Have you ever found your head so full of thoughts, concerns, plans and just everyday life, that it’s difficult to switch off and relax?  Finding a way to do just that – slowing your thoughts down, focusing on an activity, calming that turmoil you may be feeling, or easing a tension in your body, is what ‘mindfulness’ is about.

There are many ways to explore the benefits of mindfulness.  Some people use Yoga, or other forms of gentle exercise, some listen to certain types of music, poetry or listen to book reading, or use painting.

Do you remember when you were a small child, how easily you became totally absorbed in colouring in even a simple shape, or image you were given.  As long as you had a collection of crayons or colouring pencils and a piece of paper, anything happening around you was of no consequence. Well, something very similar is now available for those who would like to revisit those childhood days of colouring in images to take their mind off of everything else for a while.  It’s called, ‘colouring for mindfulness’.

A very talented lady named Johanna Basford has taken the world by storm by producing a set of adult colouring books.  Below are some examples of the types of pictures people have created using these books and their own sets of colouring pencils. 

You don’t have to be any sort of artist or painter, or even somebody who has done it before. The most important thing is to enjoy turning a black and white outline, or grayscale image of something, into a colourful picture of your creation; And while doing so, not having anything else cloud your thoughts, or give you concern (at least for a while):  Welcome to colouring for mindfulness.

Our current group is very small, but keen to welcome new members into this most fulfilling and enjoyable of pastimes.  Everything you need is provided to get you started.  Once you begin to enjoy it and want to have your own kit, I will help you pick the right equipment to suit your needs.  There are many choices when it comes to the adult colouring books.  You can even make your own Christmas cards, special pictures for your grandchildren, such as fairies and castles and there’s a whole book for something called Steampunk!

As the group is still small, we are currently meeting at my house, on first and third Tuesday each month between 2 & 4 pm. Fresh coffee, or tea and chocolate biscuits are plentiful as is the chat of course.  Tutorials are offered both in person and using YouTube experts.