Mandala colouring is all the rage these days. But do they really help to relieve stress? 

We all know that our everyday lives can become monotonous and many times stress can take its toll. Relaxation techniques help us overcome this by forcing us to do things that are not part of our daily routine. Yoga and sports offer excellent ways to relax. These days, mandala painting is the new kid on the block when it comes to stress reliever techniques. But what exactly does it entail?

Mandala painting is not as new an idea as most would assume. It has been around for centuries and is now beginning to gain popularity. To put it into layman's terms, it's a form of colouring book that has a meditative effect. Mandalas are geometric patterns in various forms that all come together at a centre point, following strict geometric rules. Oftentimes, they are composed of squares and segments of circles.

Mandalas have a special meaning in various religions and are used as a form of meditation. This "new" relaxation technique has a longstanding tradition in Buddhism and Hinduism, where they are frequently sand painted.

Painting mandalas have many positive aspects:

• relaxation
• stress reliever
• concentration & creativity are promoted
• serenity is triggered

While painting the brain concentrates on one activity only which calms the mind. Everything else (worry, stress, etc.) are faded out. Throughout history, mandalas have been explained through theories of depth psychology and cosmologically.

To attain the best results when painting mandalas it is advised to do the following:

1. Select a mandala that you really like.
2. Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.
3. Start colouring. Try not to over thinking anything - the journey is the reward.
4. Begin by colouring the outer frame and make your way inward.
5. Concentrate only on the task at hand. No multitasking, i.e. do not switch on the radio or television. Cell phones are also taboo.
6. The aim is not to create the perfect masterpiece. The result is of less importance. What matters is the sole task of concentrating on your colouring.

Interested in trying it out for yourself? Then click on this link to find a vast number of mandalas on the internet, or if you so prefer, purchase a mandala colouring book at your bookstore.