Instructor: Jennifer Johnson
Community: Middle and High School Ages, Day Treatment Setting, 45 minutes
Plan Creation Date: November 1, 2016
Yoga Calm Principle/Lesson Goal: Strength
Lesson Plan:
Calm
- Belly Breathing – Hoberman Sphere Breath—I lead the group in practicing belly breathing in and out through the nose and counting the breath in synch and rhythm together with the Hoberman Sphere. Then, student takes turn leading. After the breaths, the group is asked if they have any compliments for the student leaders.
- Strong Voice Activity– guided imagery and questions. Where is your strong voice in you? Lead in walking around the room from the place your strong voice lives—leader offers alternating pace from fast, slow, and freeze in a statue of what it looks like to be strong. Talk about many ways to be strong, in our mind, our heart, our bodies, etc.
Activate
- Roots – feel four corners of feet.
- Star – Breathe, Activate, Expand. Imagine shooting laser beams from your fingers while shining down your light to earth below, feel the gravity holding you in space.
- Forward Bend—let this go and relax, notice the difference, can we be strong and soft, it takes strength to let go as well.
- Squat or Child
- Chair
- Star
- Mountain
- Eagle Challenge – how are we strong mentally to coordinate what is needed here? Breathe, Activate, Expand. Repeat this sequence. What does it feel like to be in Star, being both strong and relaxed at once? What does it feel like to be in child, being strong and relaxed at once, to let go in Forward Bend, or activate like in Chair and Eagle? When do we feel open, when do we protect ourselves or become more internal, what are many ways we can be strong?
Calm
- Relaxation – Guided Imagery around where they feel strong and relaxed. Where in their body does this live and exist together. Imagine a person they know who is strong and relaxed. Imagine going to visit that person. What would they have to say to you, share with you today that you need to hear right now? Imagine coming back with that knowledge and sharing it as you can with your peers. How would you show what you have learned in your life? Imagine yourself engaging in life in a situation where you are strong and relaxed.