a sweet and simple way to de-stress
Katie V.
“This was a safe and nurturing space for me to release the stressors of my day and shed the personal armor that I put on to go out into the world, and to experiment with being incredibly tender with myself.”
stress happens
self-compassion helps
creativity makes it easier
When stress builds up, it’s easy to ignore your own needs and keep pushing forward ~ until exhaustion becomes "normal". And before you know it, you're burned out. Coping with stress effectively isn’t about powering through or waiting for things to slow down. It’s about making space for yourself right now.
That’s what Breathing Room is all about. This free, live online workshop is an invitation to step into a new way of relating to stress ~ with creative self-compassion. Through poetry and art journaling, we’ll explore practices that offer a foundation for deeper, more lasting shifts in how you care for yourself, ease stress, replenish your energy and prevent (or recover from) burnout.
In these warm and welcoming practices, you’ll discover how creative expression can:
âś” Quiet the noise in your mind and give you a sense of spaciousness
✔ Soothe your nervous system with simple, accessible art journaling practices
✔ Help you process stress in a meaningful way ~ without overthinking or self-judgment
No poetry knowledge or art experience needed ~ just a willingness to show up for yourself.
workshop details
date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
time: 10am-11:30am PT
location: Zoom
fee:Â free
Note:Â Breathing Room will be recorded, so if you aren't able to attend live, you can watch the replay!
why poetry and art journaling?
history! science! and fun!
Poetry is the oldest form of written literature, and it has been a foundation of human culture and healing for over 4,000 years. In fact, in ancient Greece, poetry was even “prescribed” as part of medical treatment!
And art-making has been part of everyday human civilization for even longer than poetry. The earliest known drawing was made about 73,000 years ago ~ proof that creative expression has been a way for humans to process, reflect and connect for a very long time. 🎨
Plus, modern research confirms what our ancestors knew: engaging with poetry and creative expression reduces stress, fosters self-awareness and strengthens emotional resilience.
🧠Studies show that reading poetry activates the brain’s “restful state” regions, helping us relax and gain perspective.
🎧 Listening to poetry reduces stress, improves memory, and increases hopefulness.
🎨 Art journaling can lower stress hormones, improve emotional regulation, and encourage self-compassion.
🌱 Together, poetry and art offer a playful, accessible way to process emotions and reconnect with what truly nourishes us.
💛 In Breathing Room, we’ll bring these time-honored practices together to create a gentle, stress-relieving, and deeply supportive experience ~ a space to de-stress, play, and reconnect with yourself in ways that feel authentic, meaningful, and restorative.
hello
I'm glad you're here
I'm Lea Seigen Shinraku, licensed therapist, self-compassion teacher, artist and 20+ year Zen practitioner. I've taught self-compassion classes for over 10 years and it has been my honor to guide hundreds of students in learning to be kind to themselves. I know the pain of self-judgment and the stress of everyday life right now. It's so important to find ways to have fun in the midst of what's so hard. Poetry and art journaling are gateways to healing, and they are central to my self-compassion teaching and everyday practice. Nothing means more to me than helping people accept themselves and express themselves creatively. If you struggle with self-judgment and stress, and you want more joy, confidence, ease and creativity in your life, I hope you'll join me for this uplifting workshop!
as seen in...
Breathing Room
poetry & art journaling workshop for stress relief
Live, online: Sunday, April 6, 2025 10am-11:30am PT
de-stress, have fun and nurture your mind, body, and spirit with creative self-compassion!
What You’ll Experience in the workshop
Breathing Room is designed to be nourishing, supportive, and engaging. Together, we will:
🌿 Reduce stress in a simple, creative, and playful way through guided art journaling ~ a hands-on practice to quiet the mind and create space for self-reflection.
✨ Engage with thoughtfully curated poetry that helps you feel seen and supported ~ find fresh ways to connect with yourself through words and imagery.
🎨 Explore poetry in a way that’s personal, meaningful and uplifting ~ discover how creative expression can bring relief and soothe your nervous system.
🌱 Cultivate self-compassion and resilience through creative self-expression ~ learn a gentle, adaptable practice you can return to whenever life feels overwhelming.
More than just a moment of relaxation, Breathing Room will give you a powerful way to reset and reconnect with what you truly need ~ mind, body and spirit.
Kelly R.
“It was such a gift to have this dedicated time to draw, listen, and reflect. Lea encouraged us to be playful and experiment. This was important as I don't draw regularly and can be quick to judge myself. I really appreciate Lea's heart-centered approach. I can't help but smile when I look at my drawing from the workshop.”
come as you are!
Poetry is for everyone and so is art journaling! You don't need any special skills or supplies for the Breathing Room workshop. Just bring something to write and draw with, and something to write and draw on. I will be using watercolors, and you may like to have some to use, too. But they are not necessary. Coming as you are, in the present moment, is the most important thing. ❤️
Janet V.
“Art journaling helps me to be very in-the-moment and present, and then I’m not getting carried away so far in the future. This is something that I will actually use. Thank you very much for teaching us simple ways to draw, because now I feel like I can do it.”
FAQs
Will we write poetry in this workshop?
Do I need to be an artist or have experience with art journaling?
What materials do I need?
Will this workshop be recorded?
What if I’m not “creative” or I’m feeling stuck?
How is this different from Beyond Burnout?
thanks for scrolling all the way down here!Â
I like to make thoughtful decisions, too.
I know these times aren’t easy. If you’re here, you’re probably carrying a lot ~ feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, maybe even unsure whether you deserve a break. Stress can make it so much harder to show ourselves kindness.
When life feels heavy, the inner critic tends to get louder. And it often claims that rest is indulgent, that creativity is a luxury, that we should just push through. But the truth is, this is exactly when we need breathing room the most.
It’s so important to have space where we can remind ourselves that stress isn’t all there is ~ where we can reconnect with what brings us comfort, joy and a sense of possibility.
For me, poetry and art journaling aren’t ways to escape the hard things in life. They’re ways to meet them ~ with creativity, self-compassion, and a reminder that even in exhaustion, beauty and play are still available to us.
I’d love to be your guide in exploring this. In Breathing Room, we’ll take this first step together ~ a moment to exhale, reset and remember that you don’t have to do this alone.
And if this experience resonates with you, I’ll be sharing a way to continue the journey in my 4-week Beyond Burnout program ~ a deeper dive into creative self-compassion as a sustainable way to relieve stress and reclaim your energy.
❤️ I hope you’ll join me. You are worthy of this space.
Breathing Room
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Do you have questions about the workshop? Contact Lea at [email protected]
