2022 ... ART & MINDFULNESS HIGHLIGHTS !

 2022 ... some highlights of our projects during our Art and Art & Mindfulness classes !

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.

 

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.

The sessions can include:

- Activities / games to focus the mind.

- Singing.

- Stretching and exercising.

- Art and Crafts.

- Journaling.

- Breathing and relaxation exercises.

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

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 !!!

Short breaks & Movement

Very often we do not respect the needs and the study/learning rhythm of our kids. 

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

Art with Mindfulness

ART WEEK - At French Int. School HK

It was a pleasure to be invited to participate in the ART WEEK in the French International School in May. 

During a month and five happy primary classes, we were able to develop some interesting art projects full of mindfulness, thus we practiced some techniques to focus the mind and reduce stress levels.

We built and assemble natural objects, we painted, we printed and we transformed school chairs in artworks. 

Chairs in progress ...

We built and assemble natural objects, we painted, we printed and we transformed school chairs in artworks. 

Teachers and students worked hard and result was an exhibition full of meaningful artworks filled of interesting reflections. 

Exhibition at Agora 

We built nets and nests to catch good energies, dreams and strengths.

Every artwork was charged with an feeling, a dream, an emotion, an environment reflection or a positive message.

 

What have we be doing these weeks ?

We have worked on drawing and painting ...

… in a nice an colourful way we explore different kind of lines, the idea of inside / outside and mixed-media.

We have been painting in big and small formats. Using mixed-media and dripping techniques.

We stretch, we breath, we are aware of our words and actions … but we also play, dance and have fun !