Mehndi Reimagined, an adult colouring book by Gulnaz Brennan, is the culmination of that series of sketching and drawing organised online by CFAM CIC. A colouring book may appear to be a fairly simplistic idea but, perhaps surprisingly, the benefits of colouring really are important and can go beyond being merely a fun distraction to have significant benefits for individual wellbeing. Daily life in the shadow of Covid-19 creates uncertainties and worries that simple, fun activities can take you away from for a while, enabling you to relax, unwind and change your general state of mind for the better.
The impact of Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown regulations has had what may be a lasting impact on all of us and arguably no more so than on women in BAME communities who can find that restrictions on movement have made social lives already limited by cultural conventions even more lonely and unfulfilled. Young people with special needs and those who care for them have also found the lockdown situation and school closures extremely difficult.
Via our website https://communityfilmartandmedia.org/ and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CommunityFilmArtMedia we have recently produced a number a number of art sessions including Mehndi and other traditional henna art, Valentine’s Day art, party strips and candles, cake decorations and much, much more. These sessions were well-attended and greatly appreciated by ‘virtual’ attendees who benefitted from being able to escape their daily routine to share in creative activities with others.One of our aims as a Community Interest Company is to promote health and wellbeing, both mental and physical, via film, art and other media, as our name suggests.
Children have known the benefits of colouring forever. Adults may be late getting back to the game but in recent times have remembered those benefits from a grown-up perspective. It refocuses our attention and takes us outside ourselves and our daily worries and problems. Colouring becomes almost a meditative exercise, relaxing the brain, and its simplicity makes it fun. Stay inside the lines or be bold and stray outside. Your choice!
#mehndireimagined #mindfulcolouring #mentalhealthmatters #sundaymindfulness