Hello,
You have heard of the saying "Creatives/Artists need to sit around and do nothing" something like that. I have to say that it is not my favorite. I feel that it should be "Creatives/Artists need to live."
I do my best work from going out and living life. I need my friends, need to laugh, need to be active and then take all that energy, take all the moments and feelings to the canvas.
I thought I would share 4 experiences that fuel me.
1. Concerts
I love live music. The energy, the liveliness of the audience. Everyone singing together. We are all there to dance and belt it out and that togetherness is contagious ... frisson. Here are a couple musicians I am recommending to see that will get you off your feet.
Trombone Shorty
Cold War Kids
2. Fitness
I am obsessed with working out, but "running makes me feel free." (Mizuno pay me for that quote!) You don't need anything to run. Just your feet and you go; slow or fast. You move, you loosen up and that knowing you can "GO" is the free feeling. Biking makes me feel swift, like I am the wind. Yoga makes me feel peace. Deep, slow breathing and stretching that opens my muscles, my joints, my body. I feel a release and then serenity. Swimming makes me feel tranquil; that BlueMind happiness kicks in. The water wraps me up while moving me with the waves. Walking makes me see. I look at houses, trees, gardens, people and the sky on my walks. I see shapes, sizes and colors. These activities are rousing and bring wellness and good vibes.
I am not a trainer. These are my own workouts. Here are a couple mini bricks to get your blood pumping. Please be careful not to push yourself and work with a trainer for safety and learning experiences.
1.
30 minute run or walk or bike
Yoga: 2 breath holds: Hands together at heart, arms up to extended Mountain > hands open, arms open to mini standing Camel, back to extended Mountain > swan dive hands to floor > half way lift, hands to floor again > jump back to plank > tricep push up to floor > Up Dog > Downward facing dog > Right leg lift > Left leg lift, Right leg lift, Left leg lift > Downward facing dog > Up Dog > Sphinx > Down to belly, left arm stretched out, roll body to left side, back to center > stretch out right arm, roll body to right ride, back to center > legs squeeze together, mini Cobra > belly down > Bow pose > Roll to right side plank, roll to left side plank, center plank, knees down > Cat Cow: 4 reps > up to Toe Sit > down to Saddle pose to Reclining Saddle, up roll to Rabbit > sit legs straight out to Caterpillar > right leg in, left forearm down, right arm stretch over head, left leg in right forearm down, left arm stretch over head > Caterpillar > Butterfly fold over > Half lotus, right side to Square, half Lotus left side Square > Spine Twist right, Spine Twist left, back down, Supine left, Supine right > Happy Baby, extend left, extend right > Wind Removing > Good Morning stretch > Savasana
2.
Swim: 100 Free warm up > 50 Back > 100 Free > 50 Breast > 100 Free > 50 Fly > 100 Free > 50 Frog cool down
Yoga: 2 breath holds: Standing Deep Breathing Pose (Pranayama) > Half Moon Right, Half Moon Left, Half Moon Backbend, Half Moon Forward Fold Hand to feet> Up to Extended Mountain> Warrior 1 left > Warrior 2 Left > Reverse Warrior > Triangle Left > Extended Mountain > Warrior 1 Right > Warrior 2 Right> Reverse Warrior > Triangle Right > Extended Mountain > Warrior 1 Left > Dragon Left > Half Split Left > Pigeon Left > Seal > Pigeon Right > Half Split Right > Dragon Right > Warrior 1 Right > Up Dog > Downward Dog > Up Dog > Downward Dog > Puppy Pose > Frog > Child Pose > Savasana
3. Flowers
Flowers make you happy; this is true, they are beautiful and smell good. I teach flower workshops. I teach tips about flowers and flower arranging. This experience is therapeutic. What fuels me the most are the colors. Mother Nature is a creative too. Sign up for my next flower workshop. You may just find your next color pallet or get inspired to write about beauty or find your next photo subject.
4. The Beach
The beach is my happy place. I have beach ritual. I set up my hair with a leave in hair treatment. I bike to the beach very early in the morning only stopping to pick up a favorite sandwich at the Chicago Bagel Authority. I eat breakfast on the beach and lay out until early afternoon. Then head home for lunch and a shower. A perfect morning. The shades of the water and the sky is a lovely color pallet even on a cloudy day. I collect rocks and at the beach they are interesting shades and shapes and textures. The water is so pulling I cannot jog or bike or walk at the beach because, I constantly stop to take photos of the waves.
