Learn To Be Present in the Moment Using the Arts (Mindfulness & Self Awareness)

What does it mean to live in the Present Moment?  It means that we do not focus our attention in the future or the past.  It means that we let go of expectations and allow ourselves to be who we are, precisely, in the NOW.  

Living in the Present Moment is about placing our attention directly in front of us, in our bodies and in our breath.  This practice is referred to as Mindfulness or Self Awareness. 

There are many ways to achieve Mindfulness.  Being quiet and still are not the only ways (though that is one path to mindfulness and will be explored in this class).  

In this class, we'll explore different ways in which we can use the arts to practice living in the present moment. We'll explore the arts including visual art, writing, movement and music as a vehicle for self awareness and mindfulness. 

If you think about it, many cultures have used the arts as a starting point for mindfulness.  The Tibetan Monks have embraced creating Mandalas as a spiritual practice that honors the present moment, Hindu culture has embraced yoga and chanting as a way to focus attention and live in the moment, many Asian cultures embrace meditation as an act of mindfulness, the Sufis use ecstatic dance be in the NOW and in this culture we have used writing as a way to be present and true to ourselves. The arts have always been a doorway to the NOW. 

This class is an introduction to various ways to achieve mindfulness and self awareness through the arts.  

Since this is a flexible class, Each week I will post videos about our topics and I will present 3 different exercises for you to try.  You can post pictures of your projects/exercises and any questions and/or insights you might have during your exploration!  I will be available through the entire 4 weeks a a support and inspiration to go deeper into your present moment!  

Each week students will look at 3 different Arts-based Mindfulness practices and explore new ways in which they can focus their attention, live in the moment, live with intention and find balance  

Week 1: (Visual Art)
Mandalas - students will create mandalas with a specific technique that allows students to create in the moment
Visual Journaling - students will learn how to visual journal, this is process that asks them go inside themselves, pay attention to the feelings and images that come up and then putting them on paper to be examined
Self Portrait:  Students will create a multi media self portrait as a means to mindfulness

Week 2: (Stillness, Imagination)
Meditation - students will practice still and quiet meditation
Visualization - students will practice visualization as well as writing their own visualization to practice with 
Moving meditation - students will learn how to do a moving meditation 

Week 3:  (Movement and Dance)
5Rhythms: Students will be introduced to the basic rhythms in Gabrielle Roths 5Rhythms
Authentic Movement - Students will be introduces to  Authentic Movement as a way to go deeper into their moment
Full Body Portrait - Students will create a full body portrait

Week 4: (Writing & Sound)
Free Writing - students will learn a free writing technique to help them be in the moment
Emotion Landscape - Students will create an emotion landscape and learn how to communicate with their art to go deeper into the moment
Music and Emotions - students will practice allowing sound to affect they're arts creations

Each students will also create their own mindfulness exercise as a final project.