Mandala coloring benefits are older than you think. Tine Steiss looks at the advantages – such as relaxation and increased creativity – and traces the history of the mandala.

 

You've seen them everywhere. In line at the supermarket, the bookstore, paying for petrol when you fill up your car; the list is infinite. Recently, mandala coloring books have inundated almost every aspect of printed media. But why? In fact, there are many great benefits of mandala coloring for adults. Some of these rewards are quite surprising, and others are more obvious.


Here's a quote for you: “Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.” (cited in Neihardt, 1961:32-33).

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Colour your life: the benefits of mandala are many

A quick history of these fantastic circles reveals humans have been fascinated with them for all of recorded time and perhaps even longer. Nature is full of circles. The moon, flowers, the cycles of seasons and movements of wind. Every culture on earth has some connection with circles. Whether it be from the way they construct buildings and temples to methods of meditation or dance. The symbol of a continuous life cycle, circles travel far and wide, yet remain visible in everyday life.


Various religions and philosophies look to circles and more specifically, mandalas, as a journey to the true self. Each layer of the mandala represents a different part of life. Ultimately a mandala is infinite and supports the Buddhist and Hindu claims to reincarnation.

 

What do they have to do with happiness?

Often times mandalas are used for meditation. Some practices involve tracing the lines of a mandala with one's eyes, creating a high level of concentration and sense of present-moment-awareness. Similar to the meditation technique of staring into the blue of a candle's flame. Other times they represent prayers or gods. Like a visual mantra, offering peace of mind to the believer.


This stillness and awareness mandalas can create is what scientists want to learn from. There are many studies proving the benefits of using mandalas for gaining self-awareness, self-expression and even conflict resolution. How these 'reflections of the self' (Carl Jung) help us achieve greater happiness is simpler than you might think.
 

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Drawing circles brings us back to our center. The circle is everywhere in nature: it brings stability to an unstable situation or mind. Once balance returns, the mind and body can begin to function properly again. Thus resetting the purpose and goals one has or finding new ones in a time of uncertainty.

 

Here are only a few of the top benefits of mandala coloring:

  • Helps to stabilize blood pressure
  • increases creativity and self-awareness
  • art therapy
  • reduces anxiety and relaxes muscles
  • self-confidence: freedom to color outside the lines if you want


If you're unsure how to start a mandala on your own, there are lots of good resources to find out how. Our writer Tine Steiss has tried her hand at drawing mandalas and found them beneficial. She's created a heart mandala for you to print out.

 

 

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Written by Tine Steiss

tine.jpgTine is part of the happiness team. She's an artist, meditator, media engineer and MBSR teacher. If she's not traveling she's working on turning her rooftop terrace into a garden paradise. Find out more about her on Instagram.


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Ga****

Posted

Yes... really well said.

Mandala painting is really helpful in depression, stress or anxiety.

This type of art helps calm the mind and gives peace.

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24****

Posted

To me Mandala Art is calming my mind. Is has a meditative effect on me. The mandala meditation benefits are in the thoughts when I dream through my geometric creations.

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26****

Posted

That was a fantastic post! I had no idea Mandalas & meditations are so prominent. These days, I've been studying and reading a lot about mandalas. I'm curious if any of you have any further resources to contribute. It appears to be difficult to discover the latest information on the website. 

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66****

Posted

I’ve tried this! A few years ago I had a mandala flower colouring book and would sit in the evening for an hour or so colouring mandalas. It helped me so much with clearing and emptying my mind of thoughts, and just flowing with the rhythm of the crayon, colour, and mandala patterns. I always felt very calm and relaxed afterwards. I think it could even be considered a type of self-care as it is very healing too. Why did I stop, I suddenly wonder?

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Li****

Posted

I have so many friends who are absolutely obsessed with colouring books in general, and mandala colouring in particular! So interesting to read a bit more about the mandala meditation benefits; it's actually amazing that just by doing something so simple as colouring a mandala you can reduce stress and anxieties. I remember when I first started seeing the colouring books for adults, and now they are literally everywhere! 

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e4****

Posted

I started with colouring books and then for a while because fascinated with mandalas. After a quick dive into the world of sacred geometry (which is fascinating but also requires lots of math) I have now found my passion in what is called "zendoodles". To me, it's more relaxing as it gives you more freedom and you can cover up errors easier.

Some days I construct the zendoodles with a black liner and other days I am colouring the once I have already outlined - much like mandala colouring.

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