Om to Prose or Prose to Om?

I have been a writer for much longer than I have been a yogi. Like decades longer. 

But the moment I stepped onto my mat, I recognized the connection between the two. 

Both require me to be present in my body and mind. I used to think of writing as only a cerebral activity but now I understand that for my writing to have depth I need to be fully present in my body. Yoga creates that space for me.

Both require me to drop down beneath the noise of the world  and of my mind. Writing daily Morning Pages helps to get the thoughts out of my mind and onto the page. Yoga connects me with my body and breath which also allows me to sink beneath the noise.

I once attended a writing retreat with writer and Zen Buddhist, Natalie Goldberg. While she did not make the morning meditation mandatory, she did strongly suggest we attend. She said that writing is about having a relationship with the mind as is meditation. I ignored that advice for years. Now I am seeing just how essential meditation is to my writing. I would never have created a meditation practice without first having a strong yoga practice. 

So, while writing came first for me, I now clearly see how both yoga and writing work together to create a powerful foundation for my life. Yoga makes me a better writer and writing makes me a more present yogi.. Here are some ways to incorporate yoga into your writing routine: 1. Start with a short yoga practice before you sit down to write. This can be as simple as a few minutes of deep breathing or a few gentle stretches to warm up your body and mind. Periodically take a break to stretch your wrists, forearms and hands, roll through the neck and shoulders. 2. Create a dedicated writing space that is also conducive to yoga practice. My space is filled with books, quotes and images that inspire me. I light a cnadle before each session. I also keep a yoga mat near my desk to roll out anytime I feel stuck. Often, unsticking my body will unstick my mind. 3. I like to meditate briefly before settling in to write. Take a few moments to sit quietly, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. This can help clear your mind and enter a state of focused awareness. 4. Connect with your chakras. If you are feeling scattered and unfocused, connect to your root chakra. Connecting with the solar plexus chakra helps to access condfidence, power and discipline. Throat chakra for speaking truth. Heart Chakra to write from a space of love and compassion. Third eye to connect with your intuition.