If Yoga and Meditation are central practices in your life, then you know their potential to help you still your mind and get present. Writing holds the same promise, says Elena Brower, a yoga and meditation teacher in New York City. “Every time I have been in a tough spot or can’t make sense of a particular event, I turn to my journal,” she says. “Once I organize my thoughts, I’m more capable of accessing the lesson that’s hidden within whatever I’m facing.”
Written by Meghan Rabbitt
If you’d love to write but something’s holding you back, follow Brower’s tips for finding your flow:
Create a cozy writing space. Set aside a corner of your desk that you keep clean for journaling, or place a candle next to your comfiest chair to light when you’re ready to start writing. No matter where you choose to write, do it in a space that feels special and inviting.
Choose your medium wisely. If the blank page intimidates you, buy a journal that has prompts, such as Brower’s new book, Practice You. It’s filled with instructions and inquiries that will inspire fresh perspectives and help you stay on track with your intentions.
Write before, or after, you meditate. Sometimes Brower writes before she sits—and it helps clear her headspace so her meditation feels easier. Other times, she finds writing comes more easily after meditating. Try both, and see which works best for you.
Resist the urge to edit yourself. “Go ahead and make a mess,” says Brower. If you begin writing from a place of
uncertainty, just keep putting down your thoughts as they surface—don’t hesitate to consider what they mean. Instead, “trust that the mess will lead you to order,” says Brower, “and maybe even help you ascertain what to do next.”
This article was first published in the print edition of Yoga Journal Singapore, which is now Yogahood Online.
