I recently attended a week long Yoga retreat.
Ahhhhh……… Or is it Ommmmm. 🙂
I came back to the studio alive and renewed. And the things that helped that to happen were pretty simple.
- Take gentle walks often
- Listen to my gut
- Breathe to align my body
These 3 things feed my art practice as well as my healthy body.
Walks
I always get ideas and clear focus when I take a walk. I get:
- Photos that inspire stencils
- New energy that lets me shed critical judgements
- Ideas for new classes from the scenery
Listen to my Gut
This one can be common sense, but sometimes we get lost analyzing thoughts, or seeking advice from others.
We can listen to our “gut” on a physical level or on a mental level.
Way’s to listen to your artist’s gut:
- Make a mess
- Stop and call a piece done after just a couple of marks
- Take the class that you have be dreaming about
- Let go of old supplies or work that is weighing you down
Breathe to align
This insight was kind of specific to my yoga retreat, but I think I can still make an art analogy.
The breath is always there.
Hence it could be a great anchor to what is right in front of you right now.
Three ways the breath could align you with your art practice:
- Use an intentional inhale to step away from your piece and admire it
- Use a big sighing exhale as you finish a step – acknowledge your efforts
- If you are stumped and do not know how to proceed, maybe notice whether or not you are breathing in a way that brings in new ideas.
Happy Printing!
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