From the Pose to the Pen: How Yoga Can Improve Your Writing

This ancient practice can help modern writers

Credit: Neonbrand/Unsplash

Yoga and writing may not appear related at first, but the practice of yoga and meditation can have clear and tangible benefits for any writer.

In his bestseller and classic On Writing Well, William Zinsser writes that “clear thinking becomes clear writing; one can’t exist without the other.” In his opinion — and mine — a “muddy thinker” is going to have a harder time writing clearly, succinctly, and successfully.

Thinking clearly is a skill that you have to cultivate. As Zinsser puts it, it’s a conscious act that “writers must force on themselves.” It may come easier to some, but consistent practice and dedication are required to strengthen it. You can get there through years of practicing writing in the flow. But yoga and meditation can help you nurture the skill much more quickly.

At this point, you may be wondering how stretching is going to have a positive effect on writing. Sure, exercise is good for you and an important facet of overall wellbeing, but the physical exertion of practicing yoga poses is not what I’m talking about. Exercise may help you as a writer non-directly, but it’s the meditative portion of yoga and related mindfulness practices that can have direct and powerful…