Creative Stretch

There's still time to join me for Yoga & The Artist's Way, beginning September 13th! Learn more at https://doyogawithclara.com/artistsway/ Get a Taste of Yoga & The Artist's Way at https://doyogawithclara.com/artistswaytaste/ There is a corresponding yoga practice on my YouTube channel. Add the yoga asana (poses) practice to this mindfulness practice for a full experience! Watch the video at https://youtu.be/ef3yHA_RaOM This week, we explore how to stay open-hearted, especially when it is difficult. I'd love to hear how the practice is going for you. Let me know! Facebook & Instagram @doyogawithclara

Join me for Yoga & The Artist's Way beginning September 13th! Get a taste of what's in store for this 14-week journey to rekindle your creativity at https://doyogawithclara.com/artistswaytaste/ This week, we look at tools to cope with being highly empathic creative individuals in a world with heavy news that just seems so sticky. Connect with me on the socials: FB @doyogawithclara IG @doyogawithclara

Dealing with self-doubt is something that creatives have to learn how to compartmentalize and cope with. This week, let's take a look at strategies that yoga in mindfulness offers us for dealing with self-doubt. Practice with the follow-along video at https://youtu.be/1-fyU_AmoZw Here's the song from [title of show] that I mention early in the episode: https://open.spotify.com/track/6Jdjzn2YDarrZYjogvRelM?si=2d52cf031fa7414b Also, you'll notice the sound's a little different. I recorded this while waiting outside my son's school to pick him up, so there is some road noise. And at 91 degrees and the car windows rolled up, there's some extra mouth noise as I got progressively dehydrated! Yoga & The Artist's Way a 14-week journey to rekindle your creativity Begins September 13th http://doyogawithclara.com/artistsway Vocal Rx a 5-week exploration of practical tips for a healthy & dynamic voice Begins September 8th http://doyogawithclara.com/vocalrx

Do you feel like your voice is stymied? Maybe it feels that way because of physical challenges with our voice. Maybe we feel like an external or internal force tamps down our voice. Maybe we are at a loss of words to express a big or complicated feeling or emotion. Let’s look at three ways to address how to unblock your beautiful voice. Be sure to check out the special modified sun salutation I created just for this episode! Want to learn more about your voice and how to keep it dynamic for a lifetime? Join me for: Vocal Rx A 5-week journey to fall in love with your voice. http://doyogawithclara.com/vocalrx I’ll be doing The Artist’s Way beginning in September, to finish up by the end of the year and start the new year with a renewed creative spirit. Join me for: Yoga & The Artist’s Way http://doyogawithclara.com/artistsway

This week, from the floor of Podcast Movement in Nashville, TN, we play with the practice of The Sacred Pause. It's a mindfulness technique that takes just a moment - a pause. Practice with me! Upcoming Workshops: Vocal Rx - Practical Tips for a Healthy & Dynamic Voice A 5-week course to cultivate understaning, awareness, and practices to speak freely and with more ease. Whether you have a vocal concern or just feel like your voice is stymied on the mental or emotional level, we will learn about how the voice is produced, what impacts it, and what we can do to support a healthy & dynamic voice for a lifetime. Register today! http://doyogawithclara.com/vocalrx/ Yoga & The Artist's Way Join me on a journey of rekindling your creative spirit with Yoga & The Artist's Way. Following the program outlined in Julia Cameron's book of creative rediscovery, The Artist's Way, we will gather - virtually - each week for a gentle yoga practice to support our creativity, and to chat about that week's progress. Learn more and register at: http://doyogawithclara.com/artistsway/

Join me for feel-good stretchy yoga and mindfulness to feel more at ease in body, heart, and mind, so you can tap more freely into your creative flow. I'm Clara, an actor, writer, producer...oh yes, and a yoga teacher. I offer compact practices that support creative people to find more ease and joy in their creative flow. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, and be sure to check out the Yoga with Clara YouTube channel for more feel-good stretchy yoga & mindfulness. doyogawithclara.com

Tapping into our sensory experience is an essential part of the creative process. This week, we explore a practice that helps us notice our sensory experiences more - and a few practices to help deal with when those senses get overwhelmed. How is this supporting your creativity? Let me know how it goes at clara@doyogawithclara.com. Mentioned in the Episode: EMDR - Here's an article that explains it...thoroughly! https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/ This Moment in America - the big project with my audio drama podcast Check out the website here: http://swampwitchstudio.com/thismomentinamerica And listen to the announcement here: https://swampwitchstudio.libsyn.com/site/013-a-special-announcement-we-want-to-hear-your-story

In this unique podcast, I share why I “disappeared” for two months and what you can expect to see in this space going forward. I hope you’ll join me! Following a major personal loss, I have made the choice to lean in more fully to my practice of yoga, its junction with creativity. Coming in September: There will be two opportunities to join me in the practice of yoga and creativity - and I need your feedback! Yoga & the Artist’s Way - a 14-week journey through yoga and Julia Cameron’s seminal book Question: What is on your wish list for this offering? Vocal Rx: Practices for a Healthy & Dynamic Voice - a short course to learn about your voice, common vocal issues, and practices to keep it vibrant and healthy for a lifetime. Including a few moments of me geeking out over anatomy and the beauty of our human bodies, and a lot of yoga and mindfulness to help you learn to love your voice. Question: Would you prefer a 4-, 5- or 6- week course? Email me your thoughts! clara@doyogawithclara.com Join my mailing list so you’ll be the first to know about registration for these offerings. Also discussed in the episode: Curious Universe: Interpreting Our Universe: https://www.nasa.gov/mediacast/interpreting-our-universe Apod: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod Artist’s Way Book: https://juliacameronlive.com/the-artists-way/ Podcast Movement: https://2021.podcastmovement.com/ Night Owl Theatre: http://swampwitchstudio.com/nightowltheatre Great Monologues Coaching Call Podcast: http://greatmonologuescoaching.com

Continuing to work with the 3-part breath, this week we use a visualization technique and notice what arises - and how we meet that. Want to practice with me live? I record the mindfulness and meditation podcast episodes on Wednesdays at noon Eastern on Facebook & YouTube. YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara

As we encounter an ever changing world, how can we embrace the qualities of a warrior - the ones you choose to inhabit - as we explore three Warrior variations: Warrior I, Reverse Warrior, and Humble Warrior. And for those of you curious about the Jekyll & Hyde song I mentioned, you’re welcome. This is Colm Wilkinson’s performance on the 1990 concept album. You can listen to the Broadway Cast Recording on Spotify, or your favored music listening app. You can view photos of the poses at http://doyogawithclara.com/68 Want to practice with me live? I record the movement podcast episodes on Wednesdays at noon Eastern on Facebook & YouTube. YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara

What is my response? That is the question you are invited into this week as we continue our exploration of the 3-part breath, this time exploring a longer exhale. Want to practice with me live? I record the mindfulness and meditation podcast episodes on Wednesdays at noon Eastern on Facebook & YouTube. YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara

Gently invite your hips into more ease with some movement and stretching. There is an extended introduction offering variations and adaptations for the squat. If you prefer to skip straight to the movement, skip to 06:42. You can view photos of the poses at http://doyogawithclara.com/68 Want to practice with me live? I record the movement podcast episodes on Wednesdays at noon Eastern on Facebook & YouTube. YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara

This week, we continue our practice of the three-part breath and tune into the connection between the breath and how we feel in body, mind, and heart. Want to practice with me live? I record the mindfulness and meditation podcast episodes on Wednesdays at noon Eastern on Facebook & YouTube. YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara

While breathing may be involuntary, often our breath can feel held, difficult, or just not natural. There are many times when an easy breath may not feel available to us. On the other hand, there are times when our mental or emotional state feels stuck, difficult, or just not natural. Often, being able to take a moment to connect with our breath can impact our mental and emotional state positively. The mind/body link, as relates to the breath, is powerful. You are invited into a practice to notice the breath in three parts as it moves in and out of the body. Even if you find your breath is held, difficult, or just not natural, you can join in by just imagining the breath moving in the three places we’ll explore in this episode. It is my hope that with a gentle invitation to explore the breath, we can all find our way to a natural breath and settled mind. Photos of the poses from today’s practice are available at: https://doyogawithclara.com/66 Want to practice with me live? I record the mindfulness and meditation podcast episodes on Wednesdays at noon Eastern on Facebook & YouTube. YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara

65 - Breathing with Ease While breathing may be involuntary, often our breath can feel held, difficult, or just not natural. There are many times when an easy breath may not feel available to us. On the other hand, there are times when our mental or emotional state feels stuck, difficult, or just not natural. Often, being able to take a moment to connect with our breath can impact our mental and emotional state positively. The mind/body link, as relates to the breath, is powerful. You are invited into a practice to notice the breath in three parts as it moves in and out of the body. Even if you find your breath is held, difficult, or just not natural, you can join in by just imagining the breath moving in the three places we’ll explore in this episode. It is my hope that with a gentle invitation to explore the breath, we can all find our way to a natural breath and settled mind. Want to practice with me live? I record the mindfulness and meditation podcast episodes on Wednesdays at noon Eastern on Facebook & YouTube. YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara

Join me in moving with more ease in our everyday life with this simple yoga practice. At just over 10 minutes, it’s an easy practice to fit into the nooks and crannies of your life. See photos of the poses at https://doyogawithclara.com/64/ Want to practice with me live? I record the movement podcast episodes on Mondays at noon Eastern on Facebook & YouTube. YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara

We are using our five senses as a way to anchor more fully in the present moment. This week, we'll use our sense of smell to learn how to pay better attention to what it's like to be ourselves right now, in this moment. Instagram: @doyogawithclara Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Yoga with Clara website: http://doyogawithclara.com Yoga with Clara Merch: https://bit.ly/yogawithclarashop Opening Music: Adventures by A Himitsu https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A Creative Commons Music released by Argofox https://youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8

It's fall! (Well, in the northern hemisphere, anyway.) Let's use the prompt of nature in her changing season to explore our senses, and the stories we have about those sensory experiences. Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 1 serving vanilla protein powder 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 1 inch fresh ginger root 5 ounces milk/milk substitute spices to taste: cinnamon, nutmeg, clove - or use a pumpkin spice blend Place all ingredients in blender and whirl until smooth. To make it more shake-like, measure the pumpkin and yogurt into a freezer-safe container and freeze for a few hours or overnight. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara Instagram: @doyogawithclara YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Yoga with Clara website: http://doyogawithclara.com Yoga with Clara Merch: https://bit.ly/yogawithclarashop Opening Music: Adventures by A Himitsu https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A Creative Commons Music released by Argofox https://youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8

Do you describe yourself as a "busy person?" I know I do! This week, we look at some strategies for weaving deliberate pauses into our day and we do a brief meditation to practice self-care. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara Instagram: @doyogawithclara YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Yoga with Clara website: http://doyogawithclara.com Yoga Class Series Coming Soon! Sign up to know more: https://bit.ly/yogawithclaracourses Yoga with Clara Merch: https://bit.ly/yogawithclarashop Opening Music: Adventures by A Himitsu https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A Creative Commons Music released by Argofox https://youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8

Self-care can look like a lot of things. Let's look at what works for you, and then choose just one thing. I'd love to hear what that one thing is! Let me know on Facebook or Instagram. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyogawithclara Instagram: @doyogawithclara YouTube: http://bit.ly/yogawithclarayoutube Yoga with Clara website: http://doyogawithclara.com Yoga Class Series Coming Soon! Sign up to know more: https://bit.ly/yogawithclaracourses Yoga with Clara Merch: https://bit.ly/yogawithclarashop Opening Music: Adventures by A Himitsu https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A Creative Commons Music released by Argofox https://youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8