Move your body, awaken your writing
How does the body communicate with the brain when it comes to creation? Whether it’s the tension built up in my shoulders and neck from being hunched over my laptop, or the spark-like pain from sciatica that shoots down my lower back and leg like lightening, the body talks.
Recently, I made the decision to slow down and actually listen to my body and add stretching into my own writing sessions. I’ve started to be a bit more open about my experiences with writing and movement. In response, I’ve had some folks say really strange things like “pain is part of the art, part of the struggle,” and “stretching is just procrastination” or “what the heck does stretching have to do with writing?” and to answer the latter, “a lot!”
Last year I took a fabulous writing and movement course with Abena Beloved Green and it opened up my creativity in really joyful ways. Incorporating dance and writing prompts while sharing my work with community was a lovely combination and the result was energy, nourishment, and joy. The movement aspect was key. Ok, how was I just realizing this now? PS this was a question that prompted a lush free writing session!
Just like developing a character or complex plot, it takes time to learn (and sometimes relearn) our bodies. Although I am not an expert by any means when it comes to movement and the body, I know my body. Last week after doing a series of hip stretches, the residual anxieties that camped out in my bones floated out of my body. It was a shocking feeling, emotional. What was I keeping trapped in my hips that allowed for such a release through intentional movement? Yes, I did more free writing because the question wouldn’t go away. Because of this movement, I was writing things I wouldn’t have otherwise written.
After doing some digging around online, I learned that the hips hold and house our traumas. And physically, it’s important to stretch the hips since we can’t avoid tightness in the area (we can blame sitting down a lot for this one).
Just like writing processes, my movement routine is unique to me based on my needs and abilities. I’ve tried lots of things: working with a personal trainer for strength training, trying my hand at yoga, and even dancing. I found that I enjoy pulling elements from all of these genres of movement. Creating my own patchwork quilt roadmap for movement that suited my body and capabilities has truly helped me to continue to define and shape my writing practice.
For this reason, we’ve made it a point to include wellness and care as huge parts of our Forever Writers Club program. Being a writer is so much more than learning and mastering a craft. Listening to and honouring our bodies is no longer something we can take for granted.
I look forward to working on this with all of you this winter when we launch the club. How to find, build, and maintain a movement practice and apply it to our creative work is something we’ll explore together as a group!
Three ways to work with Breathing Space Creative: