Rough Player/Troublemaker, Strength Lesson Plan (Essner-Dodds)

Setting the Tone/Environment: The lights would be dimmed and have a strong, steady beat playing. The scent sprayed could be a strong scent, but neutral smell to it such as orange.

Breath Work/Calm: Volcano breaths will be used for breath work (10 times). “Stand up with your feet hip-width apart. Place your palms together at your heart. Take a deep breath in and reach your hands over your head and pause; exhale slowly bringing your hands back together at the heart. As you take in breaths and explode the volcano; I want you to think of a time when you felt really strong, competent, and in control. Let’s breathe in those thoughts and let of what you don’t need.”

Opening Remarks: “Today we are going to discuss strength. What do you think of when I say the word strength? Can you think of time when you had inner strength/control? What did it feel like?”

Activate: The poses chosen are strength poses that will provide large amounts of proprioception/deep pressure input.

1. Woodchopper: “Stand with feet hip-width apart with knees slightly bent. Bring your arms overhead and clasped them together tightly. Imagine with all your strength, you are going to chop a piece of wood in front of you. Use your strong voice as you swing and make a “huh” sound. Count of three and swing. You can think of something that makes you mad, sad, etc. and release it. Do you want to share?”
2. Roots: “Stand with your feet hip-width apart with feet pointed straight. Pull in your belly, chest and head and high. Imagine you are a large strong tree growing roots into the ground. Imagine a wind blowing your tree forward, backward, side to side; but your roots are strong so there is only slight movement in your tree. Make the rocking movement smaller and smaller and find your strong center. (Experiment more with movement with this pose in different planes.)
3. Down Dog: “Now, with slow movement and control, breathe in and place your hands on the earth. Press firmly through your palms and step back with both feet. Press down with your strength on all four corners of your hands and feet. Make your arms strong and push back firmly and your legs are stable and connected. Feel your strength in your body and thoughts.”
4. Dolphin: “As you breathe in and exhale, slowly with control lower your body to all fours. Place your elbows on the ground and push your forearms firmly together. Feel the connection and stability to the ground through your arms and straighten your legs and lift up. Say to yourself, I can do this, I am strong and in control.”
5. Superman: “Now, inhale and exhale and slowly lower yourself to your knees and come to all fours. I am going to show you Superman pose. Lie on your belly. Stretch arms out in front of you. Lift your left arm, chest and head slightly and right leg. Breathe in and out. Switch sides. Lengthen your spine and reach with all your power. Feel the strength like Superman.”
6. Child Pose: “Slowly lower all arms and legs as you breathe out and push back and sit on your legs. Keep your arms out forward and breathe in and out a few times in this pose. You have worked hard using your inner strength and strength in your muscles. Remember this feeling of strength. You can be strong and have control.” (Repeat this sequence three times.)

Calm:
This session would be end with relaxation using Ready…Set…R.E.L.A.X. script. The chosen script is “Pillar of Strength”. This imaginary can help this child maintain his feelings of inner strength, but yet let him know there is support around him and his impact others. The feelings of importance, belonging, staying strong are messages that are conveyed in this script.