Zentangle Diversity

Over the years, in our newsletters and in this blog, we have shared various ways that we and others use Zentangle. Just recently we learned of two more applications which were so diverse that they make a fascinating pair . . . if only to demonstrate the wide range of ways that others make use of the Zentangle Method.

Our first example comes from Jane MacKugler, CZT from Vermont. She and some other CZTs and tanglers got together with pen and paper piano and are having a wonderful time. Here are some pictures of their work in progress:

If we get some pictures of the final result (hint!) we'll post them here so you can see how it came out.


Our second example is from the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling. In this blog, Amanda Poggenburg talks about "Using 'Zentangles' in Recovery."

This fits nicely with the increasing amount of data that is coming in about the beneficial psychodynamics of using the Zentangle Method. "Psychodynamics" is a word we learned just yesterday from a nurse who called to tell us about how Zentangle positively affects the youth she works with who are diagnosed with various attention deficit related challenges.


We're happy to add these two examples to the amazing spectrum of uses for the Zentangle Method.

If you have other uses we might not have heard about, please let us know!



Click images for larger views.

Pea-nuckle Challenge

Laura Harms' Challenge #71 is to use pea-nuckle.

Pea-nuckle is a new tangle that Molly designed and which we introduced in this newsletter. This tangle is quite flexible. In this version, I (Rick) arranged the "S's" so they radiated from the center.

Once you have those "S's" in place, completing it quickly settles into a soothing rhythm. It's easy to zone out (or is that "in"?) with this tangle.

For a tile, I used a prestrung Zendala. I did not use all the strings on this tile. I simply acknowledged the ones I wanted and tangled over the others as if they weren't there.

Please take a moment to visit Laura Harms' site to enjoy the growing collection of exquisite pea-nuckle examples.

Click image for larger view.

Important Study: Zentangle as Mindfulness Activity

In this newsletter we announced preliminary results of research about the Zentangle Method. Meredith Yuhas, Ph.D., of Saint Joseph College, West Hartford, CT, is conducting this research. In preparation, Meredith attended our October 2011 Certified Zentangle Teacher training seminar in Providence, RI.

While her full study is ongoing, we are thrilled to be able to share this summary which indicates that the Zentangle Method is a highly effective tool for supporting and nourishing a state of mindfulness.

We are grateful to Meredith, her staff and St. Joseph College for their time, precision and professionalism as they continue to accumulate important data on the benefits of the Zentangle Method.

Here is Meredith's summary complete with reference notes:

Zentangle: Evaluation of a Mindfulness Activity

A recent pilot study concluded that Zentangle is a mindfulness activity (1). Also, when comparing a group of post test scores after 1 hour of Zentangle instruction, including 10 minutes of independent practice, the participants experienced mindfulness process post test scores equivalent to a group who participated in a 1 hour a week 16 week mindfulness focused treatment (2). Thus, the Zentangle process appears to be an efficient way to create a state of mindfulness. Consistent with the increasing amount of recent mindfulness research, the practice of Zentangle as a mindfulness activity could benefit the individual both mentally and physically. Such benefits include but are not limited to psychological wellbeing (3-6), decreased mental health symptoms, such as depression (7), anxiety (8), and stress (9 -11). In addition to being useful in the treatment of chronic pain (12), fibromyalgia (13-14), improving brain function and immune response (15), blood pressure (16) and insomnia (17).

References

1.     Yuhas, M. & Cooper, A. B. (2012). Zentangle: Evaluation of a mindfulness activity. Unpublished manuscript, Saint Joseph College, West Hartford, CT.

2.     Erisman, S. M. & Roener, L. (2011, October 11). A preliminary investigation of the process of mindfulness. Mindfulness. doi: 10.1007/s12671-011-0078-x

3.     Nyklicek, I., & Kuijpers, K. F. (2008). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention on psychological well-being and quality of life: Is increased mindfulness indeed the mechanism? Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 35 (3), 331-340. doi: 10.1007/s12160-008-9030-2

4.     Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84 (4), 822-848. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822

5.     Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497-529. doi:10.1037//0033-2909.117.3.497

6.     Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 68-78. doi:10.1037//0003-066X.55.1.68

7.     Teasdale, J. D., Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M., Ridgeway, V. A., Soulsby, J. M., & Lau, M. A. (2000). Prevention of relapse/reoccurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68 (4), 615-623. doi:10.1037//0022-006X.68.4.615

8.     Evans, S., Ferrando, S., Findler, M., Stowell, C., Smart, C., Haglin, D. (2008). Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22 (4), 716-721. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.07.005

9.     Shapario, S. L., Schwartz, G. E., & Bonner, G. (1998). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on medical and premedical students. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 21 (6), 581-599. DOI: 10.1023/A:1018700829825

10.  Shapiro, S. L. Brown, K., Biegel, G. (2007). Self-care for health care professionals: Effects of MSRB on mental well-being of counseling psychology students. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 1, 105-115. doi:10.1037/1931-3918.1.2.105

11.  Oman, D., Shapirio, S. L., Thorenen, C. E., Plante, T. G., Flinders, T, (2008). Meditation lowers stress and supports forgiveness among college students: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of American College Health, 56 (5), 569-578. doi:10.3200/JACH.56.5.569-578

12.  Kabit-Zinn, J., Lipworth, L., Burney, R., Sellers, W. (1986) The impact of a meditation-based program for the self-regulation of chronic pain: Treatment outcomes and compliance. Clinical Journal of Pain, 2, 129-73. doi: 10.1007/BF00845519

13.   Kaplin, K. H., Goldenberg D., & Galvin-Nadeau, M. (1993) The impact of a meditation-based stress reduction program on fibromyalgia. General Hospital Psychiatry, 15, 284-9. Retrieved from http://www.fammed.wisc.edu/sites/default/files//webfm-uploads/documents/outreach/mindfulness/res-mindfulness-fibromyalgia.pdf

14.  Astin, J. A., Berman, B. M., Bausell, B., Lee, L., Hochberg, M., & Forys, K. L. (2003). The efficacy of mindfulness meditation plus qigong movement therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Rheumatology, 30 (10), 2257-2262. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2009.03.009

15.  Davidson, R. J., Kabit-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rozenkrantz, M., Muller, D. & Santorelli, S. F. (2003). Alterations in the brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychometric Medicine, 65, 564-570. doi:10.1097/01.PSY.0000077505.67574.E3

16.  Sudsuang, R. Chentanez, V., Veluvan, K. (1991). The effect of Buddhist meditation on serum cortisol, and total protein levels, blood pressure, pulse rate, lung volume, and reaction time. Physiological Behavior, 50, 543-8. doi:10.1016/0031-9384(91)90543-W

17.  Ong, J. & Sholtes, D. (2010). A mindfulness-based approach to the treatment of insomnia. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66 (11), 1175-84. doi:10.1002/jclp.20736

Hallway Frame

It was time to paint our hallway. (Actually it's been time to paint our hallway for quite a while!)

But, how would we preserve Maria's lettering on the wall?

Maria grabbed a level and a T-square and drew a line around it. She told the painter to stay outside the line.

After the paint dried, it was time to grab a Sakura^® IDenti™Pen and tangle a Zentangle border:

Here's a closer look:

On the other side of that stained glass window is our kitchen. The window is just above the kitchen sink. Maria didn't want to look at a wall when she did dishes, so she had an arched window cut into the wall. Then she took some stained glass classes and made that window.

After it was installed, one Mothers' Day, she lettered above it on the hallway side.

The Zentangle frame is approximately 38 x 32 inches (96 x 81 cm). Quote is by Albert Camus.

Click images for larger views.

A New Coat

We have a stool that was getting a bit worse for wear. Maria decided to give it a fresh coat of polyurethane this past weekend.

But before that, she gave it a fresh coat of tangles!

Materials used:

• betweed
• mooka
• tripoli
• Sakura® IDenti®-pen
• White chalk pencil
• Polyurethane
• Foam brush

Click images for larger views.

More Stitchery

Sally Stratton sent us an email and some images of her Zentangle inspired quilting. They are very beautiful and we wanted to share them with you.

Here's a closer look:

And here's another one:

We enjoyed seeing her application of betweed and shattuck.

We also enjoyed Sally's comment:

Your art allows me a way to quiet my mind in the midst of life's swift moving current.  Thank you.

Thank you, Sally, for sharing your creations with everyone.

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We haven't been doing as many blogs recently because, along with introducing Zendala Sets, we've been focusing on getting our book done. (No, really, we are!)



Click images for a closer look.