Grab the Paper and Find the Crayolas Because Coloring Is Not Just Kids' Stuff

Meditation originated in the Eastern hemisphere and its techniques are often incompatible with the hectic pace of Western lifestyles. Many people can’t sit still long enough to clear their minds and achieve a meditative state. They have a difficult time pushing the worries of the day out of their minds and begin to focus on work or family life.

For these individuals there is a form of the practice known as active meditation, which is easier to learn and achieve than Eastern "concentrative" meditation. Active meditation focuses attention on simple tasks that require repetitive motion. Concentrating this way replaces negative thoughts and creates an inner state of peace.

Coloring as Therapy


One of the most effective forms of active meditation is coloring. According to Michelle Normand, an active mediation instructor, the choosing of colors and the gentle, repetitive movement of coloring focuses the brain on the current moment, thereby blocking fleeting thoughts. In addition, many colors, such as blue and green, can be very calming.

While many adults are reluctant to pick up an activity usually associated with grade schoolers, once they try it they find it easy and fun. Normand notes that coloring enables people to tap their creative side, something adults rarely do. It also generates a rewarding sense of accomplishment and positive feelings, which release endorphins, the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals.

Coloring is most beneficial when people pay attention to each pencil or crayon stroke and use color combinations that complement each other.

Mandalas and Their Benefits for Brain Health
Especially fun and rewarding are the complex designs know as mandalas. A mandala, which is Sanskrit for “circle” or “completion,” is an intricate, circular picture designed to be painted or colored. Mandalas have been a part of many cultures for many centuries. Dr. Waldman note that mandalas use symmetrical lines to create a sense of balance that is very beneficial for the brain.

According to Cathy Wong, licensed naturopathic doctor and alternative medicine writer, researchers at the University of California at Irvine Center and the University of Pennsylvania have used mandalas to help cancer patients ward off the anxiety and depression that often accompany a life-threatening or terminal illness. In addition, mandalas have been used to help smokers quit the habit. Coloring occupies the hands much like knitting, which many smokers take up when they’re quitting

Most book stores now carry mandala coloring books made especially for adults. To learn more about mandalas, a good place to start is mandalaofthemonth.com, which offers free downloadable mandalas. A Suite101.com article on creating mandalas from scratch can be found here.