May 25, 2011

One of my health goals is to stop taking so much aspirin and other painkillers. It causes more problems than it helps. This has been an ongoing goal for years, and recently I found something amazingly simple that is really helping!

The Painful Side of Writing

When I started writing, I don’t recall ever reading anything about health problems associated with writing. But sitting for hours, especially at a computer, takes a toll on your neck, back, wrists, and hands. The associated headaches and back pain keep many writers on painkillers of one sort or another.

Then my daughter suggested that I get some yoga DVDs. My initial reaction was negative. My mental image of yoga was of some spaced-out chanting person twisted into an inhuman pretzel. Not for me!

Yoga for Writers (and other stiff people)

I quickly learned that my ideas were outdated. From my library, I checked out “Healing Yoga for Aches & Pains,” which was as soothing as a massage (and got rid of my headache!) I have yet to try “Yoga for Inflexible People.” My favorite DVD so far is Yoga: Sitting Fit Anytime, which has nine separate 3-5 minute segments addressing individual needs of people who sit at computers for hours.

It’s easy to follow, you do it sitting, and it targets neck and shoulder tension, lower back pain, upper back pain, tight hamstrings, headaches, and carpal tunnel problems. There was even a segment for stiff hands and fingers. There was no chanting. (FYI: I skip the New Agey intro–not for me! Just want the stretches.)

Preventive and Restorative

If you don’t have aches and pains from writing, thank heaven. But also consider doing some routine stretching to prevent developing such problems. If you already suffer from head, back and/or arm pain, consider yoga as a drug-free solution. Your body–AND creative mind–will thank you.

[P.S. If you long-time faithful readers thought this sounded like a repeat, you're right. Had a ripping headache today that I finally got rid of with the DVD stretches! Thought you all might need the same reminder I did.]

7 Comments »

1. 

   Thanks for sharing, Kristi! I definitely need to try these. I found “Healing Yoga for Aches and Pains” and one other Yoga DVD available on Netflix for instant viewing through my Wii! Pretty cool.

   Andrea

   Comment by Andrea Buginsky — May 25, 2011 @ 4:53 pm

2. 

   Yoga. Is. Awesome. In fact, I’m going to go do some stretching right now. Bye.

   Comment by Yvette — May 26, 2011 @ 8:35 am

3. 

   Thanks Kristi. I love doing yoga and I find it really helps me maintain flexibility and alleviate pain (I have Lupus-related joint pain). I don’t do the chanting type of yoga either, but I love the poses and the way you must focus on your breathing. I’d never given much thought to the connection between yoga and writing, but it makes sense. Not only does yoga keep my body aligned and more pain-free, but it also helps center me and clear my head, which helps my writing.

   Comment by Emily — May 27, 2011 @ 9:15 am

4. 

   Thanks for the tip, Kristi. I reserved this DVD from my local library.

   Comment by Beth Reinke — May 27, 2011 @ 7:57 pm

5. 

   Thanks for this post. I work at a computer all day and sometimes after-hours at home. I’m dealing with shoulder pain that I believe is due to using my keyboard and mouse at the wrong height. I’ve remedied the ergonomic issues, and my shoulder is recovering. Good to know about the yoga DVD.

   Comment by Liz — May 28, 2011 @ 6:01 am

6. 

   I didn’t like the idea of Yoga, either… until I found the “Basic Yoga Workout…for Dummies” DVD. LOL. It’s simple, no chanting/mediation, and it is still a good workout. But, it goes at a pace that I can follow, too.

   And, there are two different levels: one for beginners, and more advanced moves for those who’ve been practicing for a while. So, you can choose which moves to do lightly, and which to take to the next level.

   ~MizB

   Comment by MizB — May 28, 2011 @ 12:01 pm

7. 

   Everybody, thanks for your comments! I’m glad to know that I’m not the only writer who creaks a lot at the end of the day. I wish I had done a lot more preventative stretching over the years. Now I try to start my day with the yoga stretches instead of waiting until I’m in awful pain. It works better!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — May 28, 2011 @ 2:25 pm

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