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mandala making as meditation



"...mandalas have healing powers. The act of creating mandalas can serve as meditation for treating illness and movement towards enlightenment." [Fincher, 2000]








mandalas in nature



Photography



Light



Clay and acrylic paint



sometimes distractions are good!



Beads and fishing line



summer fun



Pencil, colored pencil, acrylic paint on paper



Summer dayDream



Acrylic paint on paper



Priorities



9/16/16

Pencil and crayon on paper



brain food



12/13/17

Pencil and acrylic paint on paper



mom



Crayon and marker on paper.



Tibetan mandalas



...are created with the intention of: 'inviting, containing, honoring, and integrating certain kinds of energy" into ones' life or family. (Fincher, 2000)



mandalas



Replicate the human body with an internal and an external, movement, energy and form: containment and freedom.



love shall set you free!



9/5/18

Pencil and acrylic paint on paper



To My twins



Colored pencil on paper burned in memory as a ritual for closure.



one



8/24/17

Pencil, acrylic paint on paper



wilder-rest



1/11/18

Acrylic paint and colored masking tape on colored paper.



life's treasure



3/8/18

Pencil, acrylic paint on paper



energy



Acrylic paint, wood piece, pencil on paper



boys group lb1- providing structure



Pencil and oil pastel on paper



looking through the trees



4/3/18

Acrylic paint, colored pencil on paper




Darkness



Clay and acrylic paint



indian summer



9/13/17

Pencil, acrylic paint on paper



frozen



1/23/19

Marker and acrylic paint on paper



Venture- Teambuilding



Markers, pastels, and crayons on paper

Staff development and teambuilding at a therapeutic school.



capacity of the circle



...to catch and focus your attention on one thing produces general relaxation in the body: your breath deepens, your heartbeat slows.



circular shapes



such as mandalas in art invoke the idea of energy, life and movement



balance



8/17/2017

Pencil, acrylic paint on paper



Boys group, BZ3



Human babies seek out circles (rounded edges and features of the face as well as circular nature of the breast(s)) for survival and nourishment from the caretaker.



rings



Colored pipe cleaners



loss



10/5/17

Pencil on paper



clarity



8/6/19

Acrylic paint and pencil on paper



the future is bright



8/10/17

Pencil and acrylic paint



boy's group lb2



Pencil and oil pastel on paper



Boy's group bz1



Acrylic paint on paper



bagel celebration



Model magic, pipe cleaners, beads



red eyes



5/9/18

Acrylic paint, pencil on paper



arrival



Acrylic paint and twine on canvas



boy's group bz2



Acrylic paint and pencil on paper



seth



7/19/17

Pencil and acrylic paint on paper



surrender



9/12/18

Pencil, acrylic paint on paper



mandalas communicate



8/6/19

"Creating mandalas reflects your inner experience in artwork so that you can then study, understand, and integrate the messages from the unconscious." (Fincher, 2000)



What was buried, shall not remain



1/29/20

Colored pencil and acrylic paint on paper



my heart



Clay and glitter

*Not entirely circular but close



spring



3/20/19

Colored pencil and acrylic paint on paper



boys group, bz4



Acrylic paint on paper



mandalas invoke organic themes



Pencil and acrylic paint on paper



surrounded by roots



Acrylic paint on camvas



Smear your face



6/27/18

Colored pencil and acrylic paint on paper



Rainbow around the sun



Photograph


Circles have come to represent cycles of time, such as: the movement of the sun and the moon, seasons, or life-and-death.



feelings 2



Watercolor paint and pencil



Life Happens



Colored pencil and acrylic paint on paper



splotch



Pastel and crayon on colored paper



venture- teambuilding 2



Staff development and teambuilding at a therapeutic school.



kitchen



Pencil, crayon on paper



Morning escape



Pencil and acrylic paint on paper



Pinwheel



Gouche paint on illustration board.



Boys Group, LB2



Pencil, pastels on paper

-"from the first chaotic scribbles come the circle shape." (Finch)



blue Book



Acrylic paint, marker on paper



mind-body



"Meditation is a vital way to purify and quiet the mind, thus rejuvenating the body."

- Deepak Chopra



Serenity



10/26/17

Colored pencil and acrylic paint on paper



waterdrop



Colored pencil and watercolor paint on paper



chakra yoga & art class



Feb 2018

Markers and gel pens on paper



Boys group lb3- planting a seed



Pencil and oil pastels on paper



saying goodbye



Tissue-paper, pen on canvas board



managing demands (ofwork)



Modeling clay



feelings mandalas



Watercolor paint on paper



boys group bz3



Pencil and acrylic paint on paper


more

tools for mindfulness and meditation





meditation "rocks"
-made of clay



Mountain, Fresh, Calm Water, Space...
elements that we want to bring into our lives





recording the breath



Groupwork or individual
becoming aware and present





mantras



what do you need to hear?





setting an intention



for your day, your session, your practice which you can take with you in all you do





Guided imagery



transport yourself




guided snowflake visualization

Big Rocks first



exercise for prioritizing, focus, and meditation





Insight Timer



80,000 free guided meditations:
*Sleep
*healing
*stress/anxiety
*performance
*health & happiness
*relationships
*spiritual
*kids




Free Meditation app

"yoga is a dance between control and surrender--



between pushing and letting go-- and when to push and when to let go becomes part of the CREATIVE PROCESS, part of the open-ended exploration of your being." Joel Kramer



yoga and art therapy



* Experience-based

* Guided by intention

* Promotes self-awareness

* Encourages flow state

* Activates the limbic brain

* Reduces stress

* Encourages observation

rather than judgement

* Adaptive

* Facilitates change and healing

(paraphrased from K. Gibbons)







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





"One of the greatest signs that yoga is working is simply laughter"

(M.K. Chryssicas)

- that letting go/release and joy!







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





the body contains

our past emotions


healing work

creates space

for the release

of what we felt

long ago

Yung Pueblo







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





People who practice mindfulness, meditation and yoga are part of a community... there are those that you practice with and those who benefit similarly but you may never meet. The feeling of taking part in something that spans the globe and has existed for thousands of years, being respected and upheld by so many different cultures- unites us.







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





When I started doing yoga it was challenging! It took me about 6 months to feel like my body could ease into it and begin to fully enjoy the benefits. I have found it to be a very worthwhile investment: physically, emotionally and spiritually.







why Yoga in counseling





As I progressed in my yoga practice, I was amazed by how similar the intentions of yoga are to goals set in therapy. In many instances they are one in the same.







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





When nothing in the world seems to be going your way or to be within your 'control', return to your breath and your body. By doing so, you can shift your perspective and return renewed and ready to face challenges.







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





Yoga is a system of practices to relax the body and mind, purify the system, and remove energy blockages.







why Yoga in counseling



WHEN I PRACTICE YOGA I FEEL:


CONNECTED

CALM

CLEAR

EMPOWERED









why Yoga in counseling





"Yoga teaches you how to respond to situations with a calm coolness and helps you love being you. You might connect with the spirit inside you and be smarter about the choices you make."

(M.K. Chryssicas)







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





To focus your energy so intently and so lovingly on your physical being is one of the greatest forms of self-care.







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





Yoga is defined as:

-the art of achieving happiness

-union between body, mind and spirit







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





"Yoga teaches you how to breath fully through tough situations, which helps you stay focused and in control, and makes problems easier to handle."

(M.K. Chryssicas)







why Yoga and breathwork in counseling





"Why do we do the yoga pose? Just to recite it and repeat it back? There is a deeper connection to self when using movement and learning through movement." (WholeMe! Programs)