A very important and exciting piece of news came from “Zentangle HQ” this week.
Most if not all of us have experienced the amazing mental benefits of our meditative Zentangle® practice. Now a formal research study including clinical trials on the Zentangle Method at Saint Joseph College in Hartford, CT, lends support to our own volumes of “on the ground” anecdotal evidence.
The preliminary summary of ongoing research conducted by Meredith L. Yuhas, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, and CZT®, “indicates that the Zentangle Method is a highly effective tool for supporting and nourishing a state of mindfulness.” The study not only indicates the Zentangle Method is helpful mentally, but there is also evidence of physical benefits:
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 well-being, decreased mental health symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition to being useful in the treatment of chronic pain, fibromyalgia, improving brain function and immune response, blood pressure and insomnia.
[Note: I’ve edited out the footnotes. For the full study summary with footnotes and bibliographic references, visit this page.]
Academic research studies like this may one day pave the way to the application of the Zentangle Method as one form of mindful care in the treatment of physical and mental conditions currently dealt with by drugs and other means.
This is very significant and exciting news, indeed. As Rick writes it is “a “milestone event” in the history of Zentangle.
This is news worth sharing and I’d like your help – after you’ve enjoyed browsing the Buried Treasure below, please use the icons at the end to tweet and/or share this post on Facebook. Much appreciated!
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The Tangle Refresher series, aka Buried Treasure, highlights hidden tangle gems from the past. It can remind you of patterns you might not have used for a while or introduce you to patterns you might not have come across yet.
Here are five more tangle pattern gems from a year (or two) ago for your tangling pleasure. Zenful tangling!
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Cadent |
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Oke |
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Antidots |
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Boomerangs |
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Keenees |
More good stuff …
Related Links:
- Are you new to Zentangle? You will find the Official Zentangle Kit a wonderful introduction to get you properly started on this mindful, meditative artistic practice. It’s a tutorial-in-a-box, and much more. Bonus! Purchasing a Kit from my store qualifies you to receive my gift of the TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE.
- Add Zentangle® to Your Travel Journals
- Not all patterns are tangles – what makes a pattern a tangle? here are some guidelines
- TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE – how to get your copy
- Tangle Pattern Refreshers – the entire Buried Treasure series
- Linda’s List of Official Tangle Patterns – THE patterns to learn first if you’re new to Zentangle®
May 18, 2012 | 
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I have to say I love love love zentangle. It is so much fun to learn the new designs and the step by step instructions. My little guy (10 yrs) loves it too. Thank you so much. This is my favorite site 🙂
God knows we need more mindfulness in our world. And I think it’s great that we’re discovering more and more ways to reach that state. Thanks for sharing.
this is such an awesome website