A few days ago I went to Bali with a group of talented artists from Norway and Sweden. The mission was to paint, eat and enjoy. We did all that and beyond with Nyoman Sani. We experienced so much that it is hard to describe, but I will try. When it came to painting we wanted to learn more about Taksu, the Balinese philosophy of finding the heart and the soul in the painting. A few of the students wanted to become more free and expressive in their own artistic language. We started off with two questions regarding art that has left a mayor impact on you, and which ones of your own work that you are most pleased with yourself. After this we went on to working with a self portrait. Not everyone was happy about this task but I can only say it once again it is a good learning experience and if you have not tried yet I urge you to try. The next task was working with only colors and no motifs. In both assignments interesting things started to happen, and as one of the participants said there is a meaning to what you put on to your canvas but sometimes it takes you a bit longer to see it. We ended the day with sketching by the sea, and eating fresh seafood while listening to music and enjoying the traditional dance. The light just before sunset was warm and rich, perfect for photographs and painting. The second day was filled with activity. After looking at a traditional batik painting we headed for painting and lunch in the rice fields. Where we used oil pastels and watercolors, and a lot of interesting art was created. In the afternoon we went to Seniwati Artspace and meet Ni Nyoman Sani, her husband I Ketut Sutawan an the artists behind the exhibition Finding the me in me. We were welcomed with open arms and after a round of presentation we started working together. It is hard to describe in a blog post how moved we all were that we could all share our art and how brave Balinese female artists were in their expression. The workshop was followed by sharing. When we went to look at the art of Ni Nyoamn Sani and I Ketut Sutawan the artists hung all the creations from the workshop alongside the exhibition. The studio visits were very interesting when we heard Sani express her soul behind her painting everyone felt close to knowing what Taksu means. Sanis art revolves around the Balinese women and their heart and soul. As she says it is sometimes necessary to be both smart and soft, and she herself is both very clever and beautiful. Her art has soul, passion and interesting themes. Her husband I Ketut Sutawan is also a very interesting contemporary artist that comes from an artist family. Ketut works a lot with different animals in his paintings. His father creates magnificent wood sculptures. After the studio visit we all meet up for the art opening of the exhibition, and watched a heartbreaking and heartwarming art performance. The exhibition shows that the female contemporary artists in Bali have a strong and interesting voice. I will be trying to keep an eye on how they develop and look for opportunities for them to show their work on more arenas. I am grateful for the experience and we all came back full of inspiration but also very thoughtful and reflective. This was a journey of Taksu, of heart and soul in the painting. The last day was spent walking in the village, sketching and having a cold drink by the sea while listening to music. Sharing in Seniwati artspace So the next time you go to Bali visit the ladies in Seniwati, you will not regret it. #NiNyomanSani #Balineseart #Paint #eatandenjoy #talentedartstudents #Arttrip #heartandsoul #Artjourney #Bali

Earlier this summer I had the question: Can you meditate in Prada? Of course you can meditate basically in anything or anywhere. I had a student in creative meditation that had been meditating in the hospital cafeteria during 20 minutes of her lunch break every day at work for 20 plus years. This was her moment to get balance and energy for work as an emergency nurse. She meditated in a place filled with people and sound. We can all find our own way to meditate if it with creativity or a guided video the important thing is getting started. The picture is of Pradas rainbow sweater, and of course it is not what you wear it is like with exercise more important to do it. However if you are anything like me it can be so easy to fill your life with other things, I can honestly now say that if I don't meditate for a couple of weeks I notice a big shift in how I think and how well I can create or produce great work. Just like with exercise meditation or mindfulness is about finding a habit and a style that suits you. For me it improved my wellbeing even if I did a short meditation in 5 min in the morning. For me one of the best advices I had to start meditating was to start with putting on one song and stay present in that song. To sit down and color, or do a Mandala is also an active form of meditation that reduces stress. Now I would love to hear from you on what you find is difficult with a habit of meditation so that I can support you. Thank you for being part of the Zenart community. All the best Ingela Johansson #Prada_mindfulness #Meditation #Creative_wellness

The colour assignment was to create a painting in 5 minutes from two words. After the two first paintings we limited the colours to three and tried to take away the symbols and only use colours. Amazing how many beautiful pictures came out of a few minutes. The choice of colour depending on the artist and the symbolism we chose to put in to colours is an interesting journey. #colourassignment #ArtclassinSingapore #artinSingapore #arts #Singaporeartclass #Colourmixing

Creative meditation is a powerful method for managing stress and increasing your well-being. CREATIVE MEDITATION, online course A method to manage stress and increase your well-being. By combining meditation, with creativity and reflection, it provides a unique opportunity to express emotions, increase concentration and problem solving ability. The meditation exercises help you focus on the present and relax. Creativity with mindfulness does not require artistic ability but gives you tools to be present and have fun. The online course is structured on two occasions a week for three months. The course includes 24 sessions with exercises, guided meditations via audio files and three live webinars a month with the themes: Focus, Balance and Energy. Each exercise takes about 20 - 30 minutes to complete. You will need a notebook and four pens to participate. The goal of the course is for you to get tools and a habit for health and well-being in everyday life. Course leader: Ingela Johansson, ingela@zenart.info "I feel safer with myself." Anette Karlsson ​ "Wonderfully fun and rewarding course! Creative meditation for me became a tool for reflection, playfulness and creativity. Ingela is incredibly good at eliciting joy and how to make more use of your intuition. After the course, I have continued to use the method and, apart from silence and reflection, it has paid off new insights, perspectives and a lot of joy." Maria Lindblad ​ "Creative meditation doesn't change what happens in life, but how I deal with it." Karen French ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ #healthcare #health CREATIVE MEDITATION, online course ​ You will learn a habit of listening inward and making decisions without stress. ​ The process includes: meditation, creativity, and reflection. The online course is structured with two sessions per week over three months. The method is simple and effective, requiring 30 minutes twice a week. The course includes 24 sessions with exercises, videos, and audio files. ​ You don't need to know anything about meditation or painting to participate. After the course, you will have a toolbox of exercises, to help you reclaim trust, clarity and focus. ​ Materials: a notebook and four pens Goal: Establish a habit of listening inward and making decisions without stress. Below you find a video of the process. ​ What others have said: "Creative Meditation doesn't change what happens in life but how I handle it." - Karen French ​ "Fantastic, fun, and rewarding course! Creative meditation became a tool for reflection, playfulness, and creativity for me. Ingela is incredibly skilled at bringing out joy and how to use one's intuition more. After the course, I have continued to use the method, and besides stillness and reflection, it has provided new insights, perspectives, and a lot of joy." - Maria Lindblad "Creative meditation has lead me to find new sicoveries about myself through drawing meditations. Every time I reach for my drawing materials I wonder what will I discover next..." Kym Nelson ​ If you want to read more about what previous participants have thought, there is an exploratory study by Dr. Mathilde Gautier about the method." Course Instructor: Ingela Johansson ​ I have worked with creativity as an educator, designer, and artist in Sweden and Southeast Asia. My interest in meditation began in my teenage years, but it wasn't until 2014 that it became a daily routine when I discovered how much easier it was to handle being creative under time pressure. ​ In 2016 it helped me through a divorce, a move from Asia to Sweden with my children and rebuilding my company and along the way I found myself. I am trained in the Silva Method and Positive Inquiry. In 2016, I founded Zenart, and in 2019, I published the book 'Create to Flow.' ​ So far, I have been fortunate to lead groups for over 30 years in eight countries." Start your journey today To the course

WORKSHOPS the joy of creating together Discover the joy of creation ​ In Karlstad and Värmland I have Zenart courses and workshops. Everyone starts from creating without demands with curiosity, and listening to your intuition. ​ I took my first course when I was 18. Today I have had workshops, exhibitions and courses in eight countries. For 6 years I was active in Southeast Asia and learned techniques to relax, look at symbols, color, senses and materials. I have been developing the Zenart process since 2014. If you are curious about the connection between creativity and health, there is more information below method. ​ I collaborate with partners for corporate events and training weekends. Download the current course programme. ​ Företagsevent The art club Health care Relax To relax through a focused walk or meditation opens the door to creativity and intuition. Create When you create from a relaxed state of mind you can more easily tap into Flow. ​ Reflect Taking the time to look at the colors, symbols, and energy in your creations allows you to connect to yourself.

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Exercise 1, Nature "Nature is satisfied with simplicity." Isaac Newton Part 1 Meditation, 5 min Distractions have become increasingly common in our everyday life. We are interrupted by notifications, messages and constantly being available. The first exercise is an exercise in being here and now. Focus on movement in nature: such as the wind in a branch, waves, or clouds. To keep track of time, you can set a timer on your phone. If you are not in a hurry, it is not necessary to keep track of time. Look, observe and feel. Try to keep your mind on the object you are focused on. Feel free to activate your senses, through scent, texture, color and sound. If your mind wanders use it's imagination to get back to discover more about the colors in a cloud, or how fast it is drifting. Part 2 Creative meditation, 15 min (or however long you want) If time is important, set a timer, otherwise just continue for as long as you want. Choose the colors or pencils that feel right. Draw without requirements, if you get stuck draw the flow and movement of the object you have been meditating on, start painting lines as in the texture. If it's going to be something else, let it be something else. Let the brush and pen go on a journey of discovery. If words come up, write them down, if you feel like taking photos to describe your story, take pictures. When you feel that you are done, stop. During an exercise, you can make as many pictures as you want. Sometimes a picture takes a long time, sometimes you're done quickly.  If it suits you better to write about the experience, do that instead. Our feelings or our intuitive messages sometimes like to show up in a drawing or a meditation. Part 3 Reflection, 5 min How does it feel when everything flows? What is the sensation in motion? What happens in your body when you receive a notification in your phone? Good Luck Ingela

Exercise 6, Resistance and Flow ”If you relax and release, you will see that it puts you through tremendous spiritual growth." Michael A. Singer The law of resistance When we resist and fight against, the resistance usually increases, and when we let go, it flows. Sometimes all the excitement of holding back creates physical and mental reactions. Everything from tension pain to stomach ache. Sometimes we are also not fully aware of what it is in us that creates certain reactions. For example, it took me quite a long time before I understood that when I was really annoyed with my partner, I could comfort myself with food, instead of expressing how I felt because I couldn't deal with the problem. Today I can recognise the pattern and talk about it.  Part 1 Meditation in everyday life, 5 min Mindfulness and calmness can be found in things that we do every day, but it's about how we do them. Try brushing your teeth and be fully aware that you are brushing your teeth. Feel how the brush feels, how the toothpaste tastes and take your time. You can try the same thing if washing the dishes or making the bed. When choosing clothes, consider how the fabric feels against the skin.  When your thoughts wander to something else, just gently bring them back to the task at hand. Part 2 Creative Meditation, 10 min Measure the resistance and then the flow. When you feel that you are done, stop. During an exercise, you can make as many pictures as you want. Sometimes a picture takes a long time, sometimes you're done quickly.  Part 3 Reflection, 5 min Where in the body is the resistance? Where is the flow? What can you do to increase flow? Good Luck Ingela

Exercise 9, Understanding Your Own Choices We know deep down if a choice is right for us or not, we feel it. We can't always express or even explain but still we feel it in our bodies. When we go against the choices, we often get reactions such as pain, tension or other purely physical reactions. If we are stressed we easily override or disregards these feelings, so this is a practice in becoming aware of your own process and gaining tools to become present before making a choice. Begin to become aware of your choices, begin to see them and reflect. The first step is to begin to understand yourself and your actions. One way is to create time for thought and reflection. Time to hang out with yourself, today we will try it by experiencing taste and smell.  Part 2 Meditation, 10 - 20 min Try drinking a cup of coffee, juice or tea. Focus on the taste and aroma. If you want extra fragrance, add, for example, fresh mint to juice or tea, or cardamom to coffee. Try to focus on the experience.  Part 1 Creative Meditation, 10 min Paint or draw and use the colors that feel right. If words come up, write them down. If you don't feel like painting, do something creative that inspires you. Part 3 Reflection What happens when we allow ourselves to just be?  Can you remember when a decision felt right in your body? Good Luck Ingela