Yoga for Writers' Block

Let's see if I can get my mind in gear today to contribute something useful, especially because I missed writing on Writer's Block earlier in the week. Yoga exercises are another technique for relieving the types of blocks that come when you've sat too long, staring at a blank page or the computer screen. Blood pools in our feet, breathing may slow or become shallow with anxiety, muscles go slack (or worse, cramp). The body pumps out stress chemicals which do not enhance creativity.

Yoga asanas (poses) involve gently stretching out muscles and adopting body positions we might not ordinarily assume. The benefits for a blocked writer are relaxation of any built-up bodily tension and getting the blood circulating better, especially to bring oxygen to the brain. You also simply get a break and interrupt a negative pattern of behavior (remember developing habits?) Gioya (pronounced Joya) McRae, a black writer who bills herself as "Mocha Mind", blogs at Writer Outta My Mind. In her post, Yoga for Writers, she suggests three poses to help keep "hands, arms, eyes, and mind, in top writing shape":

Downward Dog Pose: This pose stretches muscles and tendons in wrists, arms, shoulders, and back, as well as legs. Begin on your knees with palms on the floor in front of you. Slowly raise your rear, while pushing your heels into the floor, and hold for as long as possible.

Warrior Pose: This pose calls on your balance, while stretching palms and forearms. Stand with your legs wide apart, and stretch arms out to either side. Palms should be parallel to the floor.

Eye Exercises: Focus on a point middle distance away from you. Without moving your head, move your eyes to the top left corner of your periphery. Return to center, refocus your eyes, and blink several times. Repeat with top right, bottom left, and bottom right corners. End by closing eyes for a few minutes to relax.