Yoga for Crime Writers: AKA Corpse Pose

Crime Bake 2013 Yoga Class

Crime Bake is a wonderful way to connect with writers, agents, editors, publishers and readers who love crime writing. But the annual conference also carries with it some baggage, in the form of physical and mental stress. Enter author and lawyer, Michele Dorsey, who again this year, led a Saturday afternoon yoga class.

Michele notes that writers tend to sit a lot, which can lead to stiff hips and backs. They also tend to hunch over their writing, creating tight shoulder and neck muscles. Therefore, Michele leads participants in a number of gentle shoulder and hip exercises, as well as some calming techniques like the appropriately named (for crime writers) Corpse pose.  More information about Michele can be found at http://www.micheledorsey.com/

For those of you who couldn’t attend the session, below are pointers to web pages that show how to do some of these exercises on your own.

For hip tightnes: Eye of the Needle Pose (http://www.elevationoutdoors.com/blogs/alpine-adventures/tight-hips-9-yoga-poses-to-release-the-hips/)

For shoulder tightness: Cat-Cow pose (http://www.yogaoutlet.com/guides/shoulder-stretching-yoga-poses-for-beginners)

For rest and relaxation: Corpse pose (http://www.artofliving.org/us-en/yoga-poses/corpse-pose-shavasana)

For a clearer mind and added energy: Downward Dog pose (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00526/Downward-Facing-Dog.html)

CAUTION: As with any exercises, check with your doctor before starting. And if something hurts, don’t do it.