🌻🌻🌻 Keep Calm and Carry On 🌻🌻🌻

No matter where you are in the world, you will have heard the news of the Coronavirus outbreak which began in China and which is now filtering into other destinations as we speak. I am now living in a city, which has closed all schools, government offices, banks, borders and is urging us all to work from home if we can. Consequently Social Media is overflowing with chats about whether to stay here or leave, whether to wear a mask or not and whether what we read is even true. Anxiety is around every corner. On Saturday I read a blogpost by Dr David Owens, long-term doctor here in Hong Kong and founder of our family clinic OT and P who states: “Anxiety is highly infectious. It is much more infectious than the Coronavirus. The greatest triggers of anxiety are lack of control and uncertainty. A common feature of an anxious state is a negative interpretation with catastrophising thought processes.” Sound familiar?  Dr Owens responds by offering explanations of inflammatory terms, such as “epidemic” and “risk”. Here’s his article : https://www.otandp.com/blog/communicating-risk-in-an-epidemic-a-personal-perspective Other antidotes to anxiety might include a whole range of stress reduction techniques, I am seeing many people around me using their newly found free time to walk in the hills and explore the countryside which is lovely. Contact Calm Connections HK https://www.calmconnectionshk.com to join others walking in the hills and Ewa Wilkinson  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=546145755 to join nature photography walks. Check YvonneLi and guests daily meditations: https://www.facebook.com/beloveHK/ from all over Hong Kong.  A process of calming can be called becoming grounded and centred, terms used to describe reconnecting with the self in order to access the present moment, to calm the parasympathetic nervous system and gain a sense of self control.  You know you are grounded when you feel calm, peaceful and centered. Being centered means that you have a reference point or a place to come back to when life’s challenges and emotions push you off balance. The center is the place you know you have to get back to, it may feel safe or steady. In therapy we call this Self Regulation, which means to self-soothe and calm oneself when under stress. Returning to the “centre” can take place through various art making activities in which one refrains from conscious thinking and planning, which aligns with the therapeutic qualities of meditation. This can provide self-soothing for when anxiety feels out of control, that people can access in a group or at home or in the workplace. Much of this regulation takes place automatically-beyond our awareness but it allows the mind to take a break and time ‘stands still’. Such art making activities are available to you here at the Wild at Art Studio where we are offering a range of art experiences for self regulation. Come along and ground and centre with us, turn down the anxiety monster and allow yourself some space outside the house in a small group setting! Mindful Drawing 4 x Wednesday mornings 9.30-12.00pm  12th, 19th and 26th February $400 Connect with yourself and all your senses through Mindful Drawing. This beautiful experience  helps you to reconnect with the simple moments in life, brings a sense of peace and enjoyment, as you re-kindle your creativity and grow your drawing  confidence. Both mindfulness and drawing require you to slow down and pay close attention to what's in front of you. These workshops introduce you to the idea of inhabiting the present moment, as you observe your sensations and experiences and pay attention to all of your senses – You will be fully guided through a range of drawing experiences and materials, no previous art experience is required! Lunchtime Destress Doodling Every week 12.30-2.00pm Wednesdays $150 per session Do you sometimes feel like it’s all just too much? Discover your own calm centre through some peaceful meditational art making. Imagine being able to quieten your mind and go back to work or your family fully refreshed! Doodling can be a simple path to relaxation and inner focus and may help calm an anxious mind. It can help you press pause on intrusive thoughts and provide you with a practice that you can access at any time by yourself. I love HK Collage Saturday 29th February 9.30-5.00pm $1,400 inc all art materials, scrumptious treats throughout the day We are all here because one way or another we love Asia's World City: Hong Kong! This wonderful melting pot of races and cultures affords us all a way of being that is different to our own home country. It is a place of spectacular views natural and man made as well as iconic structures, scenes and other quirks. It is a home in need of love right now ! We've had a hard year of it and yet we are still here.... Come and create your very own homage to Hong Kong in the form of your own art work. You will be guided to blend paint and collage methods to create a HK scene of your choice this will be created in layers over the course of the day. All materials provided and plenty of cups of tea and biscuits as you make art in the beautiful Wild at Art Studio in Central. No previous art experience is required for this fun and accessible process. Diving Deeper Retreat Days Saturday 28th March  9.00-5.00pm Studio29, Lamma Island $1,400 inc all Art Materials  a journal and a scrumptious lunch and treats Exploring personal stories through art making can help us to reframe challenges, develop new perspectives and articulate our inner world. Come and use your art-making to listen inside! Working on personal themes, you will be guided to experience mixed media art journaling. It can be the start of a transformational journey as you uncover insights and find ways to let your inner voice show you the way. All dates and details are on the webpage. http://wildatartstudio.blogspot.com/p/wild-at-art-studio-offerings.html Booking for all workshops can be made directly to me on: wildatartweekly@gmail.com See here for map and directions http://wildatartstudio.blogspot.com/p/contact-me.html Welcome to your own creative self! Come on in .... Artfully Yours from Katie