Cultivating Calm: A Mindfulness-Based Art Class for Girls (Thursdays)

Description

This class is going to be unlike anything else we have ever done in the studio! The world is a noisy place. Technology and all of its on-demand functionality is making it worse. Our kids are having an increasingly difficult time with concepts such as reflection, patience, mindfulness, and self-awareness. In their 21st century minds, silence = boredom. But, what they don’t yet know (or have already forgotten) is that silence and reflection are tools of a powerful and brilliant mind! We are going to spend lots of time in this class getting quiet and going within. In addition to our art-based empowerment curriculum (*which is not going anywhere—it is the backbone of this program), we are going to spend a minimum of 20 minutes of each class in a deliberate mindfulness practice. I am really excited for this—these are highly beneficial, lifelong tools that will help your children through adversity, uncertainty, and dips in self-confidence.

Our girls need safe spaces and places that help them hone their gifts. We have a special niche in the studio: the Self Esteem Through Art programs boost the social/emotional well-being of girls with an incomparable blend of art-based empowerment, love, support, and empathy.The Self Esteem Through Art studio is where they do activities—repetitive activities—that help their cognitive, emotional, social, academic, and physical muscle memory. Adolescence is hard—we help your girls rise to the challenge with building blocks based in self-esteem, empathy, integrity, kindness, mindfulness, and creativity. Always creativity—our program wouldn’t work half as well without it!

In this series, we have the time to explore and play with myriad art projects and mediums. The key to this class is that we are going to have the ability to go to new depths with our projects. For example, still-life in a variety of mediums. In-depth clay projects. Dioramas that explore the depths and breaths of a landscape.

• Mindfulness and art are incredibly robust growth and development tools.
• Mindfulness and art encourage critical thought. I have always said that my programs teach children HOW to think, not WHAT to think—that is so very true in this case.
• Mindfulness and art help girls de-stress, self-soothe, and self-regulate. They are powerful lifelong habits to develop and the more comfortable girls get with these tools in adolescence, the more they are likely to turn to them in times of difficulty. These practices help steer them away from more DIS-empowering habits like risk-taking and self-harm.
• Got a kid who shuts down? Mindfulness and art help children open up and not only discover their truth, but learn how to speak it as well.
• Mindfulness and art are heightened forms of self-expression which help to reduce stress, serve as forms of self-care, and restore emotional equilibrium post-trauma/drama.

Your Girls Will Love:

• Disconnecting from stress, technology, and peer pressure. It takes time to develop a mindfulness practice, but once you do, it is incomparable.
• Our group discussions and our time in quiet reflection. Both help to increase their sense of self and foster their creative spirits.
• Developing their unique artistic style as we work on an assortment of fun, tactile, and unique projects.
• Engaging in the creative arts on a weekly basis and building on the foundation of artistic and creative thought.
• Sharing their story in a judgment-free environment.

Fine Print:

• This SIXTEEN-week series will run on Thursdays from January 10—May 23 (We will have some public school vacation weeks, and I take time off in March to be with my children on their school break.)
  • If we bump into any weather-related cancellations, we are going to tack on classes at the end of the series. Let’s pray for a mild winter.
• Class runs from 2:45-4:30 p.m. Middle school girls from Holliston come over at 2 p.m. and get an extra 45 minutes of time in the studio each week to be creative, have a snack, use my wi-fi hotspot for homework, use extra supplies, do free art, etc. There is going to be an extra $50 charge for middle school girls for this session.
• Classes take place at our 358 Woodland St. studio in Holliston. Girls from other local towns are welcome and encouraged to attend.
• THE MAJORITY OF MY CLASSES CONSIST OF REPEAT ATTENDEES AND SPACES WILL GO QUICKLY. Sign up ASAP.
• This class is age-appropriate and recommended for for girls in 3rd—8th grade. It is really important that you discuss the mindfulness component of this class with your girls in advance. Our activities will consist of: deep breathing, pulling angel/animal medicine cards, doing some simple yoga poses, shaking off the energy of the day, practicing gratitude, engaging in positive self-talk. All girls who attend should be able to be quiet and reflective for up to 20 minutes of each class.
  • THIS CLASS IS A CELL-PHONE/TECHNOLOGY FREE ENVIRONMENT. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Class fee includes ALL art materials, instruction, emotional and artistic support, and after-school snacks and drinks.
• Sibling discount available: click appropriate option in drop-down box.
  
• You will receive a welcome email from me approximately one week before class starts with additional details.
• Registrants to my classes are added to my email newsletter list. You will begin to receive sporadic Self Esteem Through Art emails.
• I take photos in the studio and those photos are often used on my Web site, in my marketing materials, and on social media. By registering, you understand that your child will be photographed. If you DO NOT want your child photographed, I must be notified before the start of the series.
• If you have any additional questions, please reach out to me before signing up. Once you sign up, we have entered into a contract with each other.
• PAYMENT PLANS: If you need a payment plan for this extended session, please contact me before signing up. You will be responsible for paying 1/2 of your fee up front and the remaining 1/2 will be charged to your credit card via PayPal ON DECEMBER 15TH. 
• There are NO REFUNDS for this class and the class fee is not transferable, so please be sure you/your child can commit to all SIXTEEN weeks.