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Canada Welcomes Calligratherapy: The Innovative Art Therapy for Mindfulness and Self-Expression

Calligratherapy is a unique art form that combines the meditative practice of calligraphy with the therapeutic benefits of mindfulness. Recently introduced at Contemporary Calgary workshops and  Edmonton and Calgary Teacher’s Conventions, calligratherapy has gained popularity among individuals seeking to relieve stress and anxiety while improving their artistic skills. This innovative approach to self-expression has captured the attention of many who are looking for new ways to enhance their well-being and unleash their creativity.

For workshops and public programmes in Calgary, please visit the Calligratherapy Canada site.

In this CTV News article, we will explore how calligratherapy works and why it has become such a popular form of therapy in recent years.

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calligratherapy-introduced-at-contemporary-calgary-workshops-1.6286407 

Building a Foundation: From Seal to Clerical Script

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Building a Foundation: From Seal to Clerical Script is the Phase one of Chinese Calligraphy journey includes 10 lessons  designed specifically for beginners. It is a beautiful journey into the…

Ink and Brush 笔墨是小舟: A Cultural Performance

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"Ink and Brush 笔墨是小舟: A Cultural Performance" is a mesmerizing show crafted by RuoYan Zuo and Xin Huang for a group of eight young children aged 6 to 12.Presented at…

Explore good health through the Chinese term 健康

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We often extend wishes for good health to others, hoping for the same for ourselves. Yet, what does it truly mean to be healthy? Does the absence of detectable illness…

Celebrating the Year of the Dragon at Canadian Tire Corporation

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On February 14th 2024, we had the unique pleasure of hosting a Calligratherapy event at Canadian Tire Corporation, specially designed to celebrate the Chinese New Year - the auspicious Year…

Calligratherapy: A Meditative Pratcice for Solitude

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"與獨處相安 與萬事言和" translates to "Find peace in solitude and harmony in all things." It is a phrase that emphasizes the importance of finding inner peace and being able to maintain…

Chinese Calligraphy: A Brain Gym Activity to prevent Alzheimer’s disease

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In Lisa Genova’s enlightening TED talk on preventing Alzheimer’s disease, she emphasizes the significance of continually learning new things as a means to fortify the brain against the disease. Genova,…

The Paradox of Schrödinger’s Cat and the Art of Wuwei

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Schrödinger's cat is a thought experiment proposed by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. It illustrates the paradox of quantum superposition, where a system such as an atom or photon…

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon: An event to foster cultural appreciation through team building

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Celebrate the Year of the Dragon 2024 with red dragon paper cutting on the background of gold colored cloud, lantern, flowers and money sign, the red Chinese phrase means Year…

Learning to Let Go: Stress Relief through Taoist Principles

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万物作焉而不始，生而不有，为而不恃，功成而不居 wàn wù zuò yān ér bù shǐ, shēng ér bù yǒu, wéi ér bù shì, gōng chéng ér bù jū. "All things arise from the Tao, yet the Tao…

萬川映月: Contemplating the Essence of Dao in a Merger

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Amid a significant merger involving 16 institutes within our industry, I often found myself pondering the proverb "萬川映月" or "thousands of rivers reflect the moon." As we navigate the waters…

What is Calligratherapy?

Calligratherapy is a project funded by Wellington city council under Art & Culture category. Grant ID: CCS-6159

Many of us live sedentary lifestyles sitting for up to eight hours or more a day hunched over our keyboard. All the while rarely taking a proper breath. Even if we wanted to take a deep enriching breath into the lower lobes of our lungs, we are limited due to our posture. Often due to the stresses and stains of a busy work and life balance, our unconscious brain can develop a pattern of holding, irregular and shadow breaths.

Does this sound like your experience? 

Not able to breath properly is the key cause of many chronic respiratory diseases (Nestor, 2020)

Calligratherapy combines science journalist James Nestor’s theory on proper breathing with the philosophy of ancient Conscious Chinese Calligraphy to promote a state of optimal wellbeing.

Calligratherapy has been developed specifically for those who have never practiced calligraphy before and who are interested in deriving the benefits without having to learn the language or all the characters. It integrates the simple and intuitive act of inhaling and exhaling into calligraphy practice and eastern philosophy behind.

 Click to read more about the Big Dipper calligratherapy.

Experience Chinese Calligraphy in Dunedin’s LanYuan Garden

I was so excited when I recently made a trip to Dunedin to host a Calligratherapy workshop in the Chinese garden LanYuan. For me, this place has special meaning since Dunedin is my second hometown and I haven’t visited Shanghai for more than three years due to Covid.

What made this trip even more special was the connection I felt with the garden. LanYuan had been designed to mirror Yu Yuan Garden in Shanghai, and I immediately felt like I was back home again when I looked at pictures of it online. The windows, doors, winding stone path, stone hill and pavilion, Pond with cory fish…it was all too familiar!

I wanted to share the beauty of Chinese calligraphy with others, so I created an event advertisement and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly people responded. We had a wonderful time together, learning about this ancient art form and experiencing its healing power

Calligratherapy is all about using mindful writing to calm the mind and reduce stress. Writing Chinese calligraphy has a calming effect on the body and mind, allowing you to focus on each brush stroke and explore your creative side

My experience in Dunedin was very special for me and I’m so glad that others could share it too. I can’t wait to visit again in the future.

The Concept of Leader behind Chinese character (领导) – Explore your team culture behind Chinese character

領: to lead
令(left) = to inspire, to lead, orders, and instructions. A leader is expected to give orders/instructions in an inspired way. 令 is pronounced as “ling” and it indicates how 領 sounds.
頁 (right) = page, paper, book. Orders and instructions shall be recorded in written format for people to follow.
導: to guide
道 (top) = Dao/vision, path/ way. A leader is someone with a vision and showing the path to realizing it. 道 is pronounced as “Dao” and it indicates how 導 sounds.
寸 (bottom) = inch, unit of length, approximately 3 cm. To ensure your team can follow your vision, a good leader will guide the team inch by inch following the path to achieve their goals.
The Chinese characters of 領導 enrich the meaning of leader with insight, image and sound work in tandem with one another, complementing and influencing one another.

About me and my journey

My name is Alice (Xin) Huang. I have been practicing calligraphy since I was little. I enjoyed observing the interactions between ink and inkstone and feeling the brush traveling through Xuan paper, a high-quality rice paper specifically made for Chinese brush calligraphy and brush painting. Practicing calligraphy often fills me with the sense of serenity.

Calligratherapy on radio Calgary with Paul Karchut.

I recently had the amazing opportunity to bring Calligratherapy to Calgary, Canada. After hosting a half-day workshop for the 2023 Calgary Teachers’ Convention, I was invited to live radio “Daybreak Calgary” on 18th Feb,  with Paul Karchut to discuss this unique practice.

Talking about calligraphy over the airwaves and guiding listeners through the different levels of Calligratherapy was certainly a challenge, but it was also an incredibly rewarding experience!

If you’re curious about what Calligratherapy is all about, and how it will benefit individuals, and families and be used for team building,   be sure to check out my interview on Daybreak Calgary.

Wellington Calligratherapy workshop

Maungrakai Wednesday evening Calligratherapy Class
Calligraphy, Chat and Laugh

New class starts on 1st  March  2024. Every Wednesday we meet at 7pm, finishing at 8:30 to practice Calligratherapy together. 12 places, Please email alicehuangxin@gmail.com to book a space.

Calligratherapy for beginner @ Wellington Education Center

5 weeks 15 May 2024  5:30-7 pm

5 weeks 17th Oct 2024 5:30-7 pm

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Find Magic and Hope in the Chinese Characters with the Enchanted Brush Callligratherapy Programme!

Embark on an adventure with Lyla and learn about magic and hope in Chinese calligraphy! Discover the Chinese characters 月 and 曐, their meaningful compositions and the importance of the Enchanted Brush callligratherapy programme for children and young people. Learn how to appreciate culture, find strength and hope in it!

Click here to take a look at  snapshot of what a typical lesson looks like for the Enchanted Brush callligratherapy programme.

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“Ink and Brush 笔墨是小舟: A Cultural Performance” is a mesmerizing show crafted by RuoYan Zuo and Xin Huang for a group of eight young children aged 6 to 12.Presented at TSB Arena Wellington during the 2024 Year of the Dragon celebrations on February 18th, this enchanting production blends Guzheng music, vocals, and Chinese calligraphy into a captivating performance.
The graceful melodies, performed by Ariel Tsai, Renee Li, and their music teacher RuoYan Zuo, are complemented by the angelic voices of Scarlett Zhang Tan, Bella Yang, and Flora Jin.

As the children’s sweet voices resonate through the arena, the fascinating art of Chinese calligraphy, written by Lyla Ren, Xiao Xiao, Gracie Guo, and their instructor Xin Huang, adds an extra layer of beauty.
The climax of the performance occurs when Lyla, alongside Scarlett, Bella, and Flora, shares their calligraphy pieces with the audience, spreading New Year’s blessings to all.

This program, artistically crafted by RuoYan Zuo, seamlessly blends music and calligraphy, fostering a platform for children to share knowledge and recognize art as a unifying force.

The program was highlighted on TV One News as part of the New Year’s festivities nationwide.

To introduce your children to the ancient art of playing the Guzheng, an instrument with over two thousand years of history, please reach out to Ruoyan Zuo 若琰 Zuo 左 at zuoruoyan@hotmail.com.

For your children to explore the world of Chinese calligraphy, feel free to contact Xin Huang at allicehuangxin@gmail.com.

“Ink and Brush 笔墨是小舟: A Cultural Performance” is a mesmerizing show crafted by RuoYan Zuo and Xin Huang for a group of eight young children aged 6 to 12.Presented at TSB Arena Wellington during the 2024 Year of the Dragon celebrations on February 18th, this enchanting production blends Guzheng music, vocals, and Chinese calligraphy into a captivating performance.
The graceful melodies, performed by Ariel Tsai, Renee Li, and their music teacher RuoYan Zuo, are complemented by the angelic voices of Scarlett Zhang Tan, Bella Yang, and Flora Jin.

As the children’s sweet voices resonate through the arena, the fascinating art of Chinese calligraphy, written by Lyla Ren, Xiao Xiao, Gracie Guo, and their instructor Xin Huang, adds an extra layer of beauty.
The climax of the performance occurs when Lyla, alongside Scarlett, Bella, and Flora, shares their calligraphy pieces with the audience, spreading New Year’s blessings to all.

This program, artistically crafted by RuoYan Zuo, seamlessly blends music and calligraphy, fostering a platform for children to share knowledge and recognize art as a unifying force.

The program was highlighted on TV One News as part of the New Year’s festivities nationwide.

To introduce your children to the ancient art of playing the Guzheng, an instrument with over two thousand years of history, please reach out to Ruoyan Zuo 若琰 Zuo 左 at zuoruoyan@hotmail.com.

For your children to explore the world of Chinese calligraphy, feel free to contact Xin Huang at allicehuangxin@gmail.com.

Calligratherapy workshop in Canada

Calligratherapy: Brush & Bubbly Experience

Saturdays 15 April -10th June| 7:00-9:00 PM
Contemporary Gallery Calgary, Canada

Explore the mysterious beauty of Chinese characters, which have been used for written communication since the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC). These ancient characters are believed to have been inscribed on bronze objects like Jue and Ding vessels, now providing a fascinating glimpse into the past. Even more intriguing is that many of these characters are still used in their original form today.

Unlock the secrets of Chinese calligraphy and join us every Saturday evening to embark on a mindful reflective journey through Calligratherapy!

Discover the mysterious beauty of Chinese characters as we explore their composition, underlying philosophies, and how to write them in different contexts. With instructors on hand to guide your creative journey, you’re sure to learn some fascinating things about Chinese calligraphy and create ink art that strikes a chord within you. Plus, you can enjoy a glass of wine and conversation with friends for an extra-relaxing experience! 

This workshop is suitable for adults aged 18+ – supplies will be provided, and beverages are available for purchase at our cash bar. Come join us for an unforgettable Calligratherapy experience!

For our 5-session Calligratherapy package, non-members can enroll for $280 and members for $180 – plus, you’ll receive 100 sheets of practice paper so you can make the most of your journey. 

To register please email:info@3training.net 

Calligratherapy for family: Let your family explore the legend of the 12 zodiac animals in a special way with Enchanted Brush!

Saturdays from 15th April to 10th June | 1:30-3:30 PM
Contemporary Gallery Calgary, Canada

Have you been looking for a fun and unique way for your family to bond? The Calgary Contemporary Art Gallery is proud to present Calligratherapy Workshop, where families can explore the legend of the 12 zodiac animals together.

Each Saturday afternoon from 15 April – 10th June, attendees will be guided through calligraphy and ink art practices, as well as enjoyable relaxation activities. At the end of each session, families will have crafted their own personalized portrait in zodiac animal form. Attendees can purchase a nine-session pass with the option of attending missed sessions for free in future rounds.

Join us on Saturdays at the Gallery and let Calligratherapy Workshop bring your family closer together!

Cost: 

Non-members can purchase the all-inclusive package for $500 for one adult and one child (with an additional cost of $20 per additional family member), plus a pack of practice sheets worth $20. If you’re already a member, get it for only $320, plus an extra $10 per additional family member. 

To register please email:info@3training.net 

Calligratherapy: Brush & Bubbly Experience

Join us to explore the composition of Chinese characters and their underlying philosophies. Instructors will be on hand to guide your creative journey as you learn about beautiful Chinese calligraphy. Of course, no evening would be complete without a glass of wine to help fuel the conversation with your friends!

We will explore 5 major Chinese calligraphy styles to write “福“(blessing) and learn how to draw 兔 (rabbits) in ink. Finally, we will write 福兔on nice presentation papers, so that you can start the new year with love and good luck. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the art of Chinese calligraphy in a peaceful and relaxing setting. We look forward to seeing you there!  

For adults ages 18+. 

Workshop supplies will be provided. 

Beverages will be available for purchase at our cash bar.

Creat a “Flow” experience through Chinese Conscious Calligraphy practice

The urge to stylise and embellish the expression of a message to the point that it becomes an art in itself is universal. There is a long history of calligraphy in Western languages; there are Tibetan or Sanskrit calligraphies, Hebraic or Arabic calligraphies, each having it’s own schools and nuances, but in the realm of calligraphy, the king is Chinese, because quite simply the Chinese language is the only one to have chosen to do small drawings in place of words, already aesthetic, while the other forms of script have no other matter on which to model themselves except their alphabets.Anyone who observes the lively and precise to-and-fro movements in the air of a hand holding a brush is struck by the impression of serenity and gentle concentration. Seeing a skilled calligrapher in action, we have a sudden yearning to enter into this world.Chinese Concsiouc Calligraphy helps us in focusing, slowing down our breathing, and in return provides self-satisfaction.It allows us to focus more on ourselves, our creative thinking, and our thoughts. Taking it to a different level of positivity, mindful calligraphy writing helps us to achieve those dense, super satisfying, and consistent strokes on the page. Our hand gets into the rhythm of our thoughts, which helps in decreasing stress.

Chinese Conscious Calligraphy + Mindfulness = Calligratherapy

Mindfulness is non-judgmental awareness of your present moment experience.

Chinese calligraphy, a form of written pictures, has been practiced for thousands of years for its artistic and healing properties.  Calligraphy in the orient is a meditative practice that encourages the integration of body and mind. As the calligrapher draws/writes, their breathing becomes even, heart beat slows and a sense of focus and clarity develops. It brings about a state of calm awareness and over time the calligrapher refines their temperament through the artistic representation of thought and consciousness.

Breathing exercise

Ink grinding breathing exercise

Mindfulness exercis

Five Sense mindfulness exercise

Student’s art work

Participants feedback

“

I’ve always loved Chinese paintings and calligraphy and wanted to learn how to paint / write the characters; Thank you for your help all the time. It is really fun and reasonable price and suitable time.

Toi Poneka groupBeginner's programme
“

Many thanks! You create a lovely calm atmosphere and the mindful breathing at the beginning is great to arrive into that space.

Toi Poneka groupBeginner's programme
“

It appeared professional and artistic and affordable. I enjoyed the mindful action of creating the characters and breathing. It is very relaxing, but at the same time, I am completely focused on the strokes.

Toi Poneka groupBeginner's programme
“

Xin Alice (and her mother Lin) are amazing teachers, very empathetic and encouraging. It has been a pleasure to learn the basics of calligraphy with them.

Toi Poneka groupBeginner's programme
“

I enjoyed the calm atmosphere and having heaps of time to practice calligraphy. Thank you. Its awesome.

Toi Poneka groupBeginner's programme
“

I have greatly enjoyed your enthusiasm and style of teaching and humour 🙂

Debbie

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