Lauren Whitfield: Texas Poet Combines Yoga, Writing, and Healing Through Innovative Poetry Workshops

The lights were twinkling, the breeze was warm, and the animated chatter quieted as Sasha Bernier asked the crowd at Adam & Eve to welcome Lauren Whitfield in a reading of her poem “Silhouette”. In a green crop top and custom embroidered palazzo pants in buttercup yellow this young poet radiated a light from within as she recited her prose aloud. This whimsical girl is a breath of fresh air and full of ideas on breathing new life into poetry reading and the spoken word.

Let’s get to know the woman behind the poetry.

Q: What inspired you to start writing? Why poetry?

Lauren: I have always been a writer. In school it was one of my best subjects and I studied journalism in college as well. Writing poetry was borne out of my desire to express myself and process a difficult relationship. The act of writing, pen to paper, is how I express my emotions best. While I have had much training as a writer, I did go through a period where I relied too much on external validation of my work and the rigor of the training built up a contempt for the act of writing.

It was during this break from recreational writing that I took up yoga to process a difficult period in my life. Through this practice I began to cultivate an entirely new relationship with myself. Discovery and acceptance of self in yoga switching on a light inside me that had long been dimmed. My training involved meditation and visualization, which I struggled with due to a unique trait I have called aphantasia. This means I don’t have the ability to create mental images of objects, scenes, or faces. Hence, my teacher encouraged me to write a scene of what I would like to meditate on or what was going on internally.

Writing to meditate, manifest and process my inner world was a new experience for me and one I fully embraced. I’ve been writing daily ever since! My mantra is “I write to express myself not to be received.”

Q: That is an amazing journey and so authentic! What was the inspiration for “Silhouette”?

Lauren: In April 2024, I met another poet who inspired me to be more freeform in my approach to the medium. I started embracing the short form story format and the day after I met her, I wrote “Silhouette”. My inner dialogue came to the fore and the words poured out of my being onto the page with a relieving sense of ease.

This was the beginning of cultivating the joy of writing to solely express myself rather than for it to be received. I am finding my power, my voice, my freedom.

Q: So it is these moments of inspiration that have pushed you to experiment and try new things. Does your yoga practice continue to inspire you as well?

Lauren: Yes! While I do not practice yoga every day, I practice at least twice a week. The act of moving my body connects me to my inner landscape and helps me process feelings I must work through. I gravitate towards yin yoga and sound healing. Active yoga incorporating dance is something I am experimenting with as I develop my own style. I am also a teacher and lead classes for foster care children who use yoga to overcome trauma.

Q: Wow! You do it all, do you incorporate writing with yoga when you teach?

Lauren: Absolutely, yoga transformed my life by allowing me to embrace myself from a place of acceptance and compassion. Moving your body through the asanas helps you tap into your inner self and awareness while writing encourages you to explore your inner world further once the energy is flowing. Think of it as a written meditation. Recently, I led a full moon class for some friends. To conclude the session each student wrote a poem as an offering. I teach children in the Empower and Level Pathways programs periodically. I teach the children meditation with sound bowls – which they love! – and to write in a gratitude journal post session.

I am so grateful to begin this journey and infuse my passions with one another in hopes of encouraging others to explore their own inner world.

Q: You are truly an inspiration. What is next for you Lauren?

Lauren: I am teaching yoga in Texas at the moment and working on a book of poetry. Embracing live poetry recitation in my local community has been fun also! Recently I’ve been asked to model for the House of Bartholomew in their New York fashion week show in February.

We absolutely loved learning more about this young creative with a bright future ahead of her! Follow Lauren's social media for her next poetry readings and yoga classes.