Instructor: Margaret Craford
Community: Secondary School Ages, Special Needs/Life Skills, School Setting?, 30-60 minutes
Plan Creation Date: March 12, 2014
Yoga Calm Principle/Lesson Goal: Community
Academic/Therapeutic/Other Goals: Trauma Release
Props/Music Resources Required: Endless Night, The Lion King Broadway CD; misc. art supplies, snack, Happiness Recipe Worksheet or Community Circle
Lesson Plan:
Calm
- Volcano Breath – 2 long, sustained breaths, pausing at the top of the breath – 1 or 2 Heart Thought breaths @ 2 min total, use of Leader
Activate
- Partner Pull – @ 2 min, alternating sides, beginning with the right, and pull the right hip back, lengthen the right side of the body, expanding the breathe into the rib cage. Communities come together in times of need. Come up with your partner. Switch to L
- Tree Challenge I or ll – (2-3 min) – Now facing your partner, challenge one another to be your best – to bring your best energy and gifts to your community. Using the four corners of your feet to remain grounded. Maintain eye contact and say to yourself, “I am strong.” Switch sides to remain balanced in your body.
- Star/Star Circle – (1-2 min) Friends help us to center and expand our worlds. Taking a wide stance, center and expand yourself to create a galaxy of stars with your classmates, activating your muscles and sending your energy out into the world through your head, arms, and legs.
- Mountain/Crescent Moon – Tall Mountain to Crescent Moon and Back as the music moves you. (1.5 min) – Activate your inner mountain. Closing your eyes, think of who you are strong for.
- Now from Tall Mountain, feeling your community of strength, rotate your wrists and ankles. (30 sec)
Calm
- Childʼs Pose – Inhale the strength of your community. Follow your breath, knowing that you are safe. (2 min)
- Happiness Recipe Worksheet – or Community Circle writing activity
- Discussion – Who/what makes up your community. What ages/genders/sexual-orientations/cultures/languages are represented. Name one thing you would change about your community if you could.
- Closing – Closing quote and anti-electronic pledge – “A day spent with you is my new favorite day. So today is my new favorite day.” A.A. Milne, aka, Winnie the Pooh – Note: This lesson can be linked to the Grounding Inquiry and Lesson, or be followed with a mindful meal and/or creative activity (making a get well card, drawing their experience) for reinforcement of safety and community.