Healing Scents: Breathe, Connect and Bloom
This event engages with participants to meditate through belly breathing, olfactory elicit art creation, reducing stress and anxiety.
The event directly targets stress reduction, anxiety management, and emotional regulation, particularly in young people aged 16 to 25. The botanical palette of lavender, rosemary, peppermint, jasmine, and citrus is drawn from deep healing garden traditions and supported by contemporary sensory research demonstrating measurable reductions in cortisol and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system through natural olfactory environments. Participants experience scent through multiple channels simultaneously: textured objects, skin application, living plants, open jars, and purpose-designed sound clips, with each channel opening a distinct pathway into calm.
At the heart of each encounter is a guided 4-7-8 breathing sequence: inhale for four counts through the nose, hold for seven, exhale for eight. The extended nasal inhale deepens olfactory perception while the long exhale activates the body's rest response. Breathing itself becomes the artistic act. Participants will draw the imagined garden through the olfactory experiences. At the end of the event, they will create a ‘breathing record’ to be part of the healing process that they could also use it for future meditation at home.
This event is supported by Birmingham City University and funded by the Healing Arts programme: Healing Arts Birmingham | Healing Arts Birmingham . The event is co-created by Dr Jieling Xiao from Birmingham City University, artists Kaye Winwood and Paul Liam Walker.
