Author Archives: Kalyaani

1 Reply

So when I am not practising routines and embellishing costumes for up & coming events I still continue to practise my shimmy drills and do a basic Belly Dance workout almost every day. I did not just get this tummy from no where. I do a gentle Yoga warm up & stretch before I do my Belly Dance workout.
This video gives you an idea of what I do, it isn’t meant to be perfect it is literally to keep muscle memory around my abdomen.

The Health Benefits of Belly Dance:
*Improved circulation *Improved suppleness *Increased joint flexibility *Deeper breathing, better oxygenation of blood *Relaxing and calming, reduces stress *Possible aerobic exercise workout – burns fat, raises metabolism and improves resting heart rate *Tones all major muscle groups – legs, thighs, calves, gluteals, abdominals, upper arms, back *Reduces cellulite *Eases PMT symptoms *Prepares major muscle groups for pregnant women to assist the birthing process

The basis of the core moves is always the centre – just below the navel – or in esoteric arts the place known as the hara, second chakra or simply ‘the centre’. Yoga and Pilates are two popular exercises that like bellydancing, focus their energies on the ‘centre’ and the breath. Which is why when I run for 30 minutes on the treadmill I never break out into a sweat and I never struggle to breathe.

The suppleness and fluidity of movement necessary for bellydancing can help relax and lubricate joints and can be helpful in cases of arthritis, particularly in the wrists and shoulders. The dance, practised gently in the beginning stages, usually produces beneficial results for muscle and joint conditioning. Participants who had suffered uncomfortable back pain or shoulder stiffness for years, have reported improvement after several weeks of bellydancing. It is becoming a popular form of rehabilitation exercise, now advised by doctors and therapists. Of course, if anyone has chronic back or knee problems, they are advised to see a doctor first before embarking on a bellydance course.

The bellydance is linked with birthing mainly due to its focus on the belly and hips. As a pre-natal exercise, bellydancing in its gentler forms is strengthening for the pelvic muscles and relaxing for the mother-to-be. Many Arab women say shimmies should be avoided during pregnancy, but the figure eights and rolling circular movements are good preparation for childbirth. This makes sense, as the rolling movements not only feel natural, but assist with the normal pelvic relaxing process to prepare for birth and at the same time, helps firm the pelvic muscles for labour and post-pregnancy recovery. Indeed, the dance can be a comfortable exercise that not only gets the mother ready for the birth process, but connects her to the unborn child through a series of movements which focus her attention on her belly.
The Belly dance also help a woman’s body for after pregnancy as it encourages muscle memory and you’ll find a lot of belly dancers have pretty toned tummies not long after the birth.
after taking up bellydancing reported much easier and relaxed births with the ‘bellydance baby’. The body also gets into shape quickly, the pelvic floor is toned, incontinence is avoided due to strong pelvic floor muscles and the general condition of health is better with regular dancing sessions. Baby often likes swaying in mother’s arms when she’s doing figure eights and dancing to soft music! Bellydancing and birthing have been inextricably linked for thousands of years – since the days of ancient female deity worship, to tribal fertility ceremony, to the harem, to birth customs in today’s Arabian villages.

For more information visit these links here and here

Belly Dance helps improve pelvic muscles: On a personal note I had my yearly check up that women have to have. The nurse made me laugh to calm my nerves (it was my first time) and the speculum shot across the room! The nurses and my mother were shocked and in hysterics, the head nurse said “My God Girl! Don’t you have strong pelvic muscles, you’re gonna have no problems having a baby one day!” to which I laughed and proudly replied “I am a belly dancer”.

Belly Dance also encourages self esteem which I discovered when I was 15. Throughout my childhood I have been bullied by my peers for reasons unknown to me still other than I just didn’t quite fit in and I looked different and I was shy. Believe it or not I still am reserved and will only voice my opinion if it something I feel passionately about or I notice something unjust happening (when this happens, watch out, I can sting!). So I found Belly Dance on a family trip to Turkey and there I met 2 very glamorous Belly Dancers, one had huge boobs and enjoyed doing the shoulder shimmy the most and the other had incredible hips and her speciality was obviously the hip shimmy. Belly Dance brought about a confidence in me I never knew existed and being bullied at school didn’t bother me any more because I had a beautiful secret that over time helped me develop my femininity, grace, sensuality and love for myself and my body regardless of what others would say. Belly Dance is at the core of my love for the Middle East, my Romani family history, Dance rituals, the Kama Sutra, Hindu Philosophy, Tantra and the sensuality of life.

and as Rachel Brice’s tattoo says: “Practice becomes firmly grounded when continued
for a long time, without interruption and with reverent devotion.”

Alice Mary Lynch: Vintage Doll Maker

1 Reply

”I love imagination and humour, people who have their feet on the ground whilst dreaming, the poetry in everyday life. I like a certain vulnerability whilst standing strong, 1930’s cabaret, dark shiny and mad, and silent films. I like the circus, the colours when the lights go down, the trapeze artist making an entrance. I like it behind the scenes, there are stories there too, and toys and childhood and history on our doorstep.” -Alice Mary Lynch

vintage dolls

vintage fabric, bead work, stitching, sewing, craft

Alice Mary Lynch

Doll Maker

Making dolls inspiration

Art, Fabric art

fashion, retro, vintage

alice_mary_lynch_artistic_dolls

Alice-Mary-Lynch-Dolls

spirit animals, totems, power animals, magic dolls

Growing up in Somerset with artist parents, Kate and James Lynch, Alice scoured fleamarkets with a magpie’s instinct for curiosities to inhabit her fairytale world.
She trained in Fashion Design at Kingston University, London, then worked as a designer in Paris for John Galliano, Christian Dior and Sonia Rykiel. She honed her craft in their studios full of stitching, beading and embellishment and thrived in the theatre of their catwalk shows.

After nine years in Paris, Alice recently moved back to Somerset, where she now lives with her Japanese husband and their two small children.

I adore her animal dolls so much. They are a mixture of Vintage 1920’s Cabaret meets Alice in Wonder Land meets Native American animal symbolism and totems! There is a lot for the eyes to take in with all the detailed buttons, ruffled fabric, beads, crystals, patterns, layers, glass and talismen. These whimsical creatures have an air of magic about them and with every stitch and sew Alice breathes life and personality into each individual doll. Even though these Animal dolls have a very vintage, British feel to them (I can imagine them having a tea party in a garden somewhere) to me they are more reminiscent of Native American Indian dolls that are hand crafted to encase an animal spirit guide (or power animal) inside to protect the child as it grows into an adult (These animal spirits stay with a person for life) it is the same with dream catchers and tribal hand crafted Jewellery, each piece has a specific meaning to the Apache as they use protective stones or writing to ward off evil.

I feel like these are little warrior dolls Alice has created to watch over the person the doll is given to. They really are such lovely little beings! I WANT ONE!

If you would like to see more of Alice’s work pop over to her lovely website: Alice Mary Lynch
Or her facebook page: Alice Mary lynch Dollmaker

Art Therapy Books

7 Replies

I am massively into Art Therapy and anything Therapy or Therapeutically related hence why I am training in Massage Therapy at the moment. In the distant future I do intend on doing a masters in Art Therapy. I decided not to go straight into a masters after my degree because I want to gain some excellent life experience in Health & Social care, recreational support work as well as Therapy related training and work experience. I am even happy to wait until I am settled down and married and had kids and when they are grown up enough I think then would be the perfect time for me to do my masters part time. But who knows what the future brings? Even if I never get the title of “Art Therapist” I may still enjoy a career in the arts that utilises creativity in a therapeutic way. I enjoy promoting Health & Well-being in general which is why my interests branch out into Massage, Nutrition, Yoga, Meditation and Dance Therapy.
Here are some books I have read and currently reading, if you are interested in this field I really recommend them!

The Art Therapy Source Book was the first Art Therapy Book I bought (age 19) when my friend Despina Chrysanthou mentioned she wanted to be a Drama-therapist at the time and told me there was such a thing as Art Therapy. This book is a great introduction into the art therapy world, It is by an American Author and is really easy to read without any of that pretentious jargon specialists adopt.
Here is the link to buy this book: Art therapy Source book

drawing on difference, mair rees
Drawing on Difference is a great book that delves into Art Therapy with people who have Autism & Learning Difficulties. Mair Rees is well known in the Art Therapy world so it would be good to research her and the work she does. She is an Absolutely brilliant lady. Her area of expertise seems to be with children who have special needs, specifically Autism so if this is the field you want to work in then I suggest reading more of her material including articles she has published. I bought this as another beginners Art Therapy book as ‘special needs’ is a popular subject that psychologists and therapist research and it feels good to know I have some basic knowledge in this line of work but it is not where I want to specialise in.
To buy this book: Drawing on Difference

the hand book of art therapy, Tesse Dailey
The Handbook of Art Therapy was a birthday present from Jon a couple of years back. Another excellent introductory book about Art Therapy as a whole and even looks into different types of Art studios and therapy settings, how to train as an art therapist, client case studies and much more. These two authors again are ones to watch. This book is also great for practitioners to refer back to.
A good introductory book to purchase: The Handbook of Art Therapy

The Secret World of Drawing is a small book with only 147 pages and much of that is taken up by bibliographies at the end of each chapter to encourage more reading. The book is set out more like a dissertation that explores drawing through the eyes of Jungian theory. Also includes coloured images which is quite rare. Most art therapy books print completely in Black & white (which seems odd to me, isn’t colour important?) This book is a nice short read during a train journey or for lazy afternoon reading.
To Purchase this book: The Secret world of Drawings

art heals, shaun mcniff
Art Heals is a wonderful book by Shaun Mcniff. This book is completely different to any I have read. Easy to read and welcoming yet still informative in regards to the Art Therapy side to it, but Mcniff adds a gentler & spiritual aspect to his writings as he researches into Archetypes, dreams, mandala art, soul searching, shamanism and spirit guides. This book offers a more holistic approach to Art Therapy.
To buy this book: Art Heals

Reflections of Body Image in Art Therapy is centred around art therapy for women with emotional and psychological disorders in regards to their bodies and how they perceive themselves. This is one of the fields I wish to specialise in. I wish to eventually work with young adults (preferably women) from many different cultures & ethnicities including refugees and victims of trauma. This book offers a look into therapeutic workshops on craft and stitching or making 3d objects via textiles, creating art that explores identity & the physical body, society, culture and self discovery.
Here is the link to buy this book if you wish: Reflections of Body Image

art therapy and drama therapy, masks of the soul
This one is an oldie but a goodie. Art Therapy students are encouraged to read many books on general art therapy and the field they perhaps wish to specialise in before they go onto to do their masters. This was on the reading list for Goldsmith’s Art Psycho-Therapy Masters course and it looked interesting. I love the idea of fusing art with drama and researching into identity, the concept of masks and alter-egos.
Here is the link to buy this book: Art Therapy & Drama-Therapy

art therapy in asia
One of it’s kind. The first ever Art Therapy book that showcases how popular Art Therapy is becoming in Asia including India, Napal, China and Thailand. This is right up my street as I mentioned before that this is the area of expertise I wish to specialise in.
Treat yourself, buy this book: Art Therapy in Asia

performance poetry, spoken word poetry, poetry therapy
Sarah Kay who is a performance poet in New York made me think about other forms of creative therapy and since I also write short stories and poems I wondered if there is a book about Poetry Therapy. This is what I found. I have not got round to reading this one just yet however I am excited to get started! As an artist I work more with the mixed media realm and so I think I’d enjoy becoming an ‘ARTS THERAPIST’ or Creative therapist that encourages clients to look beyond drawing and painting, perhaps they’d prefer to express their feelings via dance or poetry instead?
To buy this Book: Poetry Therapy

You can find nearly all of these on Jessica Kingsley Publishing’s website or Amazon.

Plus these are 4 books I really want and are on my Amazon Wish list (if anyone wants to buy them as a birthday present? My birthday is in October)

expressive arts therapy, activity hand book

This book offers tips & advice on activities and workshops to work on with a client. This would be an excellent resource book for me to find arts & craft ideas to facilitate in workshops.
To purchase this book: Expressive Arts Therapy

This book is newly published (August 2013) and again centres on art therapy in cultures and ethnicity.
To buy this book: Using Art therapy in Diverse Populations

kid's sacred places, safe place, room installation art
This takes Art Therapy to a whole new level. Using the room as a therapeutic tool so that children and even adults can create their own safe place.
Here is the link to this book: Kid’s Sacred Places

I have a number of books on Art Therapy, a book that covers Drama Therapy and another on Poetry Therapy but I also love dance and movement and from personal experience Belly Dance has acted like a meditation or yoga that helped calm my soul during times of sorrow, surely I should have a book about Dance Therapy too? I love the idea of qualifying as a creative arts therapist that utilises art, poetry and dance into my workshops? Utter Bliss!
if you want to buy this book here is the link: Dance Therapy

If you are interested in a career in Art Therapy here is a website and a blog also.

The British association of Art Therapy They also publish a Journal twice yearly called “Inscape” It is rather expensive though.

Art Therapy Blog: Inspiring others to Create

Mind, Body, Spirit Fest & Dirty Ragas

3 Replies

This dance is to honour the Goddess Lakshmi, I invoke her to come alive through me and I hope people can feel that energy. I own a Lakshmi Statue at home, she was a gift from my mum.
So this is how I imagined her dancing on the Lotus Flower during the Churning of the Sea of Milk.

Lakshmi is my Zodiac Sign’s Goddess (I am a Libra, born October 11th) and she is Celebrated in October during Divali “The Festival of Lights” in India. She is known to have long, jet black wavy hair and wears a red Saree. she is the Goddess of Wealth, love, Beauty and Abundance. Sound familiar? A few later goddesses from other cultures like Aphrodite and Venus borrowed her traits and made them their own. She was born of the sea (or Ocean of Milk) and stands upon a Lotus flower and her consort is Vishnu ‘The Creator’. Lakshmi’s four hands signify her power to grant the four type of Purusharthas (ends of human life), Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (bodily pleasures), Moksha (beatitude).

This performance is darker and earthy in comparison to previous routines. I was seeking out the real me, where magic and mysticism boil in my primal blood.

Continue reading →

Lancashire & Yorkshire

1 Reply

This place is where I was born and brought up. Parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire have some of the most beautiful and wild terrains in England. Living away from home and even watching
‘Game of Thrones’ and listening to the Northern accent makes me proud to be Northern.
And even some of the buildings in Blackpool town centre are seeped in history and architecture of the Roaring Twenties (1920), the golden age of Jazz, flapper girls and when my Romany
ancestors settled here as street performers, Gypsy dancers and fortune tellers.

ingelton falls