What do Art and Yoga have in common?
The stretch.
Stretching is about extending our reach, about becoming more limber, loosening up those bones and muscles and becoming more powerful. It’s about living with the uncomfortable because stretching hurts a bit and leaves us a little sore and fatigued.
But, the next day, we’re able to stretch just that little bit further than we could yesterday, the pose becomes a tiny bit easier, a little less uncomfortable – our resilience grows and we get better at it.
All of a sudden, the difficulty of that first stretch seems like a distant memory. You can reach that position easily without that tinge of pain and your sights are now on reaching further. You feel better, more empowered and begin to think, ‘maybe I can do this.’
In art, when we’re trying to learn something new, it’s difficult, often uncomfortable, awkward and it requires a lot of laboured effort to build your skills. But after repetitive action, and some creative stretching, it gets easier. You loosen up into the process and, with time, you’re able to reach further than you ever expected.
Stretch your art. Aim to reach just a little bit further than yesterday. Know that even if you can’t touch your toes or create that art right now, it doesn’t mean you can’t, one day.
Studio Notes:
If you’d like to create more art my bi-monthly email, studio notes is packed with strategies to make time for your creativity, gives you a peek into the studio and delivers encouragement, lessons and more to develop your art.
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ForM is by far my favourite group exhibition of the year to visit and I am honoured to have been one of artists involved in it this year.
If you missed the exhibition, here’s a round up.