Hi Friends, 

The Yoga Sutras, a series of teachings that outline the tenets of yoga philosophy, offer various ways of understanding the purpose and power of yoga. The first Sutra translates to “yoga is now” meaning the practice of yoga is the act of arriving now, in the present moment.

Your writing practice is very much the same. The writing you did yesterday won’t move the cursor across the page today, your thinking about your goals for the future won’t finish the sentence on the page today. Writing is only happening as it is happening: right now. The act of writing is proof of being in the now.

The beautiful part of this is that “now” can be any moment you choose. We can always begin again. One of the most challenging (and rewarding) aspects of a writing practice is that it is intrinsically connected to the workings of the mind, the body and the spirit. In order to write, you need to find access to yourself as a witness.

There are many ways to practice watching the mind, to observe how it is moving, what you are thinking. True writing flow  occurs when you can sync up with this witnessing, observational part of your mind, and authentic experience and express onto the page what it is that you see.  

How do you begin again?

In our most recent Narrative Healing Class, we practiced a version of working with the five senses, to both conjure up a connection to the senses and creative impulses, and to come into the present moment.

You can try it here using the written instructions below, or you can hop over to our library archive and practice with the recording of class.

1. Over a series of many breaths, scan your memory for what you have seen, heard, smelled, felt and touched since waking up this morning.
2. Next, pull out your writing technology and write down at least seven items you have observed through each of these senses.
3. Next, let go of this effort and return to your breath. Notice what has changed and what has remained the same. Consider free writing for ten minutes and see what comes up.

May this warm-up support your writing practice today. I’m looking forward to being together again on Friday at noon (Eastern Time).

Love,