Henna as Mindfulness: A Creative Practice for Calm and Connection

As featured on mindful.org

In this practice, mindful teacher Rose Felix Cratsley invites kids and caregivers to explore henna as an art form and as a gentle mindfulness activity that nurtures stillness, creativity, and cultural appreciation.

As featured on mindful.org

A Mindful Ritual at Your Fingertips

Children are naturally drawn to creative expression. The process of making and applying henna slows us down, encouraging presence, sensory awareness, and loving connection through touch and design.

Rooted in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African cultures, henna (or mehndi) is a sacred ritual of celebration, storytelling, and connection. This practice invites us into mindful moments: as we mix the paste, trace the lines, feel the coolness on our skin, and observe our thoughts. Whether it’s a quiet moment shared between caregiver and child, or at a community gathering rich with color and conversation, henna becomes a living reminder: we are here, together, in this moment.

Henna Mindfulness Practice

1. Begin with Breath

Invite your child or group to take three slow, deep breaths. Feel the belly rise and fall. Notice how your body begins to soften. You might say: “We are here, we are calm, we are ready to create together.”

2. Mix with Intention

Mix 2 tablespoons of natural henna powder with lemon juice until a smooth paste forms. Optionally add a drop of essential oil and a pinch of sugar. Stir slowly and notice the texture and scent. As you mix, set a quiet intention: peace, joy, strength—whatever quality you want to hold in your design.

3. Trace the Moment

Before applying henna on the skin, practice simple shapes on paper. Spirals, dots, leaves, hearts—anything your child imagines. Encourage slowing down: 

  • How does it feel to trace that line?
  • What happens to your breath as you move your hand?

4. Apply with Care

Using a cone or small brush, apply a simple design to the hand or wrist. Notice the sensation of the cool paste, the stillness of the body, and the breath anchoring the experience.

*Caregivers can gently apply henna to children’s hands, offering this as a moment of love, bonding, and grounding.

5. Rest and Reflect

Once the design is complete, let it dry naturally. Use this time for quiet reflection or journaling. Invite conversation:

  • What story does your henna design tell?
  • How did it feel to go slowly and focus?
  • What do you want to remember and cherish from this moment?

6. Close with Gratitude and intention

As the henna sets and your breath softens, invite a final moment of stillness. You might say together:

“We are present. We are creative. We are calm. We welcome peace.”

Let these words settle into your heart, mind, and body, like the design resting on your skin. This simple affirmation becomes a living mantra, carrying the essence of the practice forward: grounded in mindfulness, rich with cultural meaning, and full of possibility.

While henna fades in time, the peace we create through these practices becomes cherished memories.

Its Significance

Henna, as a mindfulness practice, invites children into their senses, their heritage, their bodies, and their relationships with care. For caregivers, it’s an opportunity to share calm and culture in one breath.

Rooted in tradition and adaptable for all ages, this ritual offers connection across generations—where stories, symbols, and emotions can live on the skin and in the heart.

 

Ivy ChildHenna as Mindfulness: A Creative Practice for Calm and Connection

Mindful Marble Art: A Creative & Sensory Practice for Kids

As featured on mindful.org

This marble-painting activity activates all the senses and lets you enjoy a mindful moment while making art with your little ones.
Mindfulness isn’t just about stillness—it can be a playful, swirling, and colorful experience. Mindful marble art transforms a simple creative activity into a sensory-rich moment of presence, helping children slow down, focus, and express themselves.

Through gentle movement, breath awareness, and sensory exploration, this practice fosters patience, emotional regulation, and creativity—all while making art! See what it can look like. The sensation of rolling marbles, the vibrant blending of colors, and the rhythmic tilting of the tray help little ones engage their senses and cultivate mindful awareness.

Benefits of Making Mindful Marble Art

  • Encourages patience: Children practice slowing down and guiding movement with care.
  • Engages the senses: Touch, sight, and motion deepen awareness of the present moment.
  • Strengthens breath-body connection: Pairing breath with movement supports self-regulation.
  • Fosters creativity & self-expression: Encourages open-ended exploration and focus.

What You’ll Need

  • A shallow tray or box (a baking pan or shoebox lid works well)
  • A sheet of paper (cut to fit inside the tray)
  • Non-toxic, washable paint in 2-3 colors
  • Marbles or small rolling objects (ping pong balls, beads, or crumpled foil work too!)
  • A damp cloth or wipes for easy cleanup

How to Do Mindful Marble Art

1. Set the Space

Begin by creating a calm and inviting atmosphere. Place materials in front of you and your child. Before starting, take a deep breath together:

  • Breathe in slowly through your nose (as if smelling a flower).
  • Exhale gently through your mouth (as if blowing out a candle).

Repeat this breath 2-3 times.
Ask your child, “How do you feel right now?”

2. Sensory Preparation

Invite your child to explore the marbles before painting:

  • What do they feel like? Smooth? Cool? Round?
  • Can you roll them between your fingers without dropping them?

Dip a marble into the paint and ask:

  • What does the paint feel like? Sticky? Slippery? Gooey?
  • What colors do you see? Are they mixing together?

3. Rolling with Awareness

Place the marbles onto the paper in the tray. Guide your child to hold the edges, feeling its weight.

Encourage mindful movement:

  • As they tilt the tray forward—breathe in.
  • As they tilt it back—breathe out.

Mindful questions to keep attention focused:

  • What happens when you move the tray fast? What about slow?
  • Do the marbles ever get ‘stuck’? What can we do to help them move?
  • How do the colors mix together?

If attention drifts, take a pause-and-wiggle break, shaking out hands before resuming.

4. Reflect and Appreciate

Once finished, pause to admire the marble art. Ask:

  • What do you see in the patterns? (Clouds? Rivers? Something new?)
  • How did it feel to roll the marbles?
Ivy ChildMindful Marble Art: A Creative & Sensory Practice for Kids

Calming Hands A Mindfulness Practice for Kids

Helping Children Find Calm at Their Fingertips

When children feel anxious, overwhelmed, or upset, mindfulness practices like Calming Hands can help them feel safe, grounded, and calm. This simple yet powerful exercise, created by Rose Felix Cratsley, Founder & CEO of Ivy Child International, combines mindful breathing, counting, and handprint art to soothe strong emotions and build emotional resilience.

Mindfulness can be fun, simple, and hands-on—literally! Calming Hands invites children to explore breathing, focus, and creativity through the tactile sensation of their own hands. It’s perfect for caregivers and educators who want to help kids find calm, focus, and emotional balance in a playful and interactive way.

How to Practice Calming Hands

What You’ll Need:

  • Paper (large enough for handprints)
  • Non-toxic markers, crayons, or paint
  • A comfortable and quiet space

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Make the Handprint
    Invite your child to trace their hand onto a piece of paper or create a painted handprint. Let them customize it and make it their own: choosing colors or decorating.
  2. Number the Fingers
    Together, write the numbers 1 to 10 on the fingers, starting at the thumb and moving outward.
  3. Begin Mindful Breathing
    Encourage your child to place their real hands on top of their handprints.

    • Start (1): Breathe in deeply, then exhale slowly as you count aloud.
    • Move to the next finger (2): Breathe in deeply, then exhale slowly as you count again.
    • Continue the pattern, breathing in and out for each finger, counting from 1 to 10.
  4. Repeat As Needed
    Encourage your child to take their time and enjoy this exercise, they can trace back through the numbers or start again. Repeating this practice reinforces calmness and focus.

Why It Works

  • Breathing Practice: The finger-by-finger breathing technique teaches kids to inhale and exhale deeply while counting from 1 to 10.
  • Self-Reflection: Encourages kids to observe how their hands and bodies feel after the practice, reinforcing self-awareness and relaxation.
  • Calm and Creative: By combining art and mindfulness, this practice becomes a lasting tool for emotional regulation and relaxation.

How to Adapt for Kids with Sensory Needs

For children with sensory processing needs, encourage them to explore different textures while practicing Calming Hands. Using soft fabric, smooth stones, or textured paper during the exercise can help them connect more deeply with their senses and enhance the calming effect.

Parental Hack

This practice is most effective when caregivers model the activity alongside children, reinforcing the idea that mindfulness is a family activity and ritual. By practicing together, both kids and parents strengthen their emotional resilience and psychological immune system.

Highlights and Benefits

  • Introduction: Guides children to notice the sensations in their hands and introduces the concept of hands as calming tools.
  • Breathing Practice: Teaches kids to inhale and exhale deeply while counting, promoting relaxation and focus.
  • Reflection: Helps children reflect on how their body feels post-practice, fostering mindfulness and self-awareness.
  • Creative Art: Integrates creativity by making handprints, decorating them, and turning them into visual reminders of calm.

Make Art With Your Handprint

The Calming Hands practice is best paired with an engaging art activity. Children can trace or make handprints, decorate them, and personalize their calming hands. This hands-on activity teaches kids to ease difficult emotions while providing a visual and tactile reminder of the breathing practice. It turns mindfulness into a creative keepsake that kids can return to in stressful moments.

Consider mounting the handprint art on the fridge, bedroom door, or even in the car as a calming tool that everyone can use.

Guided Audio Practice: Use Your Hands to Explore Mindful Breathing

  • Calm and Creative: By combining art and mindfulness, this practice becomes a lasting tool for emotional regulation and relaxation.

How to Adapt for Kids with Sensory Needs

For children with sensory processing needs, encourage them to explore different textures while practicing Calming Hands. For example, using soft fabric, smooth stones, or textured paper during the exercise can help them connect more deeply with their senses and enhance the calming effect of the practice.

Parental Hack

This practice is most effective when caregivers model the activity alongside children, reinforcing the idea that mindfulness is a family activity and ritual. By practicing together, both kids and parents strengthen their emotional resilience and psychological immune system.

Highlights and Benefits

  • Introduction: Guides children to notice the sensations in their hands and introduces the concept of hands as calming tools.
  • Breathing Practice: Teaches kids to inhale and exhale deeply while counting, promoting relaxation and focus.
  • Reflection: Helps children reflect on how their body feels post-practice, fostering mindfulness and self-awareness.
  • Creative Art: Integrates creativity by making handprints, decorating them, and turning them into visual reminders of calm.

Make Art With Your Handprint

The Calming Hands practice is best paired with an engaging art activity. Children can trace or make handprints, decorate them, and personalize their calming hands. This hands-on activity teaches kids to ease difficult emotions while providing a visual and tactile reminder of the breathing practice. It turns mindfulness into a creative keepsake that kids can return to in stressful moments. Consider mounting the handprint art on the fridge, bedroom door, or even in the car as a calming tool that everyone can use.

Calming Hands Handout: For Easy Reference

Calming hands exercise; numbered fingers.

Guided Audio Practice: Use Your Hands to Explore Mindful Breathing

 

Ivy ChildCalming Hands A Mindfulness Practice for Kids

Young Boston Scholars Leading the Way with Mindfulness!

Our long-standing partnership with Boston Public Schools uplifts young scholars as leaders within our communities. Our inspiring young minds are using mindfulness practices to foster calm, creativity, and connection.

🧘 Magic Carpet Practice

Dive into this creative Magic Carpet practice, a mindfulness tool empowering young leaders to bring peace and creativity to their spaces.

📽️ Watch the video:

✨ Building a Mindful Future

Together, we’re creating a future grounded in mindfulness, connection, and care—one breath at a time. With your support, we can continue making mindfulness accessible and impactful for everyone.

💛 Join us in this mission.

Ivy ChildYoung Boston Scholars Leading the Way with Mindfulness!

Advancing Equity in Mental Health

WHY EQUITY IN MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

Mental health is a critical aspect of our overall well-being, yet access to mental health care is not equitable for all. Disparities exist based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location, among other factors. These disparities can lead to significant differences in mental health outcomes.

KEY FACTS AND DATA

  • Prevalence of Mental Health Issues: Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in a given year (National Institute of Mental Health).
  • Access to Care: According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), only 43% of adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021 (National Institute of Mental Health).
  • Disparities in Care: Ethnic and racial minorities are less likely to receive mental health care. For example, 48% of white adults with mental illness received treatment, compared to 31% of Black adults and 22% of Hispanic adults (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
  • Cultural Competence: Studies show that culturally and linguistically responsive care can significantly improve mental health outcomes. Yet, only a small percentage of mental health professionals receive adequate training in cultural competence (American Psychological Association).

We are proud to collaborate with a diverse group of partners who share our commitment to mental health equity. Together, we work to break down barriers to care and create a more inclusive and supportive mental health system.

To learn more about mindful resources, visit our resources page.

Together, we can make a difference and advance equity in mental health for all.

Ivy Child TeamAdvancing Equity in Mental Health

Equity Breath

Enjoy this meditation practice by our CEO, Rose Felix Cratsley. This mediation focuses on Equity Breath.

In this practice framework, each letter of the word “breath” serves to remind us of our responsibility to honor and promote equity.

To begin this practice, let’s ground ourselves in deep gratitude. Gratitude for all those who have come before us and those who have paved the way for us to sit in this moment with a sense of relative safety. Whose tireless efforts allow us to be and move within the spaces we navigate each day. Acknowledging the responsibility we also share in making the world a better place than we found it. In this way, we can recognize our own sense of belonging as we take time now at the start of our practice to breathe for belonging.

In this mindfulness framework, each letter of the word “breath” serves to remind us of our responsibility to ourselves and to others to honor and promote equity. “B” invites us to breathe for belonging. “R” for restoration and renewal. “E” to exercise equity. “A” to activate and advocate. “T” asks us to trust the power. “H” is for healing.

  1. Let’s pause for a few breaths to allow us to focus on our breathing for belonging. As we focus on the positive elements of belonging and our gratitude for all that has made this possible, begin to feel a sense of restoration and renewal.
  2. Belonging. Restoration and renewal. The first two letters of our equity breath will prepare us to receive the world with as much positivity and energy as we can. With this in mind, take some time to breathe for belonging as well as our collective restoration and renewal.
  3. Allow a welcome pause. For several breaths focus on restoration and renewal. Take some time to turn inward and focus on a sense of belonging, restoration, and renewal.
  4. Let’s turn our attention outward to the rich diversity of people in our lives and everyday interactions. With that, we will begin to reflect on how we exercise equity as well as activate and advocate for that equity—the “E” and “A” in our equity breath.
  5. Now we can turn our attention to opening our hearts and minds to the vast intersectionality of our world in ways that cause us to examine things like: Who holds power across our communities and across facets of our society? What is grounded in the ways that we live, work, and play? 
  6. In our collective efforts to advance intersectional equity, may we take the necessary steps to recognize and value each of our many identities. May we exercise equity through our genuine care and concern for one another. Through sharing, openness, and curiosity. Through open invitations to participate, broadening access and opportunity, and through collaboration and co-creation with those impacted by institutions, systems, and communities. Holding those most affected in our hearts and directing this practice toward justice. May we breathe for safety for ourselves and one another. May we breathe together for justice, for the positive change we see each day in the march toward social justice. May we honor and nourish the relationships so necessary in advancing equity in our world as this cannot be done alone.
  7. Let’s pause again and enjoy a few deep breaths to focus on our vast potential to exercise equity. To activate and advocate. Anchoring ourselves in our equity breath as we now turn ourselves to the end of our practice. We use the breath as a tool to focus on breathing for belonging, restoration, and renewal, exercising equity, activating and advocating, trusting the power, and healing through hope.
  8. Holding ourselves with the utmost compassion, we move into the last two elements of our equity breath, allowing ourselves to trust the past and heal through hope. Anchoring our awareness on the breath; focusing on simply breathing in and breathing out. Aware of our body, let us release all of the tension and pain.
  9. Now, let’s bring our awareness to our hearts. Welcome tenderness to our hearts, bringing our awareness to our emotions. Holding in compassion. Smiling. Easing and releasing with the breath. As we notice our own suffering, notice how it manifests in the body, in our emotions, in our tone, and in our words and actions. Try to hold the suffering with deep compassion. Easing suffering with the beautiful power of our breath. Being aware of suffering as a pattern in the world. Visualizing how it affects so many. As we take in this pattern of suffering, hold it in compassion, and send ease with each out-breath.
  10. As we notice the suffering of others, what are you aware of? What do you feel in your body? What emotions? Hold it all with compassion, sending ease and relief to your mind.
  11. Now slowly return awareness to the breath. Welcome ease and with each out-breath, release any tension. Notice the suffering of those that hold privilege. Recognize guilt and disconnection. Feel this energy and hold it with deep passion as we release it with ease and send relief.
  12. Return awareness to the entire body. Our heads, our hearts, our hands, and our feet. From this awareness, honor your deepest intentions to address suffering and what we need to do in order to create conditions to thrive. Strengthening and bringing into awareness the steps we take next. How does this feel in your body, in your head, in your heart? Hands and feet? What are you? What are we? Carrying forth from today may we keep the flames of determination, courage, and conviction burning no matter what difficulty or odds arise.
Ivy Child TeamEquity Breath

Healing Through Hope

Hope is defined as “the feeling of cherishing a desire with anticipation, trust and belief in fulfillment”.

The positive physiological effects of hope are well-supported. Researchers are learning that a change in mind-set has the power to alter neurochemistry.

Further research also showed that during the course of illness, belief and expectation — two mental states associated with hope — have an impact on the nervous system which, in turn, sets off a chain reaction that makes improvement and recovery more likely. This process, is fundamental to the widely accepted “placebo effect,” which is created by a hopeful outlook.

Hope opens doors and has the power to sustain us through the most difficult of times and circumstances. Having the ability to look forward keeps us moving forward, and hope plays an important role in this process.

Often, hope serves as the catalyst to uncover forgotten strengths, to begin to see possibilities, and to create and sustain change. Also, hope is the best “partner” in helping people overcome obstacles or loss and see their worlds through a different lens.

Enjoy this guided audio meditation practice by our CEO, Rose Felix Cratsley. This mediation focuses on Healing Through Hope.

Ivy Child TeamHealing Through Hope

Bringing Mindfulness to the World

The fundamental message of the mindfulness movement is that the underlying cause of dissatisfaction and distress is in our heads. By failing to pay attention to what actually happens in each moment, we get lost in regrets about the past and fears for the future, which make us unhappy. Learning to focus turns down the volume on circular thought, our “entire society is suffering from attention deficit disorder – big time”.

By practising mindfulness, individual freedom is found within “pure awareness”, undistracted by external corrupting influences. All we need to do is close our eyes and watch our breath. The world is slowly changing, one mindful individual at a time.

Mindful You Mindful World

Training yourself in times of nonstress becomes increasingly important, because you build up those practices for accessing calm quickly. Even years of meditation or yoga practice, however, aren’t always enough to handle the challenges of the modern world. When anxiety takes you by surprise, these strategies will help you catch your breath and calm your mind.

1. Be Ridiculous: To calm yourself quickly, tell your autonomic nervous system that it’s OK to stand down. One cue that works surprisingly well is silliness. If you’re anxious before an important call, have a one-song dance party. Make faces in the mirror. Translate the day’s headlines into pig Latin.

2. Focus on a Game: The Scientific Solution to Building a More Resilient Brain and Life, is redirecting a racing mind by playing games, especially ones that require some concentration. Play Tetris on your phone or a round of 20 Questions with a friend.

3. Slow Your Breath: Rapid, shallow breathing is a common feature of anxiety, but that deliberately slowing the breath down — to six or seven breaths a minute — and inhaling twice the usual volume of air can lower sympathetic nervous system activity by as much as one-third.

4. Listen to Your Environment: One way to tune out the noise in your mind is to tune in to the sounds around you: the chirping birds outside your window, a humming air conditioner, a horn beeping down the street, the sound of a copy machine. “Allow your ears to simply receive whatever sounds arise,”.

5. Take a Play Break: If you can step away from a tense moment long enough to throw a Frisbee or pet your dog, you’re on your way to calming down. Play can trigger positive neurochemicals — serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins — that increase well-being.

6. Drink a Glass of Water: Simply slowing down to have a glass of water can be calming; it also supports stress recovery. Staying well-hydrated may reduce your HPA-axis response to stress.

7. Listen to Music: If you need to get out of your head, put on some tunes you love and listen actively, with your eyes closed. Calming music especially can have a direct effect on the autonomic system. This may be why music is now being used therapeutically in emergency rooms, as well as in pain-management and stress-reduction programs.

8. Sing: Produce your own instant music therapy by belting out a song or two (singing loudly with the radio absolutely counts). Singing can measurably improve immunity, decrease stress, and raise oxytocin levels, which help promote social bonding.

9. Monotask: If you’re feeling anxious about having too much to do, approach each task in a conscious way. “I’m going to answer emails for 10 minutes,” for example, or, “I’m taking 10 minutes to clear off my desk.” Even if you can’t complete them on the first try, it can be calming to get a start on lingering tasks — which is often the hardest part.

10. Alternate-Nostril Breathing: Deep breathing is useful for slowing down the sympathetic nervous system and alternate-nostril breathing can be especially relaxing. First, exhale completely, and then inhale deeply. On your next exhale, place an index finger against your right nostril to close it off. Inhale through the left nostril, and then close the left nostril as you release the right nostril. Exhale completely through the right nostril, and then inhale through that side. At the top of the inhale, close off the right nostril, release the left, and exhale. Repeat for 15 rounds.

11. Pet an Animal: Find the nearest domesticated mammal and give it a friendly scratch behind the ears. Studies show that petting dogs can lower your blood pressure, and having a pet of your own can be a reliable source of unconditional love that keeps stress in check over time.

12. Enjoy Some Greenery: Take a walk in the woods, if possible. Research on “forest bathing,” a practice that originated in Japan, has revealed that spending time among trees and plants can measurably lower cortisol, blood pressure, and pulse rate. Gardening is also a calming activity that gets you outdoors.

13. Express Your Thanks: Numerous studies have found gratitude to be a life changer, bringing feelings of greater well-being and reducing depression. So write a note to a friend, say thank you to three people in an hour, express gratitude for the little things every day, like “Thank you, universe, for that amazing parking spot.” Or, “Thank you, universe. I am still alive. Perhaps my anxiety doesn’t know everything after all.”

MINDFULNESS MULTIPLIER EFFECT™

At the heart of Ivy Child’s mission, we believe that when you provide any individual access to learn and practice mindfulness, it not only enhances their direct well-being, it also ripples out to benefit all of those in their outer world (SELF, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, WORLD).

This is Ivy Child International’s Mindfulness Multiplier Effect ™.

The effect you have in the world, the intangible, energetic impact you have on the whole, begins from within you and how you feel, what kind of emotional energy you carry out into the world and spread around, so to speak. The specific emotions don’t matter, although it very much makes a difference whether the emotions you’re allowing to influence your contribution are positive or negative.

It all begins with you, from within. That’s where your ripples originate, and that’s the only source of ripples that you have influence or control over. You hold a vast power within you, the power to influence your experience intentionally, and all you have to do to embrace this power is decide to.

Mindfulness Practiced by the World

If you look at any culture throughout history, you’ll find that their traditions include some form of meditation or mindfulness practice.

Day 1: Norway – Friluftsliv

 

In Norway, people practice a custom known as Friluftsliv (“Free-looft-sleeve”), which means “free air life”. Friluftsliv refers to spending time outdoors and soaking up the beauty of nature.
When you go outside, feel the sun on your face, the breeze in your hair, hear the birds singing, the insects buzzing, see the beautiful flora and fauna around you, it takes you out of your hectic thoughts and brings you into the present moment.
You breathe deeper, your heartbeat slows down, and your mood lifts as you simply enjoy each breath, breathing in the wondrous world we live in.
From the remote Arctic to urban Oslo, friluftsliv means a commitment to celebrating time outdoors, no matter the weather forecast. Friluftsliv can also mean long strolls with friends, picnics, a leisurely afternoon bike ride, or walking the dog on a chilly morning.
The benefit goes beyond good mood though. Spending time in the outdoors can also help heal the kind of grief and trauma emerging as the virus races through communities worldwide.

Day 2: Turkey – Keyif

 

In Turkey, people value the experience of Keyif (“kay-eef”). This is the art of quiet relaxation and living in the moment.

The great thing about this practice is that you don’t have to go out into nature to do it. Just find a few minutes of quiet time in your day to relax, engage with your surroundings, and appreciate being present in the moment.

These are usually simple activities. Sitting on a bench by the Bosphorous watching the sunset, throwing simit to sea gulls from the back of a ferry, drinking raki and eating mezes with your friends, watching the bosphorous from a hill, listening to gypsy musicians on the street and so on.

You would see many people in Istanbul not doing much, seemingly idle, they might be at that point enjoying the keyif of living in Istanbul. Food, drink, friends, views, the Bosphorous are all important elements of Keyif in istanbul.

Day 3: Germany – Gemütlichkeit

 

You could choose to practice Gemütlichkeit (geh-moot-lich-kite), which hails from Germany. The word means “geniality,” or “friendliness” and is all about celebrating your appreciation of others.
This is a fantastic mindfulness practice because it’s all about getting together with the people you love and honoring their presence in your life. It could be as boisterous as a party or as simple as making the effort to offer well wishes to everyone who crosses your path.
When you devote your time and energy to focusing on others in this way, it takes you out of your own head and helps you feel a stronger sense of empathy and connection to all of the wonderful people in your world.
Gemütlichkeit cannot be experienced alone because one of its necessary components is having a sense of social belonging. And we’re not talking about being at a dinner and having everyone stop by at your table to talk, or being the life of the party. It’s more about doing something, like spending an afternoon at a beer garden, that everyone in the community recognises as a pleasant but largely pointless activity.

Day 4: Japan –  “Shirin-Yoku”

 

In Japan, people follow a practice called Shirin-Yoku, which means “forest bathing.”
This custom is drawn on as a kind of medicine or healing therapy currently intended to combat the stresses of modern living and the relentless presence of technology in our lives. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, a great solution is to take a 15-minute walk in nature. And while you’re there, focus on your surroundings.
What do you see, hear, feel, and smell?
The key to unlocking the power of the forest is in the five senses. Let nature enter through your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and feet. Listen to the birds singing and the breeze rustling in the leaves of the trees. Look at the different greens of the trees and the sunlight filtering through the branches. Smell the fragrance of the forest and breathe in the natural aromatherapy of phytoncides. Taste the freshness of the air as you take deep breaths. Place your hands on the trunk of a tree. Dip your fingers or toes in a stream. Lie on the ground. Drink in the flavor of the forest and release your sense of joy and calm. This is your sixth sense, a state of mind. Now you have connected with nature.
Breathe in the beauty of it all. Consider the resilience of nature, the amazing adaptability of life itself, and remember that you too are a creature of the natural world.
It will shift your perspective and help you develop a more relaxed and positive mindset.

Day 5: Tibet – Metta Meditation 

 

The Tibetan practice of Metta meditation is somewhat similar to this. It focuses on cultivating a sense of benevolence and goodwill towards others.

Metta translates to “loving kindness” and involves entering into a meditative state and then consciously directing positive thoughts to other people. In Buddhist tradition, this is one of the four sublime states of the mind.

To do this practice one sits in a comfortable posture, evokes a prayerful attitude and then thinks of oneself and wishes oneself well. Then one thinks of a cherished person, a neutral person, a disliked person and finally all people and likewise wishes them well in turn.

Done with sensitivity and over a period of time, loving kindness meditation gradually develops a deeper self-acceptance, a strengthened appreciation of those one already loves, a warm and growing interest in casual acquaintances and less ill-will towards those one previously did not like.

Benefits

A regular metta meditation practice can be beneficial for both your mind and body.

  • Promotes self-compassion
  • Decreases stress and anxiety
  • Reduces physical pain
  • Improves longevity
  • Enhances social connections

Day 6: Hawaii: Ho’oponopono

 

This is also called as a forgiveness and reconciliation practice. The word, Ho’oponopono means “to make right.” At the surface level, it’s about reciting the mantra, “I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you.” This ancient Hawaiian practice of forgiveness functions as both a communication concept for reconciliation and a tool for restoring self-love and balance.
And while you do this, you think about a person or people you have wronged, unintentionally or otherwise, and all the people who have wronged or who have upset you. And you let go of all of the anger, disappointment, shame, sorrow, or guilt you feel.
It’s a powerful way to heal old wounds, let go of old stories, and cultivate a more empathetic connection with others – and with yourself.
If you are ever about to have a difficult conversation with someone, reciting this mantra to yourself while you focus on the other person beforehand will help you remain calm, empathetic, and understanding, so you can achieve a better outcome.
With regular practice, reciting these simple phrases helps develop self-love and self-esteem at the times when we need it most. In this way, it’s both a lullaby to the self and a guaranteed insightful way to approach forgiving other people. Part of the reason why this traditional Hawaiian forgiveness prayer is so powerful is that it first requires you to acknowledge that wrong was done by saying you’re sorry.
Having other people acknowledge our feelings is a universal need; in ho’oponopono, you must first acknowledge that wrongdoing exists, which is a way of acknowledging these feelings. Only then will it be possible to find it in your heart to forgive someone else, or yourself.
Ivy Child TeamBringing Mindfulness to the World

Practicing Self-Care with Mindfulness

Self-care is the practice of taking an active role in protecting our own well-being, pursuing happiness, and having the ability, tools, and resources to respond to periods of stress so that they don’t result in imbalance and lead to a health crisis. Self-care means asking yourself what you need, and following through on the honest answer, it can be as simple as getting to bed earlier on a work night.

Why Is Self-Care Important?

Self-care can be an intervention tool that keeps you from being completely sucked into the vortex, saving you when you find yourself standing on the precipice gazing into the dark abyss.

A Self-Care Plan is a fail-safe, created by you, and filled with your favorite self-care activities, important reminders, and ways to activate your self-care community. Here’s why it’s important to create your own Self-Care plan:

1. Customizing a Self-Care Plan is a preventative measure. By designing a roadmap that is unique to you, in moments when you’re NOT in crisis, you’re directing your best self to reflect on what you may need (and have access to) in your worst moments. The reality is that only YOU know how intense your stress levels can get and what resources are available to you.

2. Having a plan takes the guesswork out of what to do and where to turn in moments of crisis. From a mindfulness point of view, it helps you respond instead of react to the situation at hand. When you have a plan in place, you’ll feel more in control of your circumstances and life won’t feel quite as chaotic.

3. A Self-Care Plan helps you stay the course. You’ll find it far easier to stick to your personal care strategy and avoid falling into the trap of making excuses. Having a plan helps you establish a routine, ensuring that you and your self-care partners don’t wind up in isolation.

The 7 Pillars of Self-Care

1.Health literacy – includes: the capacity of individuals to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

2.Mental Wellbeing – includes: knowing your body mass index (BMI), cholesterol level, blood pressure; engaging in health screening.

3.Physical activity – practicing moderate intensity physical activity such as walking, cycling, or participating in sports at a desirable frequency.

4.Healthy eating – includes: having a nutritious, balanced diet with appropriate levels of calorie intake.

5.Risk avoidance or mitigation – includes: quitting tobacco, limiting alcohol use, getting vaccinated, practicing safe sex, using sunscreens.

6.Good hygiene – includes: washing hands regularly, brushing teeth, washing food.

7. Rational and responsible use of products, services, diagnostics and medicines – includes: being aware of dangers, using responsibly when necessary.

Self-Care Practices to Use Every Day

1. Stick with my normal, daily meditation practice. It’s easy to lose track of time when the days blend into one another, but self-care is important now more than ever. Throw away the excuse “I don’t have time” —all you seem to have is time, you just need to remain disciplined.

2. Maintain contact virtually by creating a schedule. Now is a great time to make sure that you check on the ones who matter to you, and those who you rarely get to see in person. However, it’s very easy to lose track of time—especially across time zones—so having a set schedule of times to check in, hang out and even eat “dinner” together can help to restore some social structure to the day.

3. Get outdoors. If you are blessed to live in a place where there are parks or waterfronts (that are not closed during the pandemic) and you can access them with walks, runs, and bikes, it’s a blessing that should not be squandered. Each day commit to getting outdoors and moving for at least an hour, including taking a barefoot walk on grass.

4. Give yourself permission to cry. This is actually a important point on the usual Self-Care Plan, which seemed appropriate to migrate over in these times. You will inevitably feel sad, disheartened, or downright hopeless at times, but also know that giving yourself permission to feel these emotions fully and turn towards your suffering, will help release any pain or tension and help see the sun through the clouds once again.

5.When all else fails, ask myself: “What do I need at this moment?” This should be your default question—the one you immediately ask yourself when you sense that you are not feeling right, physically or mentally. Just pause, take a long, slow deep breath and ask yourself this question. In this space between, you should always find the answer.

6. Be a friend to yourself. As corny as that may sound, it’s a trick which is incredibly useful. When you notice you’re being hard on yourself over a problem, imagine a dear friend coming to you with the same problem. How would you respond? How would you offer support? What would you say? How would you regard your friend? Now try giving these responses to yourself.

MINDFULNESS MULTIPLIER EFFECT™

At the heart of Ivy Child’s mission, we believe that when you provide any individual access to learn and practice mindfulness, it not only enhances their direct well-being, it also ripples out to benefit all of those in their outer world.

Everything begins from self, from the inside, you are the epicenter. How your emotional energy, thoughts, words, and actions may affect those whom you interact with, and in turn how that shifts their emotional energy, thoughts, words, and actions, and how that continues to spread outward with each person whom they interact with, and so on.

Seven Days Seven Ways of Practicing Self Mindfulness

Day 1: Notice Breathe Allow Act

 

This simple mindfulness practice, helps us notice, breathe, allow, and take positive action. Follow along to widen the gap between the impulse to react and choosing how you want to respond.

When we experience unpleasant feelings or thoughts—we feel stressed or anxious or uncomfortable in some way—instead of just reacting or trying to push those thoughts or feelings away, we have another option. We can notice the feelings and the thoughts, breathe into them, and allow them to be there. We may feel unsettled, but by allowing our discomfort, stress, anxiety, or whatever our experience is to be exactly as it is, we let go of any unnecessary tension and allow the experience to pass more quickly. We also give ourselves more space to choose how to respond.

This is the technique: Notice the fact that you are stressed and how it is showing up in your body, mind, and emotions. Take a breath to clear your mind, relax your body, and gather yourself. Suggest to yourself that this experience will not last forever, so welcome it while it is here. Allow your mind to think its thoughts, your body to feel its feelings, your emotions to move. Then, ask what is your next best action? What do you need?

Day 2: Smile Bath Meditation

 

Many people enjoy bathing as a time to de-stress and relax. Visualization can help bring you to a state of relaxation and mindfulness by focusing the mind. To enhance your feelings of relaxation in the tub, use this concept targeted to your various senses to focus your mind and heighten your bathing experience.

Sight

While in the tub, close your eyes or leave them open (whichever works for you). Visualize a water scene that is relaxing to you. Maybe sitting on a beach, floating in a pool, lounging by a lake. Imagine you are in that scene; delight in all that you see as you are transported to that place.

Hearing

What sounds bring you peace in your imagined scene? The crashing of waves, birds singing, the gentle rustle of leaves, people laughing. Call them forth as you shut out the noisiness of the day.

Smell

Your tub serves as the conduit to bring your thoughts into your present surroundings. Allow your mind to recall the pleasing smells that permeate your senses, the salty air, or maybe barbeque on the grill as you sit poolside.

Touch

As you picture your water scene, imagine the tactile sensations, the coolness or warmth of the water, the sand touching your skin, the grass beneath your feet, or the feel of the sun on your face.

Day 3 Bumblebee Breath

 

Anxiety is commonly associated with short, tight upper-chest breathing whereas relaxation, on the other hand, comes with slower breaths that originate from the diaphragm. Lengthening exhalation relative to inhalation reduces the ‘fight or flight’ impulse and maintains a healthy level of carbon dioxide in the blood, which helps you relax.

For anxiety, Bumblebee Breathe technique, also known as brahmari, Sanskrit word that means “bee, is an excellent technique. The practice is named for the humming sound that bees make. The sound is soothing for a spinning mind, and the practice lengthens the exhalation without excessive strain.

Bumblebee Breathe can be used as a regular daily practice to encourage relaxation or as an on-the-spot remedy. It works on calming the nerves and soothes them especially around the brain and forehead. The humming sound vibrations have a natural calming effect.

The longer you sustain the humming exhalation, the more relaxing the Bee Breath is likely to be—but forcing the breath beyond your capacity can have the reverse effect, causing even more stress. So don’t force yourself to maintain any particular speed. Inhale whenever necessary, and let the buzzing sound last as long as it is comfortable. Finally, spend a few breaths sitting quietly and noticing whether there are any changes in your breath or mood.

Day 4 Mood – Food Mindfulness

Ever feel down and just don’t know why? Do you know the TYPE of food you eat, and HOW you eat, directly affects your physical and emotional well-being? Research shows a clear connection between the food you eat and the gut microbiome, your inner eco system that governs your mood.

Mood – Food Mindful eating is maintaining an in-the-moment awareness of the food and drink you put into your body. It involves observing how the food makes you feel and the signals your body sends about taste, satisfaction, and fullness. Mindful eating requires you to simply acknowledge and accept rather than judge the feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations you observe. It can extend to the process of buying, preparing, and serving your food as well as consuming it.

Mood – Food Mindful eating isn’t about being perfect, always eating the right things, or never allowing yourself to eat on-the-go again. And it’s not about establishing strict rules for how many calories you can eat or which foods you have to include or avoid in your diet. Rather, it’s about focusing all your senses and being present at that moment

Eating mindfully can help you to:

  • Slow down and take a break from the hustle and bustle of your day, easing stress and anxiety.
  • Examine and change your relationship with food—helping you to notice when you turn to food for reasons other than hunger, for example.
  • Derive greater pleasure from the food you eat, as you learn to slow down and more fully appreciate your meals and snacks.
  • Make healthier choices about what you eat by focusing on how each type of food makes you feel after eating it.
  • Improve your digestion by eating slower.
  • Feel fuller sooner and by eating less food.
  • Make a greater connection to where your food comes from, how it’s produced, and the journey it’s taken to your plate.
  • Eat in a healthier, more balanced way.

Day 5 – Starfish Meditation

Starfish meditation is a way to build resilience to stress, anxiety and anger. Since all these reactions can impair not only our health but also our judgment and skills of attention. Several researchers & practitioners suggest that practicing starfish meditation is an effective way to deal with difficult feelings.

Starfish meditation technique is also known as “5-Finger Breathing”. To attain mindfulness, our first exercise focuses on the process – as you breathe in and out, you have to trace around your fingers.

Basically what you have to do is:

  • Choose a hand to be your starfish. Extend this hand, palm out, with fingers spread like a starfish.
  • Use the pointer finger from your other hand to trace the starfish as you breathe. Start at your thumb, and as you breathe in, trace up your thumb to the top. Do this carefully, so your movement matches your inhale.
  • Now, with your out breath, trace down the inside of your thumb. Again, move slowly paying attention to keeping the breath and movement together.
  • Continue breathing up and down each finger, matching your movement with your breath. As you breathe and trace, notice the sensations of movement in your body – your chest and belly moving in and out and your finger moving up and down.
  • When you come to the base of your wrist below your little finger, rest for a moment. Check in with yourself. Notice how you are feeling without overthinking or judging.
  • Try this again with your other hand.

Day 6 Jelly Arm Breath

 

Jelly Arm Breath technique is part of Kundalini yoga and is meant to move energy through the body. It is based on the concept that energy at the base of the spine (also known as the root chakra) needs to be released through the seven chakras of the body and then out through the crown chakra above the head.

This process of releasing energy from the body has the purpose of creating a system of communication between your mind and body to relieve mental, physical, and spiritual issues. This system of bringing awareness to your body by connecting with your breath is intended to facilitate being present, establishing a new rhythm, and communicating with a higher version of yourself.

It’s a method to rejuvenate after a stressful day, manage stress in the moment, and/or counteract tiredness. It also aims to help balance your energy and calm your mind so that you’re acting with purpose rather than just reacting to your thoughts and environment.

Day 7 – Alternate Nostril Breathing

 

Alternate nostril breathing is a yogic breath control practice. In Sanskrit, it’s known as nadi shodhana pranayama. This translates as “subtle energy clearing breathing technique.”

Alternate-nostril breathing doesn’t just belong to yoga, though. It’s often used in mindfulness and relaxation methods to help calm the body and the mind.

As the name suggests, alternate-nostril breathing is the focused practice of breathing through alternate nostrils, one side at a time.

How to Do Alternate-Nostril Breathing

If you want to try alternate-nostril breathing, here’s what to do:

  1. Sit quietly somewhere you don’t need to give any tasks your full attention.
  2. Bring your right hand up to your nose and move your forefinger and middle finger out of the way. Place your thumb on your right nostril.
  3. With this nostril covered, close your eyes and exhale fully and slowly through your left nostril.
  4. Once you’ve exhaled completely, release your right nostril and put your ring finger on the left nostril.
  5. Breathe in deeply and slowly from the right side. Make sure your breath is smooth and continuous.
  6. Once you’ve inhaled completely, exhale through your right nostril.
  7. Release your ring finger and close your right nostril with your thumb again. Breathe in fully and exhale fully from your left nostril.
  8. Repeat the full process two or more times.
Ivy Child TeamPracticing Self-Care with Mindfulness