TRAIN YOUR BRAIN: EASY ART TO CALM THE MIND

“It feels like freedom.” -adult student

Evidenced-based studies are demonstrating that creative arts improve health, prevent illness, and treat chronic illness.

In this workshop, you’ll actively change your neural pathways to rewire your brain and lower your heart rate. The next time you’re stuck in traffic, you want to yell at your kids, or tragedies in the news are distressing you, you’ll have the skills to make biological changes in your body in the moment.

Remember making art as a kid? Do you miss those moments that feel like freedom– when you squished playdough through your fingers, splatter painted, and scribbled across large pieces of paper on the floor?

“I haven’t used watercolors since elementary school!” -adult student

Rediscover that side of yourself.

I’ll guide you with open-ended prompts that give enough structure to keep you from feeling stuck.

Feel like a kid again in an environment free of stress or judgment with easy art to calm the mind. Projects that are about the process not the product.

Students shared ways the class helped in their daily lives:

• One was in a hurry to walk her dog and get it over with because it was cold, but then she remembered to slow down and enjoy the walk and time with her dog.

• Another was talking on the phone with a friend about a difficult situation and started doodle drawing. It helped her stay focused so she could and help her friend.

• One experienced difficulty with a family member over the weekend and was able to breathe and calm down when she started feeling shaky.

There’s enough stress in life.

Let’s play art!

TESTIMONIALS

 “I left every class feeling better than when I went in. You have inspired me and energized me to care about something again. Sounds strange, but I’ve struggled with depression for a very long time and often don’t care enough to do anything outside of work. I look forward to class every week now. And I ‘play’ art at night after work. It feels good to ‘care’ again. Thank you.”

“I have learned no matter how serious you are about art, the concept of play (no attachment to outcome or results) can lead to a freedom from the stress of ‘I’m stuck, I can’t’. Learning to let go of expectation and just enjoy a creative moment is relief in and of itself. The act of simply have a moment to play for a short while is healing for our taxed minds.”

“I enjoyed all aspects of the class - especially the marrying of mindfulness techniques and creative play. You created a very laid back and non-judgmental space to explore, which I appreciated. It was also very nice to just share space with others in a quiet way while playing art.”

“The teacher is very creative in planning various different art for each class.”

“Being inspired and just providing a space to just let go.”

“Enjoyed the variety, the play, and the mindfulness practices/info that was shared. I appreciate all the techniques/projects that were introduced as a low-pressure way to tap into creativity and have fun with the process. I find myself taking time at home to practice as a way to relax and remembering it’s about the process, not final product!”

“I enjoyed spontaneous directions to stimulate me out of a rut, new materials to ‘play’ with, short time frames, so nothing gets too ‘precious'. Feels like freedom.”

“I loved using different materials, learning new ways to play art, and most especially learning about the brain.”

ABOUT JENNIE LOU 

Since childhood art and writing have helped me deal with challenges, even when I didn’t realize it. The process of making has helped me cope with life’s difficulties in creative ways. This class is a culmination of decades of teaching, creating, and researching.

I have shared mindfulness techniques and fun process art with a wide age range:

• Weeks after class, preschoolers could identify the part of the brain that keeps you safe, and their pronunciation was adorable!

• After dealing with difficult behavior from a group of middle schoolers, they became engaged, attentive, and asked deep questions when I introduced them to the “lizard brain” and “wizard brain”.

• A disengaged older adult in memory care became animated and involved when I pulled the bow across the strings of a violin my dad made.

I love to learn.

I’ve earned an MFA in interdisciplinary arts and an MA in education.

I love to teach.

I loved to play school when I was a child, especially when I got to be the teacher.

Now I’ve been a teacher for over 30 years!