ZEN ENSO
Wellness Through Arts and Culture
In partnership with 1000 Cranes for Recovery
Zen Enso
The Zen Enso Wellness is to raise awareness, educate, and promote mental health and wellness activities through arts and culture. The Zen Enso symbolizes strength in unity and interconnection, strength, embracing our own “imperfections,” acceptance of our true self, and the cycle of life.
Mental health stigma remains high within our communities. Using Asian American community as an example, 73% of Asian Americans that are in need of mental health support don’t receive care. Asian American adults are three times less likely than their White counterparts to receive mental health care. Most Asian Americans endure psychiatric distress in isolation due to cultural stigma until a crisis or suicide brings attention to the system.
Zen Enso Wellness emphasizes and uses a non-stigmatized, culturally relevant approach through art and culture, and innovative and creative ways to address mental health and wellness within the Asian American communities. It strives to:
- Bring and raise mental health awareness to the Asian American populations that are often forgotten and left out of conversations.
- To normalize and destigmatize mental health. Through the workshop activities, we are going to show the participants that they are different ways to talk and express mental health such as through arts and cultures.
- To inspire and encourage the Asian American participants that attended the Zen Enso events to continue to talk and share about their mental health and stories with their friends and families.
Zen Enso Wellness recognizes the importance of breaking down the status quo to bring social change. Thus, Zen Enso Wellness offers a variety of workshops specifically designed for Asian Americans and none Asian Americans that want to learn more about Asian American cultures and mental health.
Zen Enso Kite Workshop
Using traditional Japanese kite arts, instructors will teach the youth how to make kites that they can take home with them. While giving directions on making kites, the instructors will also share introductory and educational mental health information with the youth. The goal is to show participants that there are different ways to talk about and express their mental health, such as through arts and culture.
Zen Enso Kite Workshop is ideal for youth and it’s also suitable for adults. The ideal duration for the workshop is an hour minimally and maximally two hours.
Mental Health Educational Workshop
Due to cultural stigma, it is unfortunate that mental health issues remain unspoken. Study after study has shown that the ability to talk about mental health can tremendously decrease an individual’s stress level and improve the overall quality of life.
Therefore, this interactive workshop will provide a safe space and professionally guided discussion for participants to learn about common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety. This workshop does not train participants to be clinicians; instead, it is designed to teach participants about how to provide practical support to the people around them who are experiencing mental health challenges. Last, toward the end of the workshop, participants will learn about mental health resiliency, self-help tools, and resources to continue to improve their mental health.
This workshop is designed for adults. The ideal duration for the workshop is two hours at the same time it can be done within an hour or three hours
Interactive Theater for Mental Health
The goal of this workshop is to use non-traditional, innovative, and creative ways for folks to further understand their mental health and well-being. Using various fun improv/theatrical exercises such as “Mirror” and “Yes And,” participants will learn to trust their instincts and embrace their imperfections (Zen Ens ). Through this process, participants will gain a better understanding and awareness of their mental and emotional health. Through body movement and non-verbal activity, participants will learn different ways to express and share their mental health experiences and stories.
This workshop is designed for everyone. The ideal duration for the workshop is an hour to two hours.
Origami Cranes for Hope and Recovery
The 1000 origami cranes are based on an old Japanese tradition where community members unite together to fold 1000 origami cranes to wish for wellness. Many Asian cultures believe the iconic red-crowned crane and traditional Crane Kite flying symbolize healing, hope, longevity, and health for their family and friends.
The instructors will teach participants how to fold origami cranes. While giving directions on making and folding origami cranes, the instructors will also share introductory and educational mental health information with the participants. The goal is to show participants that there are different ways to talk about and express their mental health, such as through arts and culture.
This workshop is designed for everyone. The ideal duration for the workshop is an hour to two hours.
Additional Zen Enso Workshop Information
- All of the workshops can be conducted in English, Korean, Japanese, and/or Mandarin Chinese.
- All the workshops can be custom design to cater to your organizational needs. Like a restaurant menu, your organization can pick and choose which workshop(s) you want and the instructors at the 1000 Cranes for Recovery can be personalized to your request.
- All of the activities are interactive, engaging, educational, and non-clinical. The workshops and instructors will provide a safe and professional space. The theatrical and improvisational exercises are designed to be fun and interactive, and for participants to appreciate mental health in a new light and with a different perspective.
- The Mental Wellness Workshop can be conducted either virtually or in person.
- For the best outcomes, we recommend the Zen Enso Kite, Interactive Theater for Mental Health, and Origami Cranes for Hope and Recovery be held in person.
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