A Funny Thing Happened After Yoga

                

                7:00 – Get up and make bed (Thanks mom for ingraining that in me!)

                7:15 – Treadmill 

                7:45 – Yoga

                8:15 – Shower

                8:45 – Work until I get hungry or frustrated

That’s my morning schedule. The treadmill and yoga are recent additions after my daughter invited me to do yoga at a local lavender farm. I had to brush up on my yoga positions so I didn’t make a complete fool of myself. (I did almost fall into the lavender at one point but overall, I did OK.) But a funny thing started happened after my daily yoga…

More days than not, I find the last two things on my list switched. After the final Namaste, I am suddenly gripped with an idea/re-write/phrase that I have to capture. There is no starting my day staring at a blank screen…waiting. Words are eager to pour out of me. I find myself at my desk in yoga pants, typing furiously, worried that taking time for a shower will allow the words to slip away.

In the beginning, this was a puzzling experience for me. As a newbie yogi, I have to focus on the instructions of the incredibly flexible instructor on my screen as well as try not to fall over. It isn’t as if I have time to mull over obstacles in my writing and come up with solutions. So where are these idea bursts coming from?

Yep, from the exercise. So, if your doctor harping on you to be less sedentary wasn’t enough, I’m here to tell you that several studies have shown a link between increased activity and creativity. Researchers at Austria’s University of Graz point to increased blood flow and endorphins that encourage original and abstract thoughts. Normally, I would be rolling my eyes at this point but I’ve experienced it in my life. 

It isn’t just me! Novelist Claire Cook regularly writes about her daily walks. She wrote 24 novels so far. Coincidence? Some heavy hitters like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Ernest Hemingway, Friedrich Nietzsche, Philip Roth and Henry David Thoreau all credit regular exercise with increased creativity in their own lives. So grab your sneakers, boxing gloves, bicycle, yoga mat, pickleball racket – whatever it is that gets your heart rate up and see if it gives you a creativity burst also.

Don’t exercise to decrease your waistline; exercise to increase your word count.

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1 comment Creativity, exercise, Jodi M. Webb, writing tips

How Writers Keep Fit (Suggestions Welcome)

It’s hard to believe that the ridiculously adorable eight-pound dog you see there can do so much damage.

She’s ruined a (very nice upholstered) chair, the (somewhat nice) carpet and the (sorta nice) skin on my husband’s arms. Basically, there’s ample reason why she’s called The Reign of Terror.

However, there is one redeeming grace to The Reign of Terror. She gets my husband up and out of his office about 27 times a day. For a fellow who used to sit for hours on end, this movement strikes me as a heart-healthy alternative.

I, on the other hand, have found myself sitting for longer and longer periods every day. And I’ve also found that by the end of the day, I’m stiff and sore and my bones and back are creakin’.

For years, I’ve managed to fit exercise into my daily routine. Running after three kids? Check. Up and down in teeny-tiny chairs, caring for preschoolers? Check. Walking miles of halls, patrolling middle schoolers? Check. I’ve pretty much had running, walking, bending, stretching and twisting covered for most of my life. Until now.

Now, I sit.

Oh, occasionally I’ll get in walking when I’m running errands. And I climb the stairs to get to my office. But honestly, if I could find a way to install a dumbwaiter, I wouldn’t have to go ALL THE WAY DOWNSTAIRS to eat lunch.

And before you think, geez, Cathy, how lazy can you get? It’s not laziness (Okay, it’s a little bit of laziness). But mostly, it’s writing. It’s getting into the zone and not wanting to stop. It’s the drive to keep going because I know that if I lose the plot thread now, I may never get it back. It’s the primal need to feed the writing beast. More, more, more, my brain shouts and my fingers take off with a mind of their own. By the time I come up for air, it's time for supper. A very late supper.

I cannot be the only one out there who struggles with fitting exercise into the writing lifestyle. It’s a necessary part of the business, this butt-in-chair discipline. But I’m betting that there are writers who’ve come up with solutions to this problem. Unfortunately, short of taking over the duties of the Reign of Terror (and really, I couldn’t possibly deny my husband that pleasure), I’m at a loss.

So I thought I’d ask you to share your exercise advice. Do you set a timer? Do you drink a ton of water? Do you train puppies? What? What do you do?

My aching back wants to know your tips. And I might even stop writing long enough to try a few.

~Cathy C. Hall

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14 comments Cathy C. Hall, exercise, writing and exercise

My Story and Review of 28 Days Weight Control Journaling Challenge by Mari L. McCarthy

Ever since I hit the big 4-0, I’ve struggled with my weight. I took up jogging, zumba, cardio yoga, even boxing and kickboxing! No amount of exercise seemed to do the trick. I may have built up some muscle and possibly lost inches, but the scale didn’t budge and neither did my belly—my biggest problem area.

I finally lost 19 pounds in a little over a month this past September. I lost the first 10 in a week and the other 9 over the next four weeks. How I did it is another story—involving a Living Social Deal, a strict diet, fat burning vitamins, and daily exercise—but keeping it off has been a bit of a challenge. I gained back 4 pounds over the holidays and resumed some of my bad eating habits. And while a total weight loss of 15 pounds is still good, being on my own without a strict diet made me realize that I still have an issue with food. So when I was presented with the opportunity to review journaling guru Mari McCarthy’s new book, 28 Days Weight Control Journaling Challenge, I embraced it like I would a juicy cheeseburger.

Before beginning the challenge, Mari advises you to start a food journal to keep track of everything you eat. I was already ahead of the game. I’ve been using an app on my phone called MyFitnessPal that I highly recommend. It’s free and has almost every type of food you can imagine in its database, and includes the nutritional information and calorie count. The one thing I didn’t consider was noting how I felt when I was eating and where I ate, which I discovered was frequently in front of the computer or TV. So I would use the app during the day to record my food intake, and later in the evening I would journal through the book’s exercises and note how I felt and where I was at each meal.

At first, I didn’t think I was a good candidate for this challenge. I’d already lost the majority of the weight I really needed to and had minor weight loss to go, and I exercised six days a week. But as I went through the challenges, I realized I had a lot to learn about myself. For instance, I didn’t make any solid health or fitness goals, which Mari encourages you to do right away. “In one month, I want to cook healthy dinners at home five days a week. In three months, I want to run a 5k.”—Goals that didn’t have anything to do with a scale. I also realized that I have somewhat of a negative body image . . . I mean, who doesn’t, right? When I looked at myself in a mirror, I always searched for the flaws instead of my strengths. Mari helps turn these negative messages into positive affirmations. She also helps us examine the past and where these issues stem from.

Many of the journaling prompts are about food and exercise; and from everything I’ve learned over the past few months on my weight-loss journey, Mari’s advice is right on. She promotes fresh over processed, small portions, healthy alternatives, and staying active—no matter what type of physical activity you choose—and gives you the journaling exercises to motivate yourself. One of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with in my weight-loss battle is my family’s eating and activity habits. She helps you deal with these issues, too. If you’ve been one to try every diet under the sun and found that you couldn’t stick with it or it just didn’t work, then I suggest trying Mari’s 28 Days Weight Control Journaling Challenge for a fresh, new approach to weight loss. Mari also offers a private Facebook group for those taking the challenge and the opportunity to get positive feedback. Her next challenge starts February 1, and you can find out more here: http://www.createwritenow.com/28-days-weight-control-journaling-challenge/

I’d like to personally thank Mari for helping me form some healthy new habits! Thanks to her journaling exercises, I realized I’ve been eating way too much sugar, and not really enjoying my meals as much as I should. So now I’m making time to sit down at a table and eat (instead in front of the computer or TV) and savoring the tastes and textures that we writers love to describe. I’m also staying away from the junk food aisle and doing the majority of my shopping at Sprouts—a great little farmer’s market chain that has lean meats and fresh produce, and is easy on the pocketbook. What makes Mari’s book so successful is she helps you deal with the underlying issues that are holding you back and gives you the tools you need for a healthy lifestyle change.

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6 comments Create Write Now, diet, exercise, food journal, health and nutrition, journaling challenge, Mari L. McCarthy, weight loss

Work Exercise into Your Day with a Treadmill Desk

If you are like me, you’d rather write than do all kinds of other things like dishes, laundry and exercise. That said, I know that I feel better when I work walking into my day. To make this easier, my husband built me a treadmill desk.

You’ve probably already guessed by the name alone, but a treadmill desk is simply a treadmill combined with a desk. My husband made my desk by clamping a shelf onto the treadmill’s side-rails. This shelf is the home for my cordless keyboard, the volume control for my speakers and a towel. Hint: as you increase your speed the towel becomes important. The treadmill is positioned in front of a set of shelves that is home to my monitor and speakers.

Where is my computer? Upstairs in my office. A splitter and a cable feed in the basement ceiling mean that a monitor in my office and the monitor at the treadmill show the same display. I can leave my office and go downstairs and all I have to take with me is my water glass.

I’ve only had the treadmill desk for a few weeks, but I am definitely getting more exercise. Instead of walking two or three times a week, I am averaging five times a week and am walking for longer periods. My energy level and focus are up and so is my word count.

The downside? This will come as no surprise to those who know me well. I am very uncoordinated. I’m really not comfortable typing and walking. This means that so far I am limiting my treadmill desk use to reading blog posts. That may not sound like much, but with 50 individual blogs including several news feeds going into Google Reader, this makes for between 30 and 60 minutes of reading and walking per day.

My shortcomings aside, there are writers who actually manage to write on their treadmill desks. This includes the Muffin’s very own Darcy Pattison, Joelle Anthony and Arthur Slade.

Not that I consider my experience a failure. I’ve found a solid way to work more exercise into my writing day and I’m actually eager to get to it every morning. Not bad for someone who would rather be writing.

–SueBE

Author Sue Bradford Edwards blogs from the desk in her office at One Writer's Journey.

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9 comments exercise, writing and exercise

Why Should I Read This Blog?

You ask yourself, "Why should I read this blog?  I think a quote from an American novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic and literary critic says it best. "I want stories to startle and engage me within the first few sentences, and in their middle to widen or deepen or sharpen my knowledge of human activity, and to end by giving me a sensation of completed statement." -John Updike-.

A blog should be similar to a story, it needs to inform, entertain or deepen. These simple tips should help.

·         Don’t use big words

·         Be an artist

·         Power in the written work 

1. Don't use big words and long sentences to show the readers how smart you are. They will soon tire of opening the dictionary continually. The reader (tongue in cheek) may say, "I'm reading a story (blog, novel, article, or essay) and the dictionary at the same time."
2. Writers are artists. The painter uses a brush, the photographer uses a camera, the woodcarver uses a knife, and the writer uses the keyboard to create something from nothing, to breath life into their work. 
3. Writers have a lot of power in their fingertips. The written word is very powerful it can entertain, inspire, anger and educate. The written word changes lives. 

Writers possess an acute sense of awareness and a vivid, colorful imagination. Use these qualities often and use them well. Always think of your audience when writing. Reach out to them-- touch them in some way--evoke a reaction.

Have fun and strengthen your descriptions with this writing exercise from About.com Creative Writing. Choose from one of three scenarios: Describe a landscape as seen by an old woman whose horrible old husband has just died, describe a lake as seen by a young man who has just murdered someone, or describe a landscape as seen by a bird.

Leave your scenario in the comments.

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2 comments 'Quotes on Writing', blog, Cherley Grogg, creative artists, creative writing, easy, exercise, learning from mistakes, little words

Soothing the Writer's Inner Soul

As writers, we interview glamorous subjects or humble townsfolk, all who have a story worth sharing. Or we devise fictional characters, both good and evil, and spin their stories into tight, intricate plots. Often, we put a great deal of stock into these fictional and non-fiction expose`s. And sometimes, it seems like we cater to their every whim, ignoring our own personal needs.

When writers immerse themselves so deeply that they forget about themselves, trouble is bound to occur. The brain fogs. Ideas stop flowing. Creativity goes kaput. The next thing we know, we run into a mental block that's stronger than a jolting sip of espresso. We fail to see the big picture because the small steps to get there look bleak and daunting.

That's why writers need to take care of themselves physically and mentally. These building blocks of positive thinking can help you break out of a creative downslide.

1. Assume the Attitude. If we express a negative opinion, nothing positive will result. We make a conscious choice every morning as soon as we wake up, electing either to take an optimistic outlook or a pessimistic point of view. Assume a positive attitude, write your new mantra and mean it. Your writing will improve.
2. Breathe deeply. Fresh air clears negativity and a single focus. Just spending a few minutes outside offers a new outlook and provides a fresh source of oxygen. It's bound to rejuvenate our thinking!
3. Create time for you. If your writing schedule is anything like mine, there are days when I feel I'm writing 24/7. It's not an organization problem. It's assignment overload! Am I complaining? Heck, no! I welcome the challenge. But many writers wonder when they will have to write for themselves. I have the same concerns sometimes, but by blocking a set time for me, I allow myself time from my paying assignments to create personal essays, poetry, and fiction. And who knows? Those works may one day capture an editor's attention.
4. Drink H2O. It's true. Water replenishes the body and the soul. Stay hydrated while you're pounding away at the keyboard. A cool glass of ice water sparks your metabolism, or so I've been told, so I keep a cool glass near and drink up when I'm feeling a bit of brain drain.
5. Ease into an exercise routine. Whether you choose a spiritual path by assuming yoga poses, pump weights and do cardio, or practice belly dancing in your office chair while typing, tackling an exercise program will pump up your energy level.
6. Fight stress. Writers, you recognize when stress creeps up. You're accustomed to creating tension on the page. Now, you need to recognize when it interferes with your writing routine. Combat stress by using one of the above tips or by simply taking a break from your current project.

Staying healthy mentally and physically builds our writing stamina and mentality, and that's important for the real and fictional subjects we write about.

by WOW! columnist and blogger LuAnn Schindler. Learn more about her work at http://luannschindler.com

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2 comments exercise, LuAnn Schindler, managing stress, mental clarity, positive attitude, staying healthy, writers stress

Fitting in Writing Time

We writers often discuss this, finding time to write. It's not so bad when you're single and childless, except when you give in to procrastination, which even the best writers do at times. If writing were as easy as sitting down and churning out an endless stream of words without pause, many more books would be written. Maybe. Once you add in family obligations, day jobs, children and outside stresses, finding this time becomes more difficult. Some find it impossible and give up altogether, watching the years pass as their dream of publishing a novel or book of poetry fades away.

There is something we can do, even in the midst of chaos, to complete our short stories, our book of essays or our novel. One page a day. That doesn't sound like much, but pages, like pennies, do add up. Even on your busiest day, instead of giving up on writing because you're too tired, too stressed or uninspired, just try for that one page. In a month, you'll have 30 pages. In a year, 365 pages.

On those days when you have more time, you can spend them going over what you've already written. You can edit and polish and try to make it perfect. Instead of viewing the task of completing a book as huge and insurmountable, you can break it up into single sheets of paper that aren't as intimidating. One page a day will yield something tangible and complete one day. When you break it down like that, it almost sounds easy, doesn't it?

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2 comments Del Sandeen, exercise, finding time to write, writing, writing craft

Finding Time to Write

A number one complaint I hear from my writing friends is, "I don't have enough time to write." I wrote an earlier post about the ABC's of writing--Apply Butt to Chair. This time, I have a couple suggestions on finding time to write, and these may seem strange at first. But please, read on, and maybe even try one.

FIND YOUR BEST TIME OF DAY
Are you a morning glory or night owl? Do your creative juices flow with the rays of the sun or the glow of the stars? If you can figure this out, you could produce more quality work and probably more words per minute. The Internet is full of quizzes on finding your right time of day as well as articles with research on honoring your internal clock. Just go to any search engine, type in “morning person,” and check out a few of the sites.

Writer Lou Turner prefers to write at night because it’s quiet. “I live in a house with two sons, one husband, one grandson during the week, two male dogs, and one male cat. And none of them can find the kitchen or laundry rooms by themselves. When they go to bed, I turn off MTV, the golf channel and rock station, put my ceiling fan on low, open the window a crack so I can hear the fountain outside, and I write.”

Night writing doesn’t work for everyone. Writer Amy Harke-Moore says, “At night, a brain fog sets in.” When working on a deadline, she has written at all times of the day and found the morning to be her favorite.

Everyone is different. Taking the time to figure out when you are the freshest and when your creative juices are flowing can produce more quantity and quality in your writing.

EXERCISE
What does the E-word have to do with writing? Believe me, sometimes I wonder the same thing.
In The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wellness, authors Patricia Smith and Muriel MacFarlane tell us, “Working out can improve mental vigor, reaction time, acuity, math skills, creativity, and imagination.” Scientists have conducted studies on the connection between individuals who exercise and their response time to mental challenges or their improved scores on intellectual tests. With a healthy flow of blood and oxygen, the brain is protected and works better.

I have to admit when I exercise, I have more energy in all aspects of my life. If I have more energy for everything, that means I have more for my family and friends and job, but most importantly—my writing.

Exercise has a fringe benefit, too. It gives you time to think about those parts of your story, article, or poem that are driving you crazy. During a set of jumping jacks, you can rescue your hero from the villain. While racing around the track, you may create the perfect title for the love poem you polished off the night before. Cycling down a forest trail allows time to discover another spin on a nonfiction article about spider webs. Besides more energy and time to work out plot points, the fat will fall off, muscles will tighten, and you can eat more chocolate whenever you get writer’s block.



**A portion of this post originally appeared in Beginnings Magazine, Summer/Fall 2004

by Margo Dill
www.margodill.com

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2 comments exercise, finding time to write, Margo Dill, morning person, night owl, writing time