7 Ways to Release Writing Blocks with Yoga
Going on a Bear Hunt
I remember a song about going on a bear hunt when I was a little girl. The theme was various ways to pass through barriers such as boulders, tall grasses, and streams to achieve the goal- find the bear! This long-ago sing-along still serves as an important lesson to me if there is a barrier in my way. How can I creatively pass through it? Read these 7 tips to identify what is blocking your writing and how to use yogic ways to break through the dam.
1. Too many ideas:
The problem might not be the lack of ideas but being bogged down by too many. Break down a large overwhelming project like writing the first draft of your novel to a more manageable task like creating a character profile for your protagonist. If your mind is like a bumblebee zipping from flower to flower try the following poses and pranayama:
The Fix
4 practices + poses for focus and grounding:
Vrikshasana (Tree Pose)
Garudasana (Eagle Pose)
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
Become the bee: Bhramari Pranayama: Humming Bee Breath (One of my absolute favorites to do at my desk before diving into a piece) Find a comfortable seat, close eyes, place your hands over your ears, inhale deeply, on the exhale hum loudly. Repeat 3-4 times. Keep eyes shut down and feel the effects of the vibration.
2. Create Yoga + Writing Routine
If the days and weeks keep slipping by and you haven’t found time to write, set some time to roll out your mat and grab your notebook. It may sound crazy to add something else to your schedule but I’ve found this ritual helps unlock my brain.
The Fix
4 tips for scheduling your routine:
Block out time on your calendar (it doesn’t have to be a solid hour). Stick to this time like it’s an appointment!
Set a goal for what you’re going to accomplish during the scheduled time. For example: 10 minutes of deep stretch, 10 minutes of meditation, 20 minutes free write
Start out early in the day so nothing else gets in the way.
Be consistent. Using discipline will keep your momentum going and help build confidence.
3. Take Time to Dream
I know this may seem counteractive from tip 1, but taking time to have your head in the clouds is important too. What you think is what you become. If your thoughts are constantly, “I’m stuck,” you might as well invest in some mucking boots.
The Fix
3 ways to get in touch with your 6th & 7th chakras:
If the Third Eye Chakra energy is blocked there can be a lack of imagination and an inability to access intuition. The Crown Chakra is related to self-worth and motivation.
Spend some time in Balasana (Child’s Pose) with a block under the forehead. Massage the forehead, by rolling back and forth a few times.
After several breaths, come to a seated position with eyes closed down say the following affirmations:
I am guided and inspired
I am infinite and boundless
I am light
4. Too much pressure to be perfect and perform.
If you’re being too hard on yourself about how much time you haven’t spent or the quality of your writing you’re creating negativity and judgment. There are a lot of props in yoga and writing but a gavel is not one of them.
Pick up your pen, roll out your mat, and set down your gavel!
First and most importantly, pardon yourself from perfection! I often say when I’m teaching a yoga class that it’s called a practice for a reason. Doctors- you know the people that operate on brains? They call it practicing medicine! Maybe us writers could follow suit and think of our time behind the keyboard as practicing stringing words together? So why take yourself so seriously- have some fun and get out of your own way!
Do a couple of rounds of Lion’s Breath: Stick out your tongue, open your eyes wide and loudly exhale. This will help get rid of toxins in the body and the seriousness.
Revisit your previous written work. Read it with an open mind and highlight the things you love. I often encourage my yoga students, including seasoned practitioners to come to the mat with a beginner's mind. It’s important not to just rely on muscle memory.
Beginner’s Mind Practice
Stand in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) Keep the eyes shut down.
Without lifting the feet shift the weight to the balls of your feet.
Come to center.
Without lifting your feet, shift the weight to your heels.
Come to center.
Without lifting the feet shift your weight to the left.
Come to center.
Without lifting the feet, shift your weight to the right.
Come to center and stay here for several breaths. Feel the texture of the mat beneath your feet. Feel the connection with the Earth. Feel the energy from your roots to your crown. Connect.
Now hold a pen in your hand with your eyes shut down. Feel the weight of the tool, the power of this instrument. The connection and the energy.
5. Call for Inspiration - Ganesha
Of course, there’s no way to have an article about removing blocks without bringing up Ganesha. The popular potbellied Hindu elephant deity is thought to bring good fortune to humans and help remove all obstacles. Even his rat companion is symbolic of gnawing his way through any obstruction.
Pick up a small figure of Ganesha to keep on your desk. He’s sure to make you smile and if that’s not a great way to drain some clogs, I don’t know what is.
Chant this mantra a few times before you start a project to help remove obstacles: OM-GUM-GANAPATAYE-NAMAHA
6. Pause!
When you're feeling sluggish and the words aren’t flowing, walk away and take a break. In my classes, I often say there’s a pose in the pause. What I mean by that is it’s not always about the next posture, movement or in this case amazing dialog. There needs to be time to breathe and soak in the effects of our practices.
7. Rest
Savasana is usually the space for this magic to happen. If you’re in a public space and lying down on the floor is not an option, try moving away from the screen for 10 minutes and sit quietly.
