Feeling overwhelmed? De-stress with a BodyScan Meditation and Mindful Drawing Activity

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with emotions, or anxiety, or stress? You’re not alone.

Today, while receiving challenging news, I noticed feeling flooded and overwhelmed. After taking a few breaths, I turned towards one of my favorite, simple Mindful Art activities.

BodyScan Meditation and Mindful Drawing:

For me, this bodyscan meditation and drawing exercise helps me feel, acknowledge, and express held tensions and emotions in my body. Similar to SoulCollage® (which I shared in my last Mindful Art Blog here), a bodyscan drawing practice offers a creative way to visually express things that may be challenging to express in words. It’s an active meditation that allows us to make creative marks to represent how we’re feeling in our body.

This simple Expressive Art and Mindfulness exercise can be as short as a 5 minutes or 1 hour. I enjoy lying down for the bodyscan (although it can be done sitting as well). Please ensure you're comfortable and have paper and art materials near you (such as colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc).

BodyScan Guided Meditation for Anxiety:

This Grounding BodyScan Meditation Exercise below can be done before starting the BodyScan Drawing:

I begin with eyes closed or a soft gaze. Drawing my awareness to all of the places where my body makes contact with the ground, I notice the quality of my breath. Aware of the weight of my feet or heels resting on the floor, I remind myself I am supported and held. At my own pace, I begin drawing my awareness up through my body - heels, calves, thighs, buttocks, belly, low back, chest, upper back, arms, wrists, hands, base of the head, forehead, the space between the eyebrows, jaw, etc. Noticing any sensations I feel along the way; such as tingling, warmth, coolness, tightness, pain, holding, etc. Allowing any colors, textures, words, or descriptions about these sensations to come into my awareness. I follow the sensations and notice how they change - allowing my experience to move and shift. Drawing my awareness back to my breath, I take three deep inhalations and exhalations and return my awareness back to the room, the ground, and my surroundings.

When I feel ready, I gently allow marks, colors, and words to fill my bodyscan drawing page. If you enjoy journaling, writing about your experience afterwards can also be a lovely self-care practice.

For more Mindful Art Activities and to hear about our upcoming free Online Mindful Art Retreats, feel free to sign-up for our monthly newsletters here. These Mindful Expressive Art and Mindfulness Activities are easy to do in your studio at home (or anywhere you have access to your journal and some drawing supplies).

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Mindful Art and Self-Care Blog by Mindful Creative Muse

Welcome to the Mindful Creative Muse Blog!

In our busy world, finding relaxing moments and space for creative self-care has never been more crucial. That's why I'm thrilled to share the Mindful Creative Muse Blog – your sanctuary for exploring the sweet blend of mindfulness and creative art. Our blog is dedicated to offering you a wealth of resources for mindful art, art journaling, and expressive art exercises that serve as a bridge to your inner self.

Whether you're in your studio at home or seeking a peaceful retreat in the corner of your living room, our blog is designed to guide you through various creative practices, including drawing feelings, painting emotions, sad drawings, and drawing anxiety, as well as simple exercises to practice art as meditation. These practices are not just art activities; they are gateways to understanding and embracing your emotional landscape.

Begin Again with Mindful Art

Join us for a journey of renewal and self-discovery with simple mindfulness and art practices to begin again. These mindful art activities are designed to welcome you back into your creative flow, gently encouraging you to reconnect with your inner mindful creative muse. Whether you're picking up a brush after a long hiatus or finding new ways to express your innermost thoughts, our blog offers guidance to help you navigate this journey.

Mindful Art in Your Studio at Home

Transform your home studio into a sanctuary of mindful art. Dive into intuitive painting, watercolor painting, abstract painting, and more, as we explore techniques that encourage spontaneity, curiosity, and emotional expression. Our blog provides tips for setting up a mindful art space in your home, where you can freely explore the depths of your creativity without judgment.

Expressive Art and Mindfulness Activities

Discover the therapeutic power of art journaling as a means to capture your thoughts, emotions, and daily experiences. This practice not only nurtures your creative skills but also enhances your mindfulness, self-awareness, and emotional resilience. Through guided prompts and exercises, you'll learn to articulate your feelings through drawing feelings and painting emotions, creating a visual diary that reflects your growth journey.

Community and Connection

Our blog is more than just a collection of activities; it's a vibrant community of like-minded individuals passionate about mindful art and creativity. We hope you’ll comment and engage with fellow creatives, ask questions, and exchange insights on navigating the challenges and joys of the creative process. Our community is a supportive space where you can connect with other creatives and find inspiration in their stories and experiences.

Join the Conversation

I'm beyond excited to have you as part of our Mindful Creative Muse Community. Your voice, your art, and your journey matter. Engage with the blog by liking, commenting, and sharing your thoughts. Share it with a friend you may feel could use these sweet reminders, too! Let's deepen our connection through social media, where you'll find even more inspiration and community support on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter (X), and our YouTube Channel. Follow us for daily doses of creativity, mindfulness, and encouragement to keep your creative muse alive (you’ll find our social media links below).

Happy Creating!

In our Mindful Creative Muse Blog, we're committed to creating an environment where you can embrace your inner critic, de-stress, relax, and nurture yourself. Through mindful art activities for adults and community support, we aim to help you increase self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-expression. Reignite your creative muse with us, and let's embark on this transformative journey together.