MO news – Mindfulness at the museum
We are introducing some great news at MO – Mindfulness classes in the exhibition hall. The mindfulness workshops at MO Museum is some fresh news to the Lithuanian museum sector.
After a series of MO events on emotional health and talks with psychiatrists and psychologists, we are now organising practical sessions. Mindfulness sessions at MO Museum will be led by psychologist Simona Kosinskaite. They will take place at the exhibition hall during a special time – when the museum is closed.
I believe that in a museum you can experience a moment of meaningful presence with yourself. Nowadays, when we are going through a lot of stress and anxiety, it is very important to help ourselves to stop and calm down.
The museum is the ideal place for a quiet and meaningful stop
“At the museum, we organise a series of talks on emotional health, the positive impact of museums and visual arts on society. So, we also want to offer practical sessions for visitors based on mindfulness practices. I believe that in a museum it is possible to experience a moment of meaningful presence with yourself and your thoughts. Nowadays, when we are going through a lot of stress and anxiety, it is very important to help ourselves to stop and calm down”, – says Milda Ivanauskienė, Director of MO Museum.
Simona Kosinskaite, a psychologist who will be conducting Mindfulness sessions, briefly describes what to expect during the classes: “We will learn the basic principles of mindfulness, and we will try out the basic meditation techniques. They will help us to strengthen our connection with ourselves and the present moment. Together we will also experience our surroundings: the space, the light, the sounds in the museum.”
Helps strengthen the mind and body
The effects of mindfulness meditation have already been proven in many studies. The practice helps to strengthen the mind and body, reduce stress, increase compassion and improve memory. It enables you to understand yourself and others better, to experience and enjoy the here and now moment, and to learn how to practice it outside the museum.
According to Kabat-Zinn, a teacher of mindfulness practice, mindfulness is the act of paying attention to an object in a certain way: on purpose, in the present moment and without judgment.
Classes take place when museum is closed for visitors
Mindfulness classes at MO Museum are held at a special time – when the museum is closed. This way, the participants can experience a special atmosphere of calm and meaningful presence with themselves and their thoughts.
The classes take place in the MO’s small exhibition “A Difficult Age: Vilnius, 1939-1949”, in small groups and at safe distances. After the session, all participants are invited to continue enjoying the art and to visit the main exhibition “A Difficult Age. Szapocznikow – Wajda – Wróblewski”.
Conversations about emotional health
Together with professionals and mental health experts, we explore the societal benefits of culture and art. MO Museum has already hosted two conversations exploring how the benefits of culture and arts can be more fully exploited in everyday life and medical practice.
A conversation with psychiatrist Dainius Puras explored the country’s investment in people’s emotional health, and the choices and dilemmas of choosing between psychotherapy and medication. Together, we looked for answers on how art can be integrated into therapy and the health care system.
With psychologist Ausra Kuriene, we delved into the psychology of children, the feelings they experience during a pandemic, and how parents and relatives can contribute to the emotional development of children.
Together with psychologist Danute Gailiene, we talked about social experiences and collective and historical traumas. We analysed the notion of societal trauma and ask whether the new reality of recent years and living in a pandemic can be equated with traumatic experiences.
All the videos of these conversations are in Lithuanian but if you are interested, you can find them here:
