《Be Together》Mind-Body-Spirit Wellness Winter Cultural Festival 2022-2023 ( 1/2023 Programme )Hong Kong Expressive Arts Therapy Service Center

Arts are our good buddies, no matter what stages or conditions you are in. Arts creation can always give us a way out when we are feeling lonely and having a new taste of life. After a year and a half, are you ready for something relaxing and healing? Here is your chance! HKEXAT “Be Together Mind-Body-Spirit Wellness Winter Cultural Festival 2022-2023” is coming back! We will collaborate with artist folks to bring you interesting and healing arts activities through Christmas and New Year.

This year, “Mind-Body-Spirit Wellness Winter Cultural Festival” first launched the winter special edition, and will be held from 16th December 2022 to 15th January 2023 in San Po Kong, HKEXAT centre. The theme, Be Together, is chosen in the hope of unifying individuals after such prolonged period of disconnection. Not only could we reconnect physically, but we also restore our inner balance. Join our expressive arts therapists to explore the way of maintaining healthy emotions through different arts creations. More to that, you could also experience juggling art, stress-free dance & movement, ExArtOTheatre, Hong Kong memory arts creation, body percussion, visual art & word creation prepared by professional artists and therapists from various art categories.

No matter what the weather is, as long as we are together, it is a beautiful festival! We will also hold a Christmas Art Party during the Winter Cultural Festival!!!

Let’s chill and feel!

1. Mindfulness-based Yoga Relaxation Experiential Workshop
This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to relax, experience mindfulness and interested in yoga. When we feel stressed, we may habitually ignore the feelings of body and mind, which may lead to fatigue, headaches, insomnia etc., thus affecting our wellbeing. Mindful yoga combines physical movements and spiritual exercises, allowing the body and mind to rest in a relaxed state; interesting movements can also help produce endorphins, relieving pain and stress. This time, Ken, who has more than 20 years of mindful yoga practice and more than 10 years of teaching experience, is specially invited to let everyone experience the joy of mindful yoga.

Date：2/1/2023 ( MON )
Time：3:00 - 4:00 PM ( 1-HOUR )
Language：Cantonese
Target：Adults（ Yoga mat needs to be prepared by participants ）
Guest Facilitator：Kenneth Wong ( Chairman of Hong Kong Mindful Yoga Association )

2. Sound Therapy Relaxation Experiential Workshop
Each part of the human physiological system has a unique vibration frequency. The body and mind are connected. When the physiological system is in a bad state, the frequency will also affect the psyche, the emotions, and the frequency of the body and mind may become disharmonious.

Sound Therapy, through the physical energy of sound vibration, causes the resonance of human tissue cells, affects the heart rate and breathing rhythm, and at the same time increases the excitability of the cerebral cortex, boosts the spirit, relieves tension and anxiety, and improves mood. This workshop will lead everyone to experience Sound Therapy, enjoy the baptism of sound, so that the body and mind can be purified and recharged.

Date：2/1/2023 ( MON )
Time：4:30 - 5:30 PM ( 1-HOUR )
Language：Cantonese
Target：Adults
Guest Facilitator：Kenneth Wong ( Creator of Mindful Singing Bowl Practice )

3. “Temperature Of Soul” Expressive Arts Workshop
The temperature of the skin changes with the season, environment and action. So, what about the temperature of the soul?

When the skin comes into contact with different objects, there will be different tactile sensations; when the mind comes into contact with different situations, there will be different feelings.

In the workshop, by using movement and elements of nature, we will open up our body's senses and imagination, explore the changes in body mind and spirit between movement and stillness, cold and warm.

Date：3/1/2023 ( TUE )
Time：7:00 - 9:00 PM ( 2-HOUR )
Target：Adults
Language：Cantonese
Therapist：Derek Lum ( Expressive Arts Therapist )

4. “The One Who Stays” Expressive Arts Workshop ( Warmth Surrounding Version )
If you have family or friends who are immigrating and leaving you in Hong Kong;
If you feel that your life or working environment has changed due to this, and you need a little space to reset yourself;

Come and express your feelings through arts creation, and listen to the people who breathe in this land together.

Date：4/1/2023 ( WED )
Time：7:00 - 9:00 PM ( 2-HOUR )
Target：Adults ( Adults who still stay in Hong Kong )
Language：Cantonese
Therapist：Janet Li ( Expressive Arts Therapist )

5. “Before I Fall In Love” Self Exploration Expressive Arts Workshop
Have you ever thought about getting to know yourself better before starting a new relationship? Let’s try to explore and understand yourself more through arts before falling in love.

Date：5/1/2023 ( THUR )
Time：7:00 - 9:00 PM ( 2-HOUR )
Target：Single Adults Only
Language：Cantonese
Therapist：Zoe So ( Expressive Arts Therapist )

6. “My Dear Cantopop! ” Expressive Arts Workshop ( Stay Warm Together Edition )
Cantopop = Expressive Arts of Words & Music. Cantonese song is a partner that accompanies us to grow up. It may be your great entertainer, your spiritual therapist, or your philosopher. What role does Cantopop play in your life?

In this stay warm together edition, we will share Cantopop which has warmed your soul, and let us keep warm in the cold winter together through expressive art.

Date：7/1/2022 ( SAT ）
Time：1:00 - 3:00 PM ( 2-HOUR )
Target： Teens & Adults
Language： Cantonese
Therapist： Keith Chow ( Expressive Arts Therapist )


7. “We Together” Parent Adult-Child Workshop
When we were young, our parents took us to classes. As we have grown up, why don’t we take our parents to join some activities? The workshop welcomes adult-children to have fun with parents through body movement and visual art. It would be a special moment to be spent together.

Date：7/1/2023 ( SAT )
Time：4:00 - 6:00 PM ( 2-HOUR )
Target：Parent and Adult-Child ( Son/daughter aged 18 or above )
Language：Cantonese
Therapist：Fiona Law ( Expressive Arts Therapist )

8.We Are All The SAME • Expressive Arts • Warm Healing Night
We are all the Same, Living under the same sky. Let us create a safe and harmonious environment for self- exploration and expression through various arts forms. Join us to build a STRONGER community! Create a loving life journey TOGETHER!

Date：8/1/2022 ( SUN )
Time：7:00 - 9:00 PM ( 2-HOUR )
Target： Sexual Minority
Language：Cantonese and English
Therapist： Keith Chow ( Expressive Arts Therapist )

9. “Practice To Fail” Juggling Art X Expressive Arts Workshop
“Everyone has their own way of art expression, and juggling is my medium.” said by Charles Huang, the juggling artist.

Speaking of juggling, Charles was always being asked the following questions, “How many balls at most you can throw at once?” or “What is the most difficult technique that you can do?” Juggling is a high-skill-high-sensitivity art form, there’s no doubt Charles must have been through so many times of failure before getting where he is right now. Perhaps, the beauty of juggling lies not only in its accomplishment but also the mentality the juggling artist owns when he faces endless failure throughout the process.

Together in this workshop we can have a trial on juggling arts, as well as the journey accompanying “failure”. When failure is what we expect, will it really cause the pain? Or is there anything new awaiting in the next corner?

Date：9/1/2022 ( MON )
Time：7:00 - 9:00 PM ( 2-HOUR )
Target： Adults
Language：Cantonese
Artist： Charles Huang ( Local Juggling Artist )
Therapist：Canna Tang ( Expressive Arts Therapist )

10. 《Lost. And found?》Expressive Arts Therapy Oriented Theatre (ExArtOTheatre)

Dear The Child Who Lives Within Me,

How are you doing?

Sorry for leaving you alone for quite a period of time. I guess what makes it even more embarrassing is that I finally came to see you only when I’m not feeling so well.

It’s been a hard time. Honestly I always think of you, think of the innocent time we spent. It took a whole lot of my heart even if it lasted for just a short time.

Do you know the world out there is really scaring? The grownups taught us many rules when we were kids yet I grew up to find that they barely even keep any of those. When you are a grownup, the world again taught you another set of rules to obey.

I think you knew it all the way.

Sorry, I should have came to you earlier, maybe then I’ll live a little better.

Loves,
Your old pal

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In response to the encouraging public feedback from our Sep and Dec 2021 show of “Sein zum Tode”. Hong Kong Expressive Arts Therapy Service Center are delighted to present a brand new Expressive Arts Therapy Oriented Theatre creation with a fresh topic of “Inner-child” in Jan 2023.

Expressive Arts Therapy Oriented Theatre (ExArtOTheatre) incorporates poetry, visual art, dance & movement, music and drama to share the performers’ thoughts and explorations in the theme of performance. It allows us to lower rational thinking, simply feel and aware of how we are personally related to the genuine arts expression of performers. There will also be interactive arts creations led by the show director, which allows our emotions and thoughts to be contained safely by arts.

*Expressive Arts Therapy Oriented Theatre (ExArtOTheatre) is founded by Expressive Arts Therapist of HKEXAT - Ms. Canna Tang, it is a theatre-based approach to Expressive arts therapy, the theatre will become a safe container of thoughts and emotions, the flow of imagination and creation will be initiated in multi-modalities art experiences. Audiences will be guided to feel the moment and to create “Aesthetic Response” during the performance, a two-way arts and communication platform will be constructed. It’s a place where everyone can be seen. 

Date：13-15/1/2023（Fri-Sun）
Time：8 - 9:30 pm (Fri-Sat) 4- 5:30pm (Sat-Sun)
Target Audience：18 year-old or above
Language: Mainly in Cantonese
Creation and Director： Canna Tang  (Expressive Arts Therapist)
Creation and Assistant to Director：Ivy Lee
Creation and Performers：Nokman Wai, Nico Wong, Carol Suen, Keith Chow, Choco Po, Stephanie Choi, Pisces Yip, Law Sein Him