Symmetry, Monsters, and Basquiat!

It is nourishing that most Mind Move Make classes start in a similar way.  At the beginning of class, have a Mind Move Make cheer that we chant together.  Then we pair breath and movement together as a student leads us in three volcano breaths.  We move our bodies through a few gentle seated stretches, then we either have a mindful minute together, or we use the breathing ball to find unity with the inhales and our exhales of our breath.  To start the class, I lead some of the activities, and some things are student-lead.  This empowers the children and transforms them into the teachers.  The consistency of our practice connects us during every class; it is comforting for students know what to expect, at least during the first part of class together.  After a busy day of school in which many mental demands have been placed on children, it is a wonderful way to re-center.

After gently moving our bodies, remembering our breath, and engaging in some mindful focus, we usually have a discussion!  Today during class I read the students a book called Life Doesn't Frighten Me.  The words in the book were written by the poet Maya Angelou, and the paintings were created by the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.  

Our central idea for this session is "all people experience different kinds of emotions", so I asked the students to reflect on the feelings shared within the book, both through the artwork and the words of the poem. We had a fantastic conversation about being brave, even in the face of scary things that might be happening around us. We also discussed how every single human has been afraid at some point during their life. I shared a time in my own life when I felt scared. The students could choose to share a time they felt afraid, or they could pass if they didn't feel comfortable. All the students really liked the paintings by Basquiat and some children shared their favorites with our group.

After our talk, we took the time to move our bodies through a few yoga shapes. Starting in child's pose I asked the students to think about their breath and also to focus on how they were feeling, emotionally, at that moment. Child's pose is a great time for children to check in with themselves and focus internally. After that, we laid on our backs and drew circles in the air with our knees. During many yoga classes I challenge the students to "rock and roll" in a circle on their mats while lying on their backs and grabbing the backs of their knees. It is a fun way to bring some energetic movement into the group. After spending some time in down dog, we came to standing and cycled through a few warrior poses. Lastly, we sat on the ground with the soles of our feet together. We imagined our legs were butterfly wings. Ofter during class, when we create the "butterfly" pose I ask students to imagine what their own butterfly wings might look like. Then we spent some calming time in savasana, laying on our backs and simply being still for a few moments.

After our movement practice, it was time to begin creating artwork! I showed the students Basquiat's work again for inspiration. We talked about the idea of symmetry in art, and I explained that they would be creating a symmetrical shape that would become the head of a GIANT monster that we'd complete over the next few classes. And instead of cutting our shape we'd be RIPPING and tearing the paper to get the symmetrical shape we wanted. After demonstrating how to tear the paper with a little more control, they got started on their own creation. We used oil pastels to draw the details of the eyes, nose, mouth, and any other features they wanted to add! Here are the creations in progress!