How Creativity in Yoga Translates into Creativity in Life

Breathe into the pose.  

Inhale, exhale.  

Hold the pose until you really feel it.  

Breathe. 

Namaste. 

We’ve all heard these phrases during yoga.  It can feel like an amazing expression of ourselves, showing up on the mat day after day to return to the same postures.  Today’s warrior one is not yesterday’s; nor will it be tomorrows. It’s personal, it’s imaginative, it’s original. It’s creative. 

When we really think about our practice day after day it can feel like a challenge to show up and do the same postures and breathwork–even when every day is different. Which is why, even through every different day and every different practice, we must choose to approach each practice with creativity. It makes a big difference. 

Because when we get creative and change things up on our mat it translates to a fun, adaptable energy off the mat, too. Think of patterns and routines we have–when we change those up we are increasing neuroplasticity or choice in the system.  

Here are some easy and fun ways to bring some creativity to your yoga practice – and experience how it changes your life off the mat, too. 

Change it up.

Do you have a favorite place to practice at home or a corner spot in the studio with your favorite instructor at the same exact time each week?  Structure in our practice can be so valuable and we can also really challenge ourselves to go outside of the box.  Maybe we try out a kundalini or meditation class instead of our usual vinyasa.

Switch the flow.

If you love to practice at the same time daily–try journaling or chanting beforehand to change things up.  Maybe pull an oracle card to assist you in setting an intention for your practice.  After savasana, you can free-write to promote clarity of mind and to facilitate more creativity and freedom throughout the rest of your day or week.

Plants. Plants. Plants. 

Did you know that both mammals and insects as well as fungi and plants produce serotonin?  This neurotransmitter assists in regulating our mood as well as creating a lovely, even tone for the nervous system.  Try setting up (or bringing?) a plant near you as you go into your practice.  In humans, serotonin is developed in the enteric nervous system or gut brain, located right at the solar plexus or the third chakra.  Funny how that is exactly where our essence is located too, right?

Get Stimulated. 

If you are practicing at home to your favorite binaural beats change things up and try practicing to fun, upbeat music.  Notice the tone and energy of the room, or perhaps even just the rhythm of the instructor’s playlist. Our nervous system has a beautiful way of matching the environment around us and when we change things up we create more choice in the system.  

Creativity is important for life — both on and off the mat. And bringing more creativity into your life, can start with the simple things: try brushing your teeth tonight with the opposite hand. It’ll feel awkward and uncomfortable at first, but it is so settling for our nervous system right before we go to sleep.  

Creativity is like a muscle–the more we use it the more creativity will flow. Now, let’s try the opening exercise again; this time, we challenge you to get creative in a small and personal way – even for just a couple of breaths. Then, challenge that new energy into life off the mat today, too. 

Breathe into the pose.  

Inhale, exhale.  

Hold the pose until you really feel it.

Breathe.  

Namaste.

Ready to explore a creative practice? Here are some of our favorites:

creativity, mindfulness, yoga, Yoga poses, yoga practice