‘Awaken Your World’ workshop in Dubai – a self-discovery through integrative arts

My own journey using art and expressive arts for healing and therapy purposes as well as to delve into topics around fear, shame/humiliation, and more, led me to create a workshop that I felt others who were in the same situation as I was, would be interested in trying out. There is a movement, in any case, where people are more interested in non-traditional ways of healing, beyond the prescribed drugs that you can get at hospitals. Talk therapy is good, so is cognitive therapy. But for someone like me, that is drawn to the art and arts and is an artist, artiste of sorts, it is imperative to try therapy in expressive forms. You’ve only got to read various blog posts at TravelArtsLife.com to know that what my journey is.

My integrative arts workshop at Ahmedia Guest House, Dubai was my second attempt this year to show participants how we can manage and cope with our experiences in facing fear, stress through the explorative arts and therapeutic art. Early this year, at Zen Interiors, I also held a tiny curated show around how various artists in town used their art and handcrafted for therapeutic sake.  For those who know me, as a result of art and expressive art therapy in my own life, I went on to have my own brand of artwork, cufflinks, wire crochet jewelry and more under Janys De. I am also a published writer and run a business in online writing and marketing solutions. Neither would have been achieved without dealing with the pitfalls of fear, fear, and more fear.

The workshop had various aspects including some amount of dance movements, drama, art journaling, writing, handcrafting intuitively. Here are photos of what the participant and I produced during the workshop.  The participant definitely loved the freeform dance movement of the workshop (yes, there was only one participant but that was a good step for me in the right direction). As a dancer of Kathak (one of the various tradition Indian dances), she found an affinity to the dance movements.  Certainly, when I was first got involved Five Rhythms, I re-discovered the performance artist in me, which then led me to become bolder in taking the step to having my own workshop. That was the beauty self-discovery and self-exploration in a non-judgemental way of expressive arts therapy.

The beginnings of art journalling after a stint in free form dance movements and drama.

The participant creatively and intuitively creates a bracelet as part of the ‘handcraft with intention’ exercise of the workshop.

Some of my intuitive art and craft on display.

My cufflinks – a result of creating intuitive art!