Instructor: Cecilia Fowler
Community: Grades 6-8, Classroom Setting, 60 minutes
Plan Creation Date: April 14, 2013
Yoga Calm Principle/Lesson Goal: Listening
Props/Music/Resources Required: Drum, Hoberman Sphere
Lesson Plan:
Calm
- Belly Breathing – with drum -Listening to the beat of the drum, using drum beat count for inhale and exhale. Have students start tapping one foot along with beat of the drum and the rhythm of their breath. Continuing with beat and breathing, lower or close eyes, continue group breathing eyes closed. As sitting quietly, talk about how we listen to our bodies, hearing what different parts of the body are telling us.
Activate
- Chair 15 – As students move through different poses, asking them to focus on different parts of their body and what the sensation might mean, listening to their bodies. Focus on your face–if your face feels stiff, your eyebrows squished together, your lips tense, your body might be feeling tense or your heart might be feeling tight. If you’re breathing deeply and your heart feels wide and rises up, your body might be feeling free and strong.
- Partner Pull – Model partner pull as a silent activity. Without speaking to your partner, how can you listen to and communicate with each other?
- Shoulder Clock – Go through once, allowing students to talk to gain comfort, see what works for both. Then move to silent rotations. Then encourage as a challenge eyes closed, listening with their bodies to sense into the movement with their partner. Have students share out thoughts.
- Changing Channels Activity – In circle, have students share out thoughts.
Calm
- Back Drawing – Use gentle sounds for some as well, such as whooshing wind.
- Relaxation Story