Facilitation Technique Category: Mindfulness in TR practice

Activity Title: Mountain meditation: concentration, self-awareness and a healthy

lifestyle.
Source: Living Well. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.livingwell.org.au/mindfulness-exercises-3/11-mountain-meditation/
Equipment: Confortable clothes, mat and an outdoor relaxing environment
(specifically on a mountain).
Activity description: Mindfulness in TR practice decrease stress over todays
concerns, anxiety and depression, promotes mental clarity, improve creative
thinking, higher-level awareness for enhanced decision making, restful sleep and in
overall a more creative and happier human being. Mountain meditation activity as
part of the mindfulness in TR practice promotes concentration, self-awareness and a
healthy lifestyle by connecting the participant with a real source of energy. The
purpose of this activity is to facilitate participants to take charge of their emotions
and the nervous system to improve overall well-being. First, the instructor will
complete physical demonstration of all steps before participants engage in the
activity. Second, aligns the participants giving enough space between them to let
the breeze run and promote a reasonable room to position the mat on floor. Third,
the instructor will perform the following command Become aware of the current
instant by intentionally adopting a straight and dignified alignment, whether sitting
or standing position, as though you are a peak. Fourth, proceed to let the eyes to
close if that is possible or correct in the minute, otherwise having them open and in
either occasion resting in an awareness of the inner involvement, the instructor will
give the command Knowing the body: the spine in an ordinary curve (posture), the
head elevated as though suspended by an ideal cord, without any rigidity. Fifth,
continue to the following question: What feelings are going through the mind?
Participants will understand these thoughts as mental passages in the best way
possible, perhaps even becoming aware of their satisfied and arguments. What
feelings are in this moment? Getting the attention towards them and opening to any
logic of expressive discomfort or unpleasant moods. Sixth, precede to the physical
sensations of the breath, in others words the concept of breathing by itself while
concentrating on belly movements. Participants will start feeling the sensations of
breath in the stomach area, as it enlarges with each in breath and decreases back
with every out-breath. Seventh, while participants start expanding the field of
consciousness regarding breathing many sensations will be included in the body as
a whole including the posture and facial expressions and as a result participants will
become aware of any symptoms of discomfort, pressure, or resistance. While
performing a softening breathing such as releasing with each out-breath very slowly
participants will feel the sensation of: softening, releasing, and accepting
themselves. Eight, instructor will finish this activity by providing feedback and

having participants express all types of feelings/emotions obtained from the

session.
Leadership considerations: CTRS will be the instructor in this activity with a
minimum requirement of a meditation certificate program which consists of (8
contact hours). Also, staff/volunteers/recreational therapist students are part of the
team in order to carry out this activity. The staff to participants ratio should be1:1,
1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 depending on the particular step of the activity and participants
physical/cognitive skills. Instructions/education regarding all safety issues include:
safety awareness during mountains ambulation/climbing, proper body mechanics to
prevent back injuries while lifting any bag (.e.g. personal items), fall precautions
while walking on uneven surfaces, energy conservation techniques and breathing
excs to promote endurance, transfers techniques requiring dependent transfers or
assistive transfers, postural awareness, etc. Some precautions should be taken into
consideration including: weather status, wild animals, nearby lakes, falling tree
branches, environmental barriers, etc. During mountain meditation it is important to
explain/demonstrate the activity before completing the task in order to achieve the
best performance/accuracy. All participants are allowed to ask questions at any time
of the activity in order to complete proper sequence of tasks.
Adaptations: Participants with Bipolar Disorder: According to Watt, bipolar
disorder is a mental disease that causes dangerous mood swings concerning mania
and depression. Characteristics of manic occurrences, or highs, can contain:
impulsiveness, euphoric, unsafe or harmful behavior, such as drug use, spending
sprees, and insecure sex, etc. Some adaptations for participants with this condition
will be having them in the first line during the activity and prevent any type of
distraction since they have poor concentration. Also, break the instructions shorter
since this population tends to have racing thoughts, fast conversations and jump
ideas frequently. Treat them in the same way as the others participants to prevent
the heightened sense of pride, etc.
Adaptations: Participants with Intellectual Disabilities: Intellectual disability
is a condition characterized by substantial restrictions in both intellectual
functioning and in adaptive performance, which covers many routine social and
practical abilities. This concept originates before the age of 18 (American
Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities). Many good adaptations
will help this population to perform the activity such as having pictures with the
steps in order to be accomplish, having instructor performing the tasks at the same
time of the participants, providing colorful and big signals with the instructions,
promotes participation through groups of more than 1 participants, among others.

Adaptations References
AAIDD. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://aaidd.org/intellectualdisability/definition#.V_l2GIWcG00

Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://bbrfoundation.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-bipolar-disorder
Living Well. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.livingwell.org.au/mindfulnessexercises-3/11-mountain-meditation/
Mountain Meditation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.livingwell.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2012/11/11-MountainMeditation.pdf
Pocket Mindfulness. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.pocketmindfulness.com/mindfulness-for-entrepreneurs/
Understood for learning and attention issues. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/partnering-with-childsschool/instructional-strategies/at-a-glance-classroom-accommodations-foradhd