Instructor: Lyndsay Morris

Community: Girls Group, 35-45 minutes

Plan Creation Date: October 26, 2011

Yoga Calm Principle/Lesson Goal: Strength

Lesson Plan:

Calm

Belly Breathing (four min.): One student leads with Hoberman Sphere, while another student counts the number of breaths. After the activity, students give compliments to the Breathing Ball leader and counter.

Arm Swings (five min.): “Stand with feet hip-width apart, inhale and turn palms outward and raise your arms out to the side and then overhead. Exhale and lower your arms back to your sides. Let the movement of your arms follow your breath. See how slowly and smoothly you can move, like a bird flying in slow motion.“ Students repeat and this time say, “I am strong. I am in control. I can do it. I can be responsible.” Repeat.

  • Discussion: What does it meant to be strong? What does it mean to be in control?

Activate

Mat 20 (10 min.)

Woodchopper (two min.): Stand with feet a little wider than hip-width apart and knees slightly bent. Take arms overhead with hands together as if holding an ax. Imagine a piece of wood on the ground in front of you. On a count of three, swing hands down to chop the imaginary piece of wood. Make a loud “Huh!” sound as your ax hits the imaginary wood.

Harassment Prevention (15-20 min.)

  • Ask a volunteer to come to the front of the room and slowly chase you. Then, as the child in chasing you, laugh, and tease and say “stop” in a playful way. Then ask the students why this didn’t work very well. They know that it is because the person being chased was giving a double message. Write this on the board:

Double Message

1. My language said, “Stop.”

2. My body language said, “Keep going, I’m having fun.”

  • Discussion: Why is it necessary to have a strong voice? Have you ever experienced a double message?
  • Read the steps for stopping harassments. Students role play using the strategy.

Calm

Mindful Moment Card (3 min.): Think of a time when a friend wanted you to do something you knew was wrong. They really wanted you to say yes, and you were afraid of hurting their feelings, but you found a way to say no. How did it feel to stand up to something that didn’t feel right to you?

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