How Yoga and Breathwork Reawaken the Creative Soul
Why feeling more, and not thinking harder, is the key to creative flow.
I am not a big TV fan but one of my favourite moments from UK television comes from a documentary-style program where two psychologists observed young children in a primary school setting. The show offered a rare and heartwarming glimpse into the world as seen through the eyes of children: utterly free.
In one scene, the children were asked what they’d like to be when they grow up. Emily, 5, with complete sincerity, answered: “A jelly maker, pencil sharpener and toy maker. That’s all the things I want to be.” I absolutely love this. Pure unfiltered imagination.
Did you know that 98% of 3-year-olds test as “creative geniuses”, yet by the time we reach adulthood, that number plummets to just 2%. The implication is staggering. What happens between the wild imagination of early childhood and the rigid frameworks of adulthood? And more importantly, can we get it back?
The Creativity Crisis
The answer, according to Barnet Bain, a Hollywood producer, director, and author of "The Book of Doing & Being", lies not in our minds but in our bodies.
“Creativity is not born in the head; it comes as a gift from beyond. It’s a heart thing. It’s an emotional thing. It’s a feeling thing.”
This statement holds the key to understanding the profound link between creativity, interoception (our ability to sense the internal state of our body), and embodiment. Creativity doesn’t thrive in analytical thought. It emerges from the raw textures of emotion, sensation, and presence. Yet, when intense emotions arise, many of us dissociate from the body and seek refuge in the mind, cutting off the very channel through which creativity - and thus problem-solving- flows.
The Forgotten Language of the Body
Interoception is the sense that allows us to perceive our internal bodily sensations, like hunger, heartbeat, breath, or the subtle shift in mood. It is closely tied to emotional awareness and regulation. When we suppress or ignore our internal signals, often out of discomfort or stress, we dampen not just our emotional intelligence, but also our access to creative insight.
This isn’t just philosophy: it’s neuroscience. Studies show that people with higher interoceptive awareness tend to have greater emotional clarity, and emotions are the raw material of artistic and innovative expression. In this way, creativity can be seen not as a cognitive skill, but a somatic experience, one born through the intimate connection between mind and body.
Returning Home
So how do we reconnect? The answer is surprisingly simple: to get back in touch with the body, to connect with feeling, & the best way to do that is breathing.
Breath is the bridge between the unconscious and conscious, between the nervous system and the imagination. And through practices like yoga and breathwork, we are given a tangible route back to our bodies, to the place where creative energy sleeps, waiting to be stirred.
Yoga teaches presence through movement, breath, and awareness. Each posture becomes a conversation between body and soul. It is an embodied practice that cultivates stillness, attunement, and interoceptive intelligence. When practiced regularly, it builds the very qualities that foster emotional openness and the internal spaciousness where creativity can land.
You don’t have to be a yogi or an artist to reclaim your creative power. All it takes is a willingness to feel more, breathe deeper, and come home to your body. Whether through a morning yoga flow, a breathwork session, or simply placing a hand on your heart and noticing your breath, you open the door to something ancient and alive within you.
Creativity isn’t lost. It’s just waiting: in the breath, in the body, in the beating of your own heart.
If you would like to explore in more details the link between yoga, Breathwork and creativity, join our weekend long retreat in the Algarve in October with our special guest writer Niamh Cooper. To find out more, click HERE.
Much love
Véronique
LAST MINUTE: A spot has just opened up for our Yoga for MS Retreat taking place from 5th to 11th October 2025 as one of the participants has had to withdraw. Her room is now available either for single occupancy or as a shared twin room. To make it easier for anyone still thinking about joining, we've extended the Early Bird pricing until 30th June. Prices:
Shared Twin Room: €845 / £700
Single Occupancy: €1340 / £1110
To find out more about the program, check here https://tamingthewalrus.com/event/yoga-for-ms-retreat-october-2025/ or send me an email: tamingthewalrus@gmail.com