Mindfulness – Chill Skills

A mandala is a repetitive flowing design inside a circle. Creating a mandala is a way to express our thoughts and feelings in a harmonious healing way by combining our physical and emotional worlds together in a work of art.

A mandala can be used as a tool for meditation and therapy, or just a way to feel calm while doing a pleasant activity such as colouring in harmonious flowing pictures.

Mandalas are another activity that can assist with expression and validation of thoughts and feelings. They enable the children to find a way to express themselves other than verbally, and allowing parts of their inner selves to come forward in a safe manner. This can assist with helping them to understand what they are feeling.

The children can learn about mandalas by colouring in the template below, this can help them learn about the flow and patterns of the mandala and about applying colour. They can go on to creating their own mandalas by using the starter template below.

Below are two examples of mandalas created by children in our Chill Skills for Kids class.

Templates for colouring in

Flower mandala for colouring in

An illustration from Imagine Me with The Three Owls

I find this illustration calming to look at, I hope you do also. Watching a sunset can bring us back to the present moment. When we are back in the present moment, what can happen is that we stop worrying about what is going to happen in the future and what has happened in the past.

When we are not living in the present moment are mind is everywhere else and not where we are physically, this can lead to stress and anxiety. Just by simply taking 5 minutes out in nature to stop and breathe can bring back a sense of ease.

I have included the accompanying text for this illustration from the book, Imagine Me with The Three Owls. This page of the book can be read on its own just as a lovely relaxing activity, to help assist with imagining a special place to be in nature and feel relaxed.

Excerpt from Imagine Me with The Three Owls

Look at all the beautiful colours of the sunset and how each color blends into the next one.

There are many different shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and gold.

Imagine the colors are flowing into your heart.

You feel peaceful

Imagine Me with The Three Owls, a relaxation picture book for kids

Available from our online store

Lisa Hemmings

illustrator and co-author Imagine Me with The Three Owls www.pathofcalm.com www.lisahemmings.com