Instructor: Katelyn Liebe
Community: Middle School Ages, Students with mild cognitive disabilities and no physical impairments, School Setting
Plan Creation Date: April 1, 2014
Yoga Calm Principle/Lesson Goal: Listening
Academic/Therapeutic/Other Goals: Focusing on their own body and breathing. Encourages self-confidence by having students lead poses.
Lesson Plan:
Calm
- Mountain – Students stand at the top of their mats in mountain pose. “Stand tall like you have a crown on your head”
- Belly Breathing – with Hoberman sphere – one student leads activity for a student-selected number of belly breaths with another student counting.
Activate
- Activate/Relax Walk – encourage students to feel how their bodies change with each type of walking style. Have student select the last two walking styles to facilitate social skills.
- Mountain Pose -At the top of the mat. Have a student lead a student-selected number of Volcano Breaths. Have one student lead those breaths and one student count. Have students compliment the leader and the counter. (Helping students engage in turn-taking and listening).
- Forward Bend – Don’t worry about trying to touch your toes. Just let your arms hang down and see where your fingertips end. Can you listen to your breath? Can you hear your neighbor’s breath? Shake your head if you can.
- Low Lunge – “Listen to your body. Is it telling you that it feels strong today and that it can balance without your hands on the ground? If it does, then bring your hands up to your front knee. Keep breathing through the nose. Feel your strong muscles in this pose. Reach your head up tall and your right leg back nice and straight. Think about being strong and big on your mat.” -I will make sure that their alignment is safe and their knee isn’t past their toes.
- Downward Dog – Transition pose
- Low Lunge – Repeat low lunge on the left side.
- Downward Dog – Downward dog to stretch out the legs.
Calm
- Relaxation – Final Resting Pose – Guided relaxation by having the students clench and relax each part of their body as I say it. Encourage the students to listen to their bodies and what they need. Encourage them to lie in whatever position is most comfortable for them.