• Check in, centering, balanced hatha yoga set considering contraindications, relaxation (with imagery as appropriate),
• Balanced pranayama considering contraindications, meditation/centering.
• Include at least one suggestion from Karma, Bhakti, Raja, or Jnana Yoga tailored for this client.

Sessions:

7. Sit on a folded blanket or cushion in sukhasana. Get comfortable, sit up tall, close your eyelids and keep them closed. Focus on your breath, breathe in deeply, then exhale slowly. Do this seven times. Then, focus on the affirmation, "I am grateful." Repeat this three times. Then think of what else you're grateful for - your family, your friends, sunshine.

8. Follow the sheet for sun salutation, centering in Mountain first, then move through SS pose by pose. Repeat three times.

9. Sit or lay quietly, close your eyelids then breathe in and out for slow ten inhales and exhales. Remember the visit to the forest setting, recreate the colors, sounds, smells, touches, and tastes. Recreate the quiet and calm.

10. In the morning, think about what makes you happy. Can you remember those happy thoughts throughout your day? Maybe write them down, draw a picture or find a song that fits that happy mood. Share it with a friend.

sessions 7-10
notes to be copied from care plan

May 24, 2024 Session 7

Seated Centering: sitting on a bolster or block, focus on the body, mind, then breath, affirmation, "I am grateful," with beautiful OM chanting!

Joint releasing movements - feet, ankles, knees, hips, windshield wipers, butterfly

Standing: ankles, shoulders, neck, side bends, spinal twists, FF, overhead then standing warmup w/ FF and airplane arms

Balance: one foot up, knee bent, external rotation

Supine: candlestick legs up in the air, wind releasing,

Restorative Savasana with body scan, relaxed breathing, and guided imagery

Repeated a flow of affirmations - I am grateful. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful for my friends. I am grateful for the food on the table. I am grateful for my life. How do you feel?

Closing

May 31, 2024 Session 8

Centering on block or bolster with hands on adjustments, mind centering, then the breath practicing brahmari again, Affirmation "I am enough", Chanting.

Joint loosening to hands and knees on mat - C/C, cobra, sphinx, sphinx looking over shoulders, child's pose

Standing: Standing twists, MT, Chair, FF with slow rise, hands overhead, 5x; W1, reverse W

Supine: Knees to chest, Spinal twist, bridge

Supported relaxation: body scan, listening to cues of "I am enough. I respect myself, I respect my peers. I honor myself, I honor my peers. I love myself, I show compassion. "

Closing

June 7, 2024 Session 9:

Centering on block or bolster with hands on adjustments, center the mind, let go of thoughts that sneak into your mind while practicing, place hands on ribs to feel your breath as your ribs move, inhale deeply, exhale slowly, Affirmation "Serenity and contentment are with me", Chanting.

Joint loosening to hands and knees on mat - TT. C/C, hip circles, 1/2 plank, cobra, child's pose 5x in a flow

Standing: FF, reverse swan dive, hands overhead in prayer, gentle back bend, hands to heart center. 5x in a flow. MT with focus, arms overhead, steepled hands, to side bends, 5x; W2, goddess

Supine: Knees to chest, Spinal twist

Supported relaxation: body scan, breath awareness then let it go, focus the mind then follow the words in guided relaxation going through the senses in a forest setting. Use your senses as you imaging this peaceful setting.

Closing

June 14, 2024 Session 10

Centering on block or bolster with hands on adjustments, center the mind, let go of thoughts, place hands on belly and chest to feel your breath as your torso moves, inhale deeply, exhale slowly, Affirmation "I am at peace", Chanting very well done!

Joint loosening from head to toes and what's in between.

TT, C/C, hip circles, bear, TT, cobra, child's pose

Standing: DFD, FF, reverse swan dive, wide feet/side swings. MT with focus, arms overhead, steepled hands, to side bends, 5x; W2, goddess

Supine: Knees to chest, Spinal twist

Supported relaxation: body scan, breath awareness then let it go, focus the mind then follow the words in guided relaxation going through the senses in a forest setting. Use your senses as you imaging this peaceful setting.

Closing

Session 7

IF: IF's mother assisted with IF's alignment and position; IF held his poses; struggles with bend/stretch/relax
WA: is capable of following cues, assisted him with focus and quieting self-talk
GA: absent
SJ: unfocused but quiet most of the class, needed 1:1 during and direction 25% of the time today; managed asanas well
LF: poor alignment and body awareness; used hands on adjustments; tight spine/muscles along it; tight hamstrings
SH: capable but loses focus; struggles to hold asanas if not being stood over
JK: self-awareness, likes attention, is learning poses, focused on hands and fingers; needed redirection
EC: absent

Session 8

IF: adjustments, and self-awareness; mother helped
WA: remained focused, needed only a few prompts to quiet the self-talk; poses done well; worked on self-awareness
GA: laid on back with cushion under head; participated when prompted; asked again for him to be a role model; has the ability to practice but chooses not to
SJ: quiet, needed cuing to practice; adjustments were helpful; during relaxation began to vocalize again, asked her to step out for a bit.
LF: needed help with props throughout practice, seems to enjoy and tries poses with assistance.
SH: absent
JK: voiced 'good posture, that's why we're here', cued to follow along, worked on self-awareness; offered adjustments.
EC: breathing practice with assistance, fell asleep during class

Session 9

IF: hands-on adjustments, breathing practice, body awareness
WA: absent
GA: talking out loud, playing music, was asked to turn off then put away his phone; focus and participation were cued
SJ: quiet, no vocalizations until relaxation; prompted to follow along; no hands-on adjustments, she was ticklish, has practiced yoga long enough that she knows the poses without hands-on assistance, but seems to rely on cues
LF: absent
SH: flexible; self-talk, signed 'quiet', followed cues with eye contact and assistance; prompted to hold poses longer
JK: was asked to follow cues and pay close attention to body awareness/body's positioning, needed help with extending legs and arms
EC: absent

Session 10:

IF: participated throughout the class, did very well in all sessions, mother assisted with postures, IF made progress in all areas it appeared
WA: continues to appear to enjoy yoga; shared that he had classes on Wednesdays, too, prompted to quiet self-talk which he did, took well to adjustments
GA: absent
SJ: arrived late, participated with cues, stood nearby to soothe her when vocalizations began, when she participates she does well with breath and movement coordination
LF: absent
SH: absent
JK: absent
EC: participated with assistance, slept during relaxation

7: The class has begun to settle in. I reminded them at the beginning that we respect one another, to follow the cues, and to focus as much as they can. The adjustments appear to help the clients, and they're holding these poses longing. There's progress happening in the class. I reflect on this class each time hours before and immediately after to help find my balance and peace.

8: Two more classes after this. It has been much work, teaching this class. The varying levels of ability and interest have made it a challenge. Some clients may be here on the advice of their parents while others appear to have chosen yoga therapy as an option. I've spoken of contentment, letting go, and other ideas. I've not received verbal feedback. I'll continue to teach clients with IDD but the groups may need to be smaller.

9: Having help in the studio reduces the challenge of getting to everyone. In a class this size, they're guided into relaxation while I'm working with others, especially when it is taking them longer to understand the pose. I'm exhausted after teaching adapted dance followed by yoga therapy on Friday late afternoons, early evenings.

10. Happy that I made it through all ten sessions with grace. It was challenging to teach this group, while also taking notes and adapting to all the abilities present in the room. In the guru, the group will need to be smaller, and preferably more homogeneous. It was very challenging and I struggled at time to keep my balance.

7: Talk briefly about affirmations, why we use them, and how they can use them as well.

8: Present continuing home practices when we're done in a few more weeks. Use breathing as a coping strategy. The asanas to receive stress and help stretch and strengthen.

9: Review sun salutations and breathing practices with them, and their benefits. When and how to find time to practice for 10-15 minutes a few times a week.

10: Talked about home practices, offered to send a brief asana practice, like ours in a shorter format.