeezing together at knees instead of allowing legs to follow
   the natural alignment out from the hip sockets
• Unnecessary tightening of ankles and lower legs instead of allowing them
   to hang and swing as freely as possible

REMEMBER: Work WITH gravity, not against it.