LEI4724

Activities Portfolio # 7

Michelle Wilson

Facilitation Technique Category: Stress Management

Activity Title: Pose Detective
Source: Moga, Alexandra. 8 Creative Ways to Share Yoga with Children.
Mindbodygreen.
www.mindbodygreen.com
Equipment: Yoga mats, comfortable clothes, yoga cards posted around the room
with various poses
Activity Description: Yoga is a stress management technique that is a process
that affects development at physical mental, intellectual emotional levels. Yoga is
defined as the connection of mind, body and spirit into one (Dattilo, 2016). Yoga
postures taught in traditional Western yoga classes prepare the body and the mind
for meditation, of the three types of postures that are divided into seven groups
associated with asana which include dynamic sequences, inverted postures, forward
bending postures, twisting postures, side ward bending postures, standing postures
including balancing postures. The purpose of the activity is to promote stress
reduction while promoting creativity within the traditional asanas. First, make sure
the participants have some knowledge of the basic yoga poses and review this with
the participants. Second, review and demonstrate the basic poses with the group.
Third, call out different body parts that should be touching the mat. Fourth, have
the participants negotiate their bodies into a yoga pose that satisfies the request.
With this activity participants start listening to their bodies and moving into
whatever pose they want or need to practice. For example, the instructor would say
show me a pose with two feet and two hands on the mat only, participants can
choose poses like downward dog, plank, table pose, upward plank, upward bow,
standing forward fold or any pose the participant choose or invent on their own
(www.mindbodygreen.com). Finish the session by processing with the participants
by reviewing the steps of the activity, benefits, expectations, difficulties, how they
felt before and after the activity and how they can compare this activity to their
lives and discuss their goals.
Leadership considerations: The CTRS is the instructor for this activity and is
demonstrating the activity prior to the session. It is recommended that the CTRS
have a certification and/or knowledge in stress management and yoga. The CTRS
should be CPR/First Aid certified. The staff to participant ratio should be 1:1, 1:3,
1:5, 1:7. Before starting the session the CTRS should review expectations, rules and
goals with the participants. The CTRS should demonstrate and explain stress
management and different yoga poses.
Adaptations: Participants with Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is an
autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the central nervous
system. The bodys own defense system attacks the fatty substance (myelin) that
surrounds and protects the nerve fibers of the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord.
When the impulses are sent incorrectly due to the damage of the nerves and scar
tissue (lesion/sclerosis), it can lead to an array of uncomfortable sensations in

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Activities Portfolio # 7

Michelle Wilson

addition to sensory loss and loss of motor control. In the end, the disease process
leads to degeneration of the nerves themselves, which accounts for the permanent
disabilities that develop in MS (Porter, 2015). MS usually takes one of four courses
of progression: relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive,
progressive relapsing (Porter, 215). Participants with MS the therapist needs to be
aware on autonomic dysfunction in response to exercise, exercise induced syncope
and thermosensitivity may exacerbate symptoms. Some participants may need to
have methods of precooling prior to any exercise or the session. Participants may
need to perform yoga in a chair or on the floor or need to adapt the postures and
stretches with gentle and restful postures. Depending on the severity of MS,
participants may need a partner to assist them or individualized sessions.
Participants that use wheelchairs or walkers will need room to accommodate with
assistive device and modified version of yoga poses while maintaining posture,
movement awareness and breathing. Session time may need to be reduced
secondary to the participants endurance and condition of thermosensitivity or other
health related conditions. Some may need skin checks prior and post session to
avoid injury or pressure ulcers.
Adaptations: Participants with Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes mellitus is a
complex disease that occurs when insulin production is too low (or lacking entirely)
or when the body is unable to effectively use the insulin it produces because of
defects in the insulin receptors. The result is that the body does not metabolized
carbohydrates, protein, or fat correctly, leading to sever complications and death if
it is not treated (Porter, 2015). The symptoms include excessive thirst, extreme
hunger, frequent urination, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability, and
blurry vision. There are four types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes
and pre-diabetes (Porter,2016). Participants with DM will need regular skin checks
especially for the feet and legs due to poor circulation, neuropathy, slow healing,
risk for cuts, and amputation. Participants may need medication or food/drinks to
regulate/monitor glucose levels. Another staff member may need to monitor
participants with DM for safety and possibly assess vitals. If a participant is on
dialysis avoidance of injury or dislocation of port location is important so stretches
and poses may need to be adapted. Chairs may need to be provided depending on
the participants endurance level for seated rest breaks as needed.

Adaptations References:
Balaji, P, Varne, S, Ali, S. (2012). Physiological Effects of Yogic Practices and
Transcendental Meditation
in Health and Disease. North American Journal of Medical Sciences. 4(10):
442-448.
Dattilo, J., & McKenney, A. (2016) Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation.
Third edition. State
College, PA: Venture Publishing, Inc.

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Activities Portfolio # 7

Michelle Wilson

Moga, Alexandra. (2012). 8 Creative Ways to Share Yoga with Children. Retrieved
October 19, 2016.
From http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4153/8-Creative-Ways-to-Share-Yogawith-Children.html.
Porter, Heather. (2015). Recreational Therapy for Specific Diagnoses and Conditions.
Enumclaw, WA:
Idyll Arbor, Inc.
Yoga and MS. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
From http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Living-Well-With-MS/HealthWellness/Exercise/Yoga.
Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
From http://www.lexiyoga.com/yoga-for-multiple-sclerosis.
Yoga for MS Teacher Training. Retrieved October 20, 2016. From
http://www.yogahealsus.com/TAYMS.html.

LEI4724

Activities Portfolio # 7

Michelle Wilson

Facilitation Technique Category: Therapeutic Use of Tai Chi

Activity Title: Tai Chi Push Hands
Source: Beginners Tai Chi Retrieved from http://www.beginnerstaichi.com/tai-chipush-hands.html
Equipment: Comfortable clothes
Activity Description: Tai Chi is a Chinese martial are that emphasizes relaxation,
and is a form of meditation in motion (Datillo, 2016). Tai Chi is characterized by
precisely executed soft, slow, flowing movements that emphasize force, rather than
intense strength. The purpose of this activity is to explain the postures, teaches the
four main energies, skills of making contact, primary movements, directions and
principle of Da Lu Push. This activity is intended for partners or pairs. First, the two
participants face each other. Second, the participants connect at the forearm.
Third, the participants move their connected forearm in circular patterns while
transferring weight back and forth. Finish the session by processing with the
participants by reviewing the steps of the activity, benefits, expectations,
difficulties, how they felt before and after the activity and how they can compare
this activity to their lives and discuss their goals.
Leadership considerations: The CTRS is the instructor for this activity and is
demonstrating the activity prior to the session. It is recommended that the CTRS
have a certification and/or knowledge in therapeutic use of Tai Chi. The CTRS
should be CPR/First Aid certified. The staff to participant ratio should be 1:1, 2:2,
4:4. Before starting the session the CTRS should review expectations, rules and
goals with the participants. The CTRS should demonstrate and explain Tai Chi
movement and poses.
Adaptations: Participants with Back Disorders and Back Pain: There are
various back disorders and conditions that cause acute or chronic back pain.
Common causes can be from degenerative causes, muscular causes, mechanical,

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Activities Portfolio # 7

Michelle Wilson

referred pain, vertebral fracture, infection, lesions, heavy manual labor, obesity and
psychosocial factors. Symptoms of back pain are persistent aching or stiffness
anywhere along your spine, from the base of the neck to the tail bone, sharp
localized pain especially with lifting heavy objects or engaging in other strenuous
activity, chronic ache in the middle or lower back after sitting or standing from
extended periods, inability to stand straight without having pain or muscle spasms,
and radiculopathy (www.webmd.com). Participants that use walkers or wheelchairs
will need room to accommodate with assistive device and modified version of Tai
Chi movements while maintaining posture, movement awareness and breathing.
Session time may need to be reduced secondary to the participants endurance and
condition. Chairs need to be available to for participants that may need to sit and
rest or modified seated Tai Chi may need to be performed.
Adaptations: Participants with Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is defined as a
decrease in bone strength due to loss of mineral content, making bones more
susceptible to fracture. Osteoporotic bones are more porous, thinner and lighter
than normal. Osteoporosis results when bone loss occurs at a faster rate than bone
deposition. The normal balance between deposition (adding minerals to bones and
resorption (taking minerals back out of bones) is disrupted, often by a change in
hormone secretion (Porter, 2015). The instructor must monitor the amount of
weight bearing that is intrinsic to Tai Chi, improper weight bearing can lead to stress
fractures in the bone. Participants may not have good balance and need to be
closely monitored to prevent falls. Movements may need to be modified for
participants. Sessions may either need to be reduced or lengthen depending on the
participants physical condition.

Adaptations References:
A Guide to Tai Chi. Retrieved October 20, 2016. From
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/taichi.aspx.
Back Pain Health Center. Retrieved October 19, 2016. From
http://www.webmd.com/back- pain/guide/causes-back-pain
Dattilo, J., & McKenney, A. (2016) Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation.
Third edition. State
College, PA: Venture Publishing, Inc.
Porter, Heather. (2015). Recreational Therapy for Specific Diagnoses and Conditions.
Enumclaw, WA:
Idyll Arbor, Inc.
Tai Chi for Osteoporosis. Retrieved October 20, 2016. From
http://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/programs/tai-chi-for-osteoporosis/.