5 Exercises For Your Write Brain
by Lisa Heidrich
As
writers we are sometimes cooped up, prisoners to a keyboard and
computer screen for hours… resulting in muscle stiffness, fatigue,
decreased circulation and the possibility of other health issues.
Prevention is easy if we keep the following in mind. Our bodies are
engineered to move, crave refreshment, (washed, filled with good
nutrients and water, moisturized and massaged) and require exercise
(stimulate muscle growth, circulation and strength). Incorporating an
EASY exercise program that fits into our writing schedule entails one
decision,DO
IT.
Exercises for writers begin from the top down and here are a few
suggestions to push you in the WRITE direction.
#1)
POSTURE how is your body alignment as you sit at your favorite
writing place?It is critical to insure proper body alignment and
posture. Shoulders back, feet flat on the floor, knees at ninety
degree angle, chest up and out. Take a deep breath in via the nose
and count to 5, exhale through your mouth 5 seconds with eyes closed.
Feel better? This breathing exercise expands your diaphragm,
stimulates abdominal muscles, and rests your eyes. Lift your
shoulders up toward your ears and hold for 10 seconds, release and
repeat. Turn your head from side to side looking over each shoulder
and hold for ten seconds, repeat keep stretching and rotating your
neck and awakening every tense neck muscle.
#2)
SMILE and hold. Did you know that exercising your facial muscles is
important? Lift your eyebrows up and open your eyes WIDE and hold for
3 seconds, release and repeat. Pucker your lips as far out as you
can then draw them back wide and over your teeth lifting your neck
muscles, making an “OOO” and then “EEE” movement with your
mouth repeat 10 times. No more wrinkles, just smile them away.
#3)
LIFT your arms over your head and stretch fingers as far as you can
reaching for the ceiling, hold for 5 seconds, repeat. Extend your
arms out to the sides at shoulder level and make 8 big circles in a
forward motion and 8 big circles in backward motion.
#4)
PRESS your feet flat on the floor, push toes down becoming tippy
toed, lifting up and tightening your calf muscles. Try this 10 times
then reverse and raise your toes upward using your heels to draw your
calves tight and hold for 7 seconds, repeat. This leg exercise is
great for circulation and will help prevent blood clots from blood
pooling in your legs during sedentary times. Using your thigh muscles
or quads lift up one leg and hold it out straight for 6 seconds, draw
circles rotating your ankle and wiggle your toes do 8-10 sets on each
leg tightening your quads, gluteal muscles, and knees as you lift
each leg.
#5)
HYDRATION, your body needs water, keep a water bottle handy and
remember to refresh yourself with a sip or two every hour as you
write. The follow up to a good workout is always a cool drink.
These
are exercise moves for your work
station workout
to improve circulation, mobility, and range of motion to implement at
your own risk. Consider getting up every hour and taking a walk
around the house 3 times or if you have stairs multiple jaunts will
promote healthy movement, circulation, and refresh your body and
mind. Plus these simple steps will improve your productivity;
eliminate stiffness, and discomfort, from those long writing sessions
while providing revitalization of your creative juices to flow again,
back into your WRITE mind.
