Monday, May 23, 2022
Monday, May 02, 2022
Art - Feelings – Mindfulness
Art - Feelings - Mindfulness
And the connections between Brain – Language - Body
Kids 4 - 8yrs
Art is a good tool for expressing feelings and a deep form of communication. It helps consciously or unconsciously to reach emotions such as frustration, anger, sadness and get them released. Art helps healing those emotions and help in preventing and healing stress, anxiety and depression.
We learn little by little to feel the body and mental needs when practicing mindfulness. In turn art is a strong tool for mindfulness. Both helps in boosting self-confidence.
We have being living difficult times during the last years due to Covid. Strict sanitary measures and the virus in itself have provoked lot of stress and distress in thousand of peoples in the world. Hong kong has experienced one of the strictest measures with schools, parks and sport facilities closed several times for months each time thus kids have been forced to stay for long periods indoors. Measures have been easing little by little recently and finally we can come back to classes. I though it would be a good idea to dedicate the first classes to talk and express feelings and emotions. Trying to create connections between brain-language-body to release tensions, stress at same time we reflect, we put words, colours and strokes on it.

A (4.5yrs) represented her mum's belly while pregnant of her bigger sister !! That's pure love!
Posted by
Maria Isabel PARRA
at
9:33 PM
0
comments
Labels: Mindfulness
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Keeping warm, clean and vitalised ...
More than asanas, Yoga is learn to enjoy little things in the present moment. A warm infusion after our deep and meditative yoga session during a cold morning is always appreciated by our senses.
Both ginger and curcuma are used in Ayurveda medicine and nutrition. The first one helps the intestinal transit and the second one protect the gut flora. Both helps to stabilize our three doshas. Warm drinks are also recommended also in Ayurveda to increase vitality and control toxins that cumulate in the body during winter.
Many asanas help to relieve gastrointestinal disorders and to energize the digestion. Ginger and curcuma are just two in a selection of ingredients I use in my infusions, full of taste and aromas to close my sessions … as a last touch for keeping a warm energy and cleaning the body.
Posted by
Maria Isabel PARRA
at
6:49 PM
0
comments
Labels: Yoga & Mindfulness
Monday, September 06, 2021
ECO – CREATIVE JEWELLERY
We really enjoyed this last term using non conventional materials for jewellery like seeds, wood, threads, shells …
We did it eco friendly at same time we developed creativity !
Even if we can use some basic macrame for some creations more than a technique we look here to create a space for experimentation and creation of original and beautiful objects.
Knot - bead – braid …
During this term we will be also cutting, perforating and painting wood and other materials for our jewellery … And if time allows we will be creating some accessories …
Posted by
Maria Isabel PARRA
at
3:24 PM
0
comments
Labels: Art classes
Mindfulheads - Mindfulness for kids and teens
The aims of these sessions are:- Develop self awareness and self care.
- Promote wellbeing.
- Help to manage and reduce stress and anxiety.
- Create mindfulness practices to use throughout the school and homework time.
- Learn healthy habits.
- Improve communication.
- Deepen relationships with relatives and classmates.
- Activities / games to focus the mind.
- Singing.
- Stretching and exercising.
- Art and Crafts.
- Journaling.
- Breathing and relaxation exercises.
Posted by
Maria Isabel PARRA
at
12:09 PM
0
comments
Labels: Art classes , Yoga & Mindfulness
Saturday, September 04, 2021
After a good break we are starting classes this week!!!
If the schedule don't fit your needs please let me know … new classes can be on the way …
Do not hesitate to contact me for further information.
Isabel Parra
www.mariaisabelparra.com
www.mariaisabelparra.blogspot.com
Posted by
Maria Isabel PARRA
at
4:23 PM
0
comments
Labels: Art classes , Yoga & Mindfulness
Friday, September 03, 2021
When practice make the difference !
I wanted to share a little, beautiful and meaningful experience I had with J's mum few days ago by phone.
J is 5 years old and has been for almost one year in our Art & Mindfulness class.
Mum: Tell you something very encouraging. On J’s first day of school, once he woke up we asked him getting himself ready, guess what he did?
Me: What ????
Mum: He did some mindfulness breathing exercises, he said because he is a little bit nervous
And yes, this is really encouraging … thanks J and thanks mum for sharing !!!
Posted by
Maria Isabel PARRA
at
8:42 PM
0
comments
Labels: art , Yoga & Mindfulness
Thursday, September 02, 2021
Short breaks & Movement
As parents and teachers we use to ask kids to do a quantity of tasks that sometimes they are not able to do in our “adult rhythm”. Also it happens the kids don't have a little time for themselves within one activity and another one.
Naturally kids move. Working outdoor or on the floor – under a framework, allow certain freedom to move. Mobility that kids generally don't have at school.
Move, stretch and make pauses are needed for a better concentration and better efficacy at school/work. That's why we do small breaks (sometimes just one or two minutes) during our art-mindfulness class. During those breaks we can do some mindful breathing, stretching or a quick physical pose that allow us to calm down, to relax or just to focus our minds ...And it happens to focus our minds just listening the birds, feeling the air on the skin ... just so calming !
When we move our body, we can relax our minds … !
Just try it ! i
Posted by
Maria Isabel PARRA
at
4:01 PM
0
comments
Labels: Art classes , Yoga & Mindfulness
Friday, July 30, 2021
Gaining on concentration but also in Harmony and Friendship
In previous classes we have been building towers with different objects, the highest the best. We use one hand or the other, individually or in groups. This with the aim of :
gaining on concentration,
but also:
practicing breathing to control the body actions,
encouraging solidarity and teamwork
encouraging harmony and friendship.
Posted by
Maria Isabel PARRA
at
4:16 PM
0
comments
Monday, November 18, 2019
Art with Mindfulness
Posted by
Maria Isabel PARRA
at
12:22 PM
0
comments
Labels: Art classes , Yoga & Mindfulness