Instructor: Patsy Keech
Community: Grades 6 – 8, Retreat Opener, 40 minutes
Plan Creation Date: March 13, 2015
Yoga Calm Principle/Lesson Goal: Stillness
Words: “I can calm myself”
Lesson Plan:
Calm
- Have a student ring the bell of stillness – Close eyes and sit perfectly still until they don’t hear the bell any longer.
- Belly Breathing – Ask a student leader to lead the breathing with the Hoberman Sphere. Appoint another student to be the counter. Focus on the stillness of the breath.
Activate
- Pinwheel Breathing – See how slowly you can spin the pinwheel without gasping for your next breath – Imagine that there is another pinwheel in the back of your throat. Breathe in through the nose and make this imaginary pinwheel spin as slowly as possible.
- Tree Pose – Stand tall on solid ground and when you feel your ready . . . grow your branches. Breath in the sun and it warms your branches. Stand in your stillness.
Calm
- Changing Channels – Invite students to close their eyes. Notice what they begin to think about – what is on their minds. Ask them to change the channel: Imagine what you are all bundled up in a coat, hat & mittens and you are having a snowball fight with a friend.” (30 seconds) Now imagine that it is a warm summer day and you’re laying on a towel on sand with the sun shining on your face. Feel the change in your body’s reaction between energy and stillness.
- Discuss – How this activity might be useful in your day. Share ideas.