The healing arts are creative
practices that promote healing, wellness, coping and personal change.
Traditional healing arts include music, art, dance/movement, poetry/writing,
and drama therapies.
Drawing, sculpting, and painting stimulate the hippocampus, expand the number of connections in one's brain, and even help expand one's vocabulary. It also releases a healthy amount of dopamine which is very useful in treating depression.
Art can help us to emotionally navigate the journey of battling an illness or injury, to process difficult emotions in times of emergency and challenging events. The creation and enjoyment of the arts helps promote holistic wellness and can be a motivating factor in recovery.
The Healing Power of Art and Music
Studies have indicated that listening to music can reduce pain, lower
blood pressure, and even improve immune function. Similarly, engaging in
artistic activities such as painting or drawing can help to improve fine motor
skills and cognitive abilities in individuals of all ages.
Art can harness the healing power
within each of us and help bring us into community with one another. When in
front of an artwork, we are connected to the artist and to others who have
experienced it. And connection, to ourselves and others, is at the core of art
and healing.
While teaching colouring to children I understood the power of art and realized that I felt better on the days I did colouring. To date every day I make sure to spare some time and do colouring at least a page a day
Coloring can relax the fear
center of your brain, the amygdala. It induces the same state as meditating by
reducing the thoughts of a restless mind. This generates mindfulness and
quietness, which allows your mind to get some rest after a long day at work.
Relieving stress
It calms the brain and helps your body relax. This can improve sleep and
fatigue while decreasing body aches, heart rate, respiration, and feelings of
depression and anxiety.
Induces Meditative State
The meditative state occurs when you stop focusing on future or past worries
and only focus on the present. Focusing on a singular action like coloring
suspends your inner dialogue and removes negative thoughts and emotions from
your mind.
Art allows a safe way for you to explore your inner self so that you can take the first step on the healing journey that will enable you to release what you feel instead of hoping for a better tomorrow. This type of healing therapy will enable you to engage in a non-judged form of creative expression.
(This blog post is a part of Blog chatter's Half marathon)
https://www.theblogchatter.com/campaign-registrations/blogchatter-half-marathon-2024
Prompt: (The first time you understood the healing power of art )
You are right. Drawing and colouring are my healing mantra too.
ReplyDeleteGood to know. Thanks for stopping by
Delete