Creative Flow is a unique mindfulness exercise and an intentional collaboration of creativity and holistic self-care practices. Our interactive, multi-sensory approach helps to promote mental, physical, spiritual and environmental well-being.
How it all began…
In 2013, I was a single mom of a 14-year-old son living with Autism, OCD and Chronic Anxiety. One night I encouraged him in prayer and as he did, he proclaimed his gratitude for pizza and his friends. But he had none outside of school and my heart sank.
I realized many of his classmates probably felt the same way so I created a social group that would provide my son and his peers the ability to form true, lasting friendships for years to come. Luckily, I am a lifelong crafter and I turned toward Upcycling to make my own decorations, games and crafts with boxes, jars, bottles and even made my own clay. Whatever it took to keep this free for them and affordable for me on my very modest salary as a single mom.
I quickly realized that these Upcycled projects were also providing me with much needed time for myself! It allowed me to be present, clear minded and stress-free! I realize now that this organically became a mindfulness practice and a tool.
Years later I studied and became a Certified Sensory Yoga Teacher and Reiki II practitioner, mainly to help my son and boy does it ever! I fell in love with the principles and practices of yoga, particularly Ahimsa and developed a creative approach to capture my son’s interest and maintain consistency.
Since then, my son and I regularly practice and LOVE mindfulness, meditation, and Upcycling as it has made a HUGE difference in our ability to self-regulate, be more present and enjoy a more peaceful and clear-headed reality. My multisensory approach made this practice calming, fun and like nothing I’ve ever seen. I realized I had to share this with everyone!
In 2019 my son and I shared some of our Upcycled creations on social media and I was blown away by the number of comments and requests people made to purchase them. We started in October and by February 2020 we registered our own small home-based business. As a way to keep my son active in this endeavor and help him gain job skills. He precut fabric, tagged, bagged, delivered and even shipped our creations around the states! Though I was excited to see the amount of interest our crafts were getting, I simply couldn’t keep up with the orders on my own. I decided to let customers know I was no longer taking orders, but I was contemplating online tutorials, and the interest was overwhelming!
At Creative Flow, we create and inspire sustainability, creativity, awareness, wellness and personal development with every workshop we offer and craft we create.
Whether you take our group classes or our all-inclusive, half day workshops, you are supporting so much more!
I felt a calling to teach these sustainable crafts and the ways they cultivate wellbeing within us and around. To date, we’ve lost count of all the recyclable materials we’ve used throughout the years that would have added to our carbon footprint and negatively impacted wildlife and marine life. I couldn’t help but dream of the impact this would have if more people did the same. Afterall, there IS strength in numbers, right?
Suddenly this dream was interrupted by very real and difficult losses in our family starting with the loss of my vision due to multiple retinal detachments and surgeries. Shortly after that my beloved brother, mother and dog all got diagnosed with cancer and passed away within 15 months of each other. Needless to say, this was an overwhelming time for both Steven and me. I had an epiphany that we had to commit to a real lifestyle change, focusing on holistic well-being and weight loss for optimal health and longevity with my son.
This took diligence and creativity since Steven has very limited food options due to sensory issues. I decided to commit to juicing fruits with vegetables to get nutrient dense, whole foods into my son’s diet along with other methods in meal prep for him. He wasn’t thrilled at first, but I explained that we had to make healthier choices because I want to be with him for as long as possible. He understood and was on board! Today not only does he enjoy drinking his fresh juices, but he also requests them, and he enjoys the process of making them. THIS was HUGE for my son who essentially lived on carbs and cheese his whole life.
As for me, juicing has replaced my coffee giving me tons of energy that lasts well into the afternoon and without the jitters and stomach upset! I have lost 30lbs. in a year which has benefited my ability to work out more without the constant, debilitating joint and back pain I used to have.
I can say without a doubt that focusing on the 8 pillars of holistic wellness, and being in a state of creative flow has quite literally changed our lives! Today with these practices, lifestyle changes and my guidance, my son is living in his townhouse and working diligently toward self-sufficiency, independence and thriving! To see him where he is today makes me feel overwhelmed with gratitude. My son was last diagnosed 6 years ago with FND (neurological overwhelm/stress/system shutdown/seizures) that impacted the use of his legs for 4 months and had him dependent on a wheelchair. Today I’m happy to say he has not needed that chair one time in 6 years!
I am a firm believer that our mission in life’s journey is to live, learn and heal so that we can help others do the same! This is why I decided to incorporate all that I have learned, experienced, studied and love and fused them into fun and valuable workshops. Creative Flow has organically grown into a unique mindfulness and holistic wellness practice that promotes relaxation, balance, focus, awareness, flexibility, strength, creative thinking, self-regulation, sustainability and growth. My multisensory approach helps to activate “feel good chemicals” that are known to lower stress, anxiety, overthinking and improve mood, confidence, overall wellbeing and alleviate dis-ease.
In 2023 I began looking for a studio space to hold these valuable workshops that encompass all that I’ve mentioned and more. I am so excited to find and provide that space and the guidance one may need to embrace the importance of self-care and the importance of making oneself a priority, not an afterthought, especially parents and caregivers!
Although Creative Flow has grown into much more than crafting tutorials, the original goal remains the same: mindfulness, self-care, creativity, activism, sustainability and growth.
I remain devoted to finding our perfect space and pushing forward my mission to offer internship and gainful employment opportunities to people with disabilities, demonstrating that there is potential and strengths in each and every one of us! Until then, we are available for private group classes, workshops (we come to you) and Library/community programming.
Don’t be shy, reach out and say hi, and stay in the know of all things Creative Flow at creativeflowcraft@gmail.com or visit https://www.creativeflowcraft.com/
Your support means everything!
Blessings,
Vida Garcia
Owner and Creator of Creative Flow
