Zentangle is for anyone who needs to slow down, have some quiet time, and just chill. I started doing Zentangle after dinner with my two kids, and it's amazing how our moods transformed even after that first evening. An hour flew by but it didn't feel like the time escaped me, but rather it felt like the hour was healing. It felt similar to how calm, relaxed, and rejuvenated I feel when I wake up from Savasana. And I liked that I had something physical to show for the time that had passed.
Whenever I do Zentangle, I just feel happy. It allows me to use my creative side, but because the emphasis is on just drawing what I feel, there are no expectations about what the finished piece should look like, which takes the pressure off.
The patterns are simple but so satisfying. I just focus on watching my pen move along the paper as the simple dots and lines came together to form intricate-looking drawings. My thoughts quiet naturally because I'm so focussed on the present moment of just drawing patterns. I was amazed at how effective this was as a form of meditation. An hour will go by and I still won't want to stop!
Even though I've only been doing Zentangle for a few weeks, it's already positively influenced my mental health. I not only feel joyful while doing Zentangle, but I feel so relaxed afterward that it helps me fall asleep effortlessly and wake up feeling refreshed. Now everyone I meet, I tell them they need to try it!