Body Map- Chapati Style :D


Location: Parissini, Kerala, South India
Intention: Self Love Body Mapping; Group closing

Today was the last day of our 3 week series with these dynamic resilient group of predominantly young  women at St. Mary's Special School. Today we played drama therapy body check in games, bringing these beautiful young people back in touch with their voices and bodies. We mixed it up with a game of steal the bacon and I watched introverted types become competitive and in your face spicy:D lol! So glad to be one of the witnesses!
After numerous therapeutic and this (and other) team building warm ups we closed with body maps where they were instructed to lie on oak tag paper, each assigned to an adult to (with safe touch and permission) to outline their bodies. After this, the young people they were given markers and crayons to go to town, filling in what their bodies mean to them. 
I wondered then, when was the last time someone had talked with them about their bodies? About loving the skin they were in?

After a few minutes they were asked to draw what they loved about their bodies, community, explored (to varying degrees and abilities) explored sad and happy emotions in their bodies using color coded instructions, and explored how they felt about the orphanage they live in. In that I discovered that one young lady was 18 years old, and felt she had no friends. And then she wrote Sacred as a friend, and then others, and her inner world, I could see expanding.

How long had she been there? How is she a leader in her own right, supporting other young women and boys? What does she need in moving forward?

With the support of colleagues of varying backgrounds, we supported these young people's presentations to the groups. Some have physical hand formations that make it hard to hold up paper while their motor skills allowed then to slowly maneuver before hand with the crayons.

I called the afternoon the ART GALLERY RECEPTION. Flowers in heart spaces, houses with light and dark, and bright and dark colors filled in outlined bodies of mostly young women with varying body shapes and developments. Today, despite shortened attention spans and wandering moments, they shared of themselves in ways only art can truly express. God herself understands the depths of each line and curvature, in her many names, shapes, and presentations in India.

I miss these beautiful unique butterflies. The space was a challenging one to be in as often I felt the young people seemed set aside, and yet having only been there for a few weeks, I am only beginning to understand the full picture of their stories and the place they call home. I pray they will add their masterpiece of art to their survival tool box when the world doubts their inner abilities. I pray for continued love and deeper care, as they open their hearts to the next set of teachers and healers to come.
Although I wish we had more time with them to go deeper, I feel so Blessed by the co-support and creative ideas of amazing colleagues and volunteers. Much love and light to Sis. Alfonso, who in her early twenties devotes her mothering limbs to make sure these sweet butterflies land safely each day.

Looking forward to working with more unique butterflies in the future.

As is said in local Kerala instead of cheese when taking a photo, named after the bread eaten with spices and curries...

CHAPATI!

[I highly recommend Body mapping for youth of varying ages and abilities. Message me or add a comment for more information or your thoughts on er thing! ;D]


* Disclaimer: This post is not an endorsement of this organization, and more so shares professional opinions. This report is an op-ed piece, and encourages those specifically seeking more info to to make the most informed decisions from a wide range of perspectives, with this as one of many.  I encourage those seeking it to find the best fit for your unique needs. I hope this piece is both informative and enjoyable.

Thank you for coming. Please check out other posts on my website, of interest.
Appreciations as well for being an integral part of the Kuumba Holistic Healing Project's growing community.



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