Move Your Mind: Forward Folds for Focus
Something fresh to start your week
Move Your Mind is a short exercise to start your week in the realm of Yoga Culture’s Yoga & Writing. Sometimes metaphorical, other time scientific, we explore new directions with fun.
Please read this disclaimer for your own safety before performing any of these activities.
Thanks for joining us today!
Forward Folds for Focus
Standing forward fold — Uttanasana
Upward forward fold — Ardha uttanasana
Seated forward fold — Paschimottanasana
One legged forward fold — Janu shirasana
If you’re like me, you might avoid forward folds at times, because it feels uncomfortable at first. But if you have a an asana practice, you really can’t avoid it for long! The more we practice forward fold, the easier it feels. We are also able to understand our bodies’ unique movements into the pose better.
In this video, I’ll share a few techniques and also discuss the way a forward fold can calm the mind, allowing us to focus (on our writing!).
For those of you who like metaphor (me!), you might also consider the stuff you don’t enjoy as a writer and the way these can get easier if we force ourself to practice them. For some, it might be editing grammar or specifically commas; for others, it could be using a solid introduction; for more still, it might be writing something that is digestible by a wider audience. What is it for you?
Before you start — You might want to use a chair, blocks, and a pillow or blanket for this activity.
Video - click to see play button if you’re on the app:
Notes and resources:
I find these easier to do in the morning after going on a walk (or easier still at the end of the day if you’ve been walking around a lot)
Bending the knees is a great way to ease into the pose! I recommend keeping a micro-bend in the knee throughout unless you feel completely relaxed with straight legs.
Be aware of your limits; overstretching doesn’t help anyone!
I know it’s harder to see with the camera facing the windows…but I just cleaned them with a squeegee and wanted to show them off. :)
Another great demo and explanation from Eddie Stern and Michael Baidoo on Instagram
More detailed instructions (might be useful if you feel strange in one part of your body or are having trouble getting into the pose)
Let us know how you feel when you try it! Have a great week.
I'm so glad I found you! I love combining movement and writing. Using yoga as a metaphor for writing challenges is a great idea. Thank you.
For me, forward folds remind me to look inward. When I do a fold, I'm literally looking at myself (my legs). No matter which position I'm in, my field of vision is limited. On some days, this can be claustrophobic. But once I settle, it's comforting.
Need to give these a try. My flexibility isn't where I'd like it to be. During lockdown, I improved a lot because we did a lot of home strength and flexibility conditioning (well, I should say, my lovely wife forced me to do such! 🤣) but I've been rubbish at keeping up with that.
The metaphor angle is great. I'm not sure what my most uncomfortable parts of writing are, but it's got me thinking.
Also, I'm currently at a work retreat for a couple of days, so my reading is behind at the moment Kate, but your posts are in my inbox waiting :)