Instructor: Mary Tesoro
Community: Ages 5-8, Aikido Gym Setting
Plan Creation Date: April 22, 2014
Yoga Calm Principle/Lesson Goal: Stillness
Academic/Therapeutic/Other Goals: Stillness is the ability to quiet the mind and body; to be self-aware, to develop sensitivity, self-control, & self-regulation.
Props/Music Resources Required: Hoberman Sphere /Music & Player/ Drum / Signs (Ground Rules & Positive Self Talk)
Lesson Plan:
Calm
- Belly Breathing – with Hoberman Sphere (with focus on stillness of all but breath related movement) – Student Leader. Choose Breaths, Leader, Counter. Compliments (focused on Stillness if possible)
Activate
- Volcano Breath 1 – (Nose breathing) – Can preface Volcano Breath by telling group “I will be watching for someone who can be really still to lead another Volcano Breath later.” Can compliment group on stillness when done (or comment appropriately on improving stillness).
- Woodchopper – (in “Ninja” mode)
- Yoga Flow – Mountain—Upward Mountain—Crescent Moon—Upward Mountain—Mountain—Forward Bend – Repeat (with Stillness Imagery or in “Ninja” mode)
- Child’s Pose
- Volcano Breath 2 – Student leader. Compliments to leader. Leader can compliment group for stillness. Teacher can preface choosing leader w/something like “Susie, would you lead a Volcano Breath for us? I noticed how still you were (or you were one of the really still…) when we did it earlier.”
- Back Drawing – (Stillness Images and/or “Ninja mode secret code”)
- Volcano Breath 3 – Student leader. Compliments to leader. Leader can compliment group for stillness. Teacher can preface choosing leader w/something like “Susie, would you lead a Volcano Breath for us? I noticed how still you were (or you were one of the really still…) when we did it earlier.”
- Changing Channels – (include three different Stillness Channels)
- Sharing – Have students describe favorite Stillness Channel or how felt in “Ninja” mode.
Calm
- Relaxation – Stillness 1: Guided Meditation (Sitting among Statues) – Sit in your favorite, most comfortable sitting position – one that you can hold for 10 drumbeats. You are in a special room that is filled with statues that look exactly like you, and they are all sitting exactly how you are sitting, except their eyes are closed. You close your eyes too, because the statue maker is coming and you want to see if you can fool him into thinking you are one of his statues. You sit very, very still, disguised as a statue. Let’s see how many drum beats you can be completely still like the statues. OK, the statue-maker is in the room for ten drumbeats….[Give ten drumbeats – or whatever number is a reasonable, success-oriented challenge for the group. When the statue-maker leaves, compliment the group on their stillness. Have a backup statement if for some reason they are being silly or are way too fidgety to make a compliment be authentic, e.g., “Good start…but I’m glad the statue-maker didn’t turn the lights on today!”]
- Relaxation – Stillness 2: Students lie on backs in complete silence – can tune into favorite stillness channel from earlier or just focus on being still for 1-2 minutes.
- Share / Close