Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Sometimes People Are Right

So for the past three or four or nine months, I've been suffering from really tight muscles. Calves, hamstring, IT bands, quads, hips – you name it, it's been sore and tight.

And for months my friends have been telling me I need to do yoga, but I've been reluctant. Yoga is boring, yoga is ... okay yoga is just boring. It's all about breathing, and soothe voices telling you to feel the energy flowing through your feet, and to ground your feet. So I've ignored their advice and have remained sore.

Well yesterday was the last straw....

My soccer coach made us play against 13-14 year old girls who had more energy in their pinkies than we 40 and 50 year women had in our whole bodies. Needless to say I was sore this morning. So I relented. I found a youtube video "Yoga for Runners" and decided to give it a try.

While it didn't take away all my tightness (unfortunately yoga's not magic), it did help quite a bit.

How does this relate to writing?

Well to be honest, I've been resistant to reading craft books. In the past I've found them repetitive and had a hard time applying it to my writing.

But I've been very slowly taking the plunge. Three Words. SAVE THE CAT. Yes I'm a little late to jump on this band wagon, but now I know what all the fuss is about. Next on my list is WRITING SCREEN PLAYS THAT SELL by Michael Hague, because I have it from a few reliable sources that it's a keeper.

So how about you? Is there anything you've been resistant to try?

9 comments:

Stina said...

I'm all for craft books (as you know). Yoga I'm not so hot with. I loved it when I was pregnant, but that was before I started writing. Now I can't drag myself away from my writing long enough to do it. But I should do it. I'm the most inflexible person on the planet.

Emily R. King said...

You're going to LOVE Save The Cat. It doesn't read like your typical craft book, so you'll like that. Enjoy!

Miranda Hardy said...

Glad you were able to help the muscles. Sounds like Yoga is worth it. Lol

I've read craft books, and some were quite boring to me, but others were very helpful.

Connie Keller said...

I do yoga stretches--they're really great for my back. I'll have to google the yoga for runners.


Let us know what you think of Save the Cat. It's one of the few I haven't read, but I've heard great things about it.

Anne Gallagher said...

Gotta love that yoga. I've been dying to read Save the Cat too. Like you, I'm not all that craft booky, but I have read a few. But you're right, they're basically all the same, just said in a different way. Besides, once you know the rules, you can break them.

Melissa Amateis said...

I've been resistant to yoga, too, probably because the one time I tried it, my knees screamed at me. :) Glad it's working for you!

I love books on the writing craft. Have an entire bookcase full of them.

Heidi Willis said...

Oh my gosh I LOVE Save the Cat!!! It is so simple, and so easy, and so practical!!

I keep thinking I need to do yoga. I am getting tight, and not in a good way. I'm so not a be-still-and-breathe-in kind of person, but I think it would probably be good for me too. Let me know how it goes!

Angela Ackerman said...

YAY!!!! I am so happy to hear you come to the dark side of craft books, especially those two. And I know that Linda Duddridge swears by yoga. She loves hot yoga and goes with Janet Gurtler sometimes.

Ange

Robyn Campbell said...

Save The Cat!!!!!!! Yippee for Patti! She sees the light. *wink*

But yoga?? I'd rather take a ride on one of my horses. Come here to the farm. I'll soothe those muscles. (Standing invite) Just so ya know.

I've been resistant to try and NOT eat chocolate.