Blog Post #6
"Meditation is not a thing to do; it is a way to be." - unknown
If you practice meditation way to be ahead of the game, but most of us don’t practice meditation daily or much at all. Today’s post is going to focus on meditation, the types of meditation you can choose to practice, and the benefits of practicing it in your everyday life.
So what does it mean to “meditate”? In my mind, I picture sitting on the floor crisscrossed applesauce on the floor holding my thumb and middle fingers together going “ahmmmmmmmmm”, and practicing deep breathing. According to Google (because Google knows everything) the definition of “meditate” is the following:
“Think deeply or focus one’s mind for a while, in silence or with the aid of “chanting", for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.”
OR
“Think deeply or carefully about (something).”
So with that being said, I was pretty close to what I think mediation is compared to the definition. Now that we know what meditation means how do we put it into practice?
Let’s explore the Types of mediation
Mindfulness Meditation: to focus on the present moment without any judgment or expectations. Fully engage yourself and your attention by releasing any distractions that may come to mind. This type of meditation can help with anxiety, and depression, and reduce stress while promoting self-care/well-being.
Transcendental meditation: this includes using a mantra, which is a word, phrase, or sound that is repeated aloud or silently to oneself. The goal is to achieve deep relaxation/inner peace. This type of meditation can also help with stress and improve overall well-being.
Body scan meditation: focusing on the sensations of the body from top to bottom. This type of meditation promotes relaxation, brings awareness to the areas of tension in the body, and improves overall well-being.
Yoga: Yoga is a mental, physical, and spiritual practice that includes meditation, breathing exercises, and physical poses. This type of meditation can help improve flexibility, strength, and balance. It also helps with reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
You may find that only one or some types of meditation benefit you and that’s okay! There are plenty of other forms of meditation out there that I didn’t mention including the one we will be practicing today!
Tyistight Art Therapy Thursday
Exercise:
Make a meditative painting. Looking for a creative way to relax? Have trouble sitting still to meditate? Meditative painting might be just the thing you're looking for. No painting skill or experience is necessary - only a desire to relax and become more creative!
How can you benefit from meditative painting?
Reduces stress and anxiety
Improves focus
Enhances creativity
Boosts self-esteem
Provides a sense of accomplishment
Promotes relaxation
Provides creative outlet
Helps you process emotions
Increases mindfulness
Improves communication skills
How to get started:
First things first, set the tone for your area and add some things around you that bring you good vibes. You can practice this exercise indoors or outdoors wherever you feel most comfortable and inspired.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
-Canvas or paper, anything preferred surface
-Paint (brushes), colored pencils, crayons, pastels, pens, pencils (whatever you have)
Things to keep in mind:
Try and pick colors that resonate with you, colors that make you feel calm. You can pick a theme or a subject to help focus your mind but still have room to play and explore with your imagination. Don’t worry about mistakes or feeling pressured to make a masterpiece. The idea here is to listen to your intuition and let it pick your colors, your marks, whatever you feel inside. Stay present and focus on your breath and your body sensations.
>>My artwork and and reflection
Once you have completed your artwork it’s time to REFLECT.
I challenge you to take a piece of paper, or maybe jot it down in the notes on your phone but reflect on your art and ask yourself questions to gain a deeper understanding of your emotions and yourself.
Some examples of reflection questions could be:
What parts of your artwork do you feel are most successful?
Did your artwork turn out how you intended? Or did it take a different direction?
What would you do differently if you were to create this artwork again?
What did you enjoy most about this process?
What did you learn from creating this artwork?
Like usual, please be sure if you feel comfortable sharing your work from today’s exercise tag me on Instagram @Tyisight_creatives and use the hashtag #TyistightArtTherapyThursdays I would love to see your work! If you don't feel comfortable sharing on social media you can send it directly to me either by DM on Instagram or to my email: Tyistight.creatives@gmail.com
Quote of the week
Featured artist of the week:
Kristen Bailey
https://www.klbaileyart.com/tag/meditative-art/
