Mandalas For Meditation
Design and yoga collide, again. Today, in a presentation for Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) I discussed a form of art therapy – coloring. This child-like activity has become a hot trend among adults for fun, as well as, stress relief. Commonly, it involves a mandala – a Sanskrit word loosely meaning, “circle,” “completion,” or “center.” Mandalas have existed since the beginning of time and have come to symbolize harmony, unity, wholeness, and healing.
Mandalas are designs with a circular pattern or motif ranging in complexity. They can be another shape, perhaps square or rectangular, but the design still has a circular focal point and is symmetrical in form. For meditation, the idea is to focus on the outer edge first and then allow eyes to follow the path to the center, or focus on the mandala as a whole and let eyes blur as they feel the power.
"I awaken to the power of the mandala, a sacred circle of light and energy, a pathway to center – to my center and to the universal ALL, a channel for healing body, mind, and spirit."
-Steven Vrancken
The positive vibes of a mandala can be discovered through coloring. Much like yoga, artistic creativity loosens up tight muscles in the body and mind resulting from daily stress. It is another permission to free flow without seeking particular outcomes.
Simple coloring has the power to…
Relax and enhance meditation
Balance mind, body, and spirit
Inspire a spiritual connection
Increase self-awareness and encourage self-expression
Encourage and enhance creativity
Provide fun, alone or with friends
Why healing powers are unlocked…
No rules to follow - no right or wrong way to color
Color just about anywhere, at any pace
Create a unique work of art
Activate intuitive genius
Enjoyed by children and adults – brings out inner child
Affordable solo or group activity
During coloring, the colors themselves can be another great focus for meditation or guided relaxation. Certain colors provoke emotional and physical responses having different effects on both the body and mind.
Warm colors are stimulating, while cool colors are soothing.
Stimulating
Red stimulates energy and passion with enthusiasm, and can increase blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate. Encouraging action and confidence it provides a sense of protection from fears and anxiety. Pink less aggressively shares the stimulating properties of red and inspires increased motivation. Orange radiates warmth and energy stimulating both appetite and activity level, while encouraging socialization. Yellow increases communication and heightens memory while stimulating the mind and nervous system.
Soothing
Green is both soothing and refreshing, relaxes the mind and body. It can lessen depression, anxiety, and nervousness and offer a sense of renewal, self-control, and harmony. Blue has a soothing, sedative effect that can actually cause the body to become cooler while calming. It is said to aid intuition. Purple is a unique balance of stimulating red and soothing blue encouraging creativity. It uplifts, calms the mind and nerves with a sense of spirituality.
As part of my YTT presentation, I designed my very own mandala for coloring. Download a copy HERE and discover the meditative power.
Sources: mandalacoloringmeditation.com, stress.lovetoknow.com: Mandalas for Meditation and Coloring, Adult Coloring Pages for Stress Relief, Colors for Relaxation