Creativity Catalyst Blog

Do a little time traveling through your life and think about the people who have supported your artist. Think back in increments of five years. Was there a college professor who raved about your work? An elementary school teacher who encouraged you to enter your class project into the art fair? A friend who is willing to read your first draft without a critical eye? Make a list of three standout
supporters. These are your artist champions. They encourage you to create even when you don’t believe in yourself. They give constructive criticism and aren’t critical. They’re standing in your corner rooting you on to create.

Give one of your artist champions a call or write them a letter of appreciation. Let them know that you are thankful for their support. It can be a quick email or hand written letter. I talked to one of my artist champions last week and wrote another an email today!

XO,
Natalie

Humble Warrior is a multi-faceted standing posture. It encourages a deep hip opener while actively working the glutes, legs and opening the shoulders and heart-space. This pose represents the act of humility and surrender. As we let go of the outcome, judgment or expectation of what we create, our creativity has the ability to flow freely and unbounded. Try this pose to bow to your inner artist and surrender to the process. To try this pose, start by coming into Downward Dog. Step your right foot forward right next to your right thumb and spin your back heel down. On your inhale, rise to Warrior 1. From your Warrior 1, exhale as you interlace your hands behind your back and roll the shoulders back. Take a deep inhale and open your heart. As you exhale, bow forward toward the earth as your interlaced hands extend toward the sky. As you remain in this pose, breathe deeply and surrender to the moment. Bow to your inner artist. To come out, release your hands to the earth and step to Downward Dog. Repeat on the other side.

Namaste,
Ashley

We all know that our mind needs stimulation to grow and evolve. And so does our inner artist. It needs new images, sights and sounds to create something new. Instead of reading while you’re sitting at the coffee shop or texting while waiting in line, put them down and take in what’s around you. This may seem challenging at first because we’re all used to stimulating our minds in these ways, but what they’re doing is distracting us. Feed your artist with images.

This week take a break outside and people watch for an hour without looking at your phone or doing something else. Take in the images around you.

XO,
Natalie

Begin by finding a comfortable seat where you can stay for awhile. Begin to observe your breath. Notice the natural rhythm of your inhalation and your exhalation. Observe how after you complete your inhalation, there is a slight pause before your exhalation. And, how after your exhalation, there is a slight pause before your next inhalation. Become aware of these pauses. Do not try to lengthen the pauses or deliberately hold your breath- just notice the space between your breaths. Feel the expansiveness between each breath. Feel the beginning, the middle and the end. Allow yourself to be the observer of your breath. Continue this meditation for as long as you’d like. You are practicing the art of awareness.

XO
Ashley

Your inner artist is like a child. When you were younger you used your imagination more and allowed yourself to daydream. Your stuffed animals were your students, your coloring book was an art piece and things were made out of thin air. As we get older we tend to limit our thoughts. Our world becomes more rigid and less playful. But our inner artist thrives on those creative child-like thoughts and behavior.

In order to nurture your artist child you must do what all kids want, spend some quality time with it. Every week take your artist out on date. Do something alone, no kids, spouse or friends. Just you and your artist. Go bowling, fishing, hiking or take a cooking or painting class. It may seem silly or frightening going out and doing something alone, but it’s important self nurture that your inner artist will appreciate. Allow yourself to do something different, you never know what your artist may like.

Start taking your artist child out this week and make it a priority every week.

XO,
Natalie

Warrior 2 or Virabhadrasana II (in sanskrit) is a grounding pose that builds stamina in the mind/body, mobility in the hips and strength in the legs, core and arms.  This pose is great way to tap into your creative center by allowing yourself to feel grounded.  From a standing position, take a wide stance with your legs.  Turn your entire left leg out to face left and turn your right toes in slightly.  Feel your feet root down into the earth.  With your hands on your hips, bend your left knee and align your left knee with your left ankle.  Firm your back leg as you hug your left hip into center.  Feel a spiraling motion of your inner left thigh rotate up toward your outer left thigh and hug back toward your outer left hip.  This allows you to experience the external rotation of the left hip.  Lengthen your tailbone.  Spread your arms out wide, extending through your fingertips.  To experience a more grounded sensation in this shape, turn your palms open to the sky and allow your head to stay in line with your heart.  Choose to close your eyes or leave them open.  Remain here for five deep breaths.  As you inhale, feel the heart expand and as you exhale, imagine your breath moving into your feet.  Feel the ground underneath your feet and the expansiveness of the breath. To come out, straighten your left leg, relax the arms, and parallel the feet.  Follow the same instructions for the right side.

XO

Ashley

In order to regain your creativity, you first have to find it. To do that you must sift through your thoughts. The best way to do this is journaling. Every day, preferably in the morning before you start your routine, write a few pages in a journal. Let the thoughts flow freely as you’re not looking to find anything in particular. This will help clear your mind of the stress, clutter, daily lists and thoughts that are getting in the way of your creativity.

Even if you feel like you have nothing to say, write. If you have to write, “I don’t know what to write” until a thought comes, then do that. Write 2-3 pages every day. This daily journaling will become a meditation practice, as you are clearing out your mind and allowing creativity to enter.

Try writing every day for two months then track your creative process. Do you find yourself yearning to be more creative? Did you pick up your old guitar again? Find time to start a blog? Buy new paints?

It may surprise you what daily journaling can do for your mind.

Xo,
Natalie

[image above taken from here]

The word “chakra” means “wheel” or “disk” in Sanskrit.  Chakras are energy centers that run from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. There are seven chakras that are located in our subtle body.  These chakras contain vital energy that dictates how we behave, how the physical body functions, and how we experience and perceive information in the external and internal worlds in which we live.  Fascinatingly enough, our chakras, though in our subtle body, are located within reach from nerve plexuses in the physical body.  Understanding the function of chakras in our bodies can help illuminate how we can feel comfortable in our physical bodies, how we can create successful relationships (with ourselves & with others) and how we can achieve a state of inner peace and balance.   In facilitating our creative process, chakras can illuminate areas where we need to do some self-study to open our creative center.

1. Muladhara Chakra is your root support.  The root chakra is connected to the base of the spine and points downward between the legs toward the ground.  It is the color red.  It connects the subtle energy system to the earth.  It supports our will to live and supplies our bodies with vitality.  Its energy is associated with our need for food, shelter, and the basic necessities of life.
2. Svadisthana Chakra is the seat of your creativity.  The second chakra is connected to the sacrum.  Its color is orange.  It is associated with reproduction, sexuality, physical enjoyment, and the attractive aspects of relationships. It can be associated with guilt. It is our center of creativity.   It houses our “gut feeling”.
3. Manipura Chakra is your power base. The third chakra is connected to the solar plexus area.  Its color is yellow.  It brings in and sends out the energy necessary for self-expression.  This is also called the power center.  Confidence and purpose as well as fear and anger can be located here.
4. Anahata Chakra is your heart center. The fourth chakra is connected to the center of the chest near the physical heart.  Its color is green.  Love, joy, respect and surrender are the attributes of this chakra.  Spiritual guidance and higher consciousness can also come through the heart chakra.
5. Vishuddha Chakra is  your communication center.  The fifth chakra is located in the throat area.  Its color is blue.  This chakra is associated with the expression of creativity through speaking or writing.   It is also involved in contemplation and some of the aspects of thinking and planning.  How we relate to others and especially to groups manifests through this chakra.
6. Ajna Chakra is the seat of your wisdom.  The sixth chakra is located between the eyebrows
   and is also called the third eye.  Its color is purple or indigo.  Self-awareness, wisdom higher consciousness, clairvoyance, simple knowing, visualization, and conceptual thinking are the attributes of this chakra.
7. Sahasrara Chakra is your mystical center.  The seventh chakra is located at the top of the head and extends jut above the bead.  Its color is white or violet.   It connects us directly to the the higher power and spiritual consciousness.

Sources:  Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Manual Level 1 & Chakra Meditation by Swami Saradananda

Looking forward to learning more about Chakras and how to open to your creative potential?  Sign up for our blog here to read more posts.

XO,

Ashley

Spring is the perfect time to revive your creativity. As the earth sheds it’s cold winter skin, so can we. Let today be the mark of a new beginning. When new ideas come to mind don’t let the idea pass you by, instead write it down.

Try to keep a small pen and paper in your car to write creative ideas down as they come to you. Or use notes and voice recorder apps on your phone.

Xo,
Natalie

New blog writer and inspirational muse of Creativity Flow Yoga!

http://www.natalienotions.com

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