Reserve your place on this conference workshop in advance as places are limited. Reserve HERE
Calligratherapy – Conscious Chinese Calligraphy to Calm our Students and Ourselves
Facilitator: Xin Huang | Manager Design Solutions and Quality, Learning Design and Development | Open Polytechnic
The purpose of the calligratherapy workshop as a form of professional development is to provide educators with an opportunity for self-care and growth while also enhancing their teaching practice. By engaging in the therapeutic art of calligraphy, educators can reduce stress and anxiety, boost their creative thinking, and learn new techniques for incorporating calligraphy skills into their personal and professional lives. This will support educators in their journey to nurture a more holistic and flexible understanding of themselves and of their students.
The calligratherapy workshop also promotes diversity and equity by embracing the rich cultural heritage of calligraphy from the east. It helps educators appreciate cultural diversity and adopt inclusive teaching practices. By welcoming educators of all backgrounds and skill levels, the workshop ensures an equitable learning space that appreciates each person’s unique input. This empowers educators to foster inclusive classrooms where every student feels valued, demonstrating a dedication to diversity and equity in education.
Calligratherapy is a meditative practice of Conscious Chinese Calligraphy to manage stress, restore mental balance and order. Calligratherapy combines western psychologist Jung’s theory of optimal wellbeing with the philosophy of the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy to promote this state of calm presence in the world.
The effect of Chinese soft brush calligraphy practice is similar to that of relaxation training, which includes slower heart rate, decreased blood pressure and decelerated respiration. In addition, the Chinese character forms a perfect geometric square pattern incorporating such features as parallelism, connectivity, and orientation, utilising geometric and depth perception brain function.
During the 60-minute session, participants will learn…
- how to use breathing exercises and brush strokes to focus their minds, write Chinese characters and phrases, and create a final calligraphy piece to take home.
- appreciate the basics of Calligratherapy and how to utilise this activity in their own classes or as a calming technique with students.
Leave the session feeling refreshed, inspired, and equipped with the necessary tools to approach their work with newfound fluidity, calmness, and intentionality