• 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.

1. Group to bring in phrases or phrase that each individual finds calming.
2. Practice heel breathing and diaphragmatic breathing as a group before dinner, while seated; family usually eats
together.
3. Suggested that heel breathing and diaphragmatic breathing be practiced while lying in bed and preparing for sleep as well.
4. Family to take conscious note of the sounds in their lives, and do their best to discontinue sounds which are causing anxiety or emotional upset.

Started group with sound healing bowls (C note and F note--root and heart chakra) for 15 mins, helping clients to feel there resonance of the bowls. Clients sat in chairs; Julia had option to sit on the floor if she was more comfortable.

Reviewed ground rules of group including confidentiality of what is being said by other members. Also reviewed basic format of group.

Started with diaphragmatic breathing practice, teaching by my lying on the floor with a stuff animal on top of my belly.
In the room (on the other end of the camera with the clients, was a behavioral health specialist, who helped facilitate each of them lying on the floor (on yoga mats or a blanket--this had been suggested for clients to in at the assessment session) and provided them with stuffed animals/light objects to put on their bellies to teach diaphragmatic breathing).

Allowed group to practice this together. After any questions were answered and each person voiced feeling as if he/she felt comfortable with the practice, I taught the technique of breathing through the heels. Client remained on the floor and imagined breathing in through the heels, up to the area of the hips, and then out through the heels. It was noticeable, how much calmer the group looked as we continued to practice this breath.

Allowed clients to sit on the floor of the remainder of the session. After the practice, we went around for a round of reflection on the practice itself. We passed around a stuff bear and each person spoke while the other consciously listened.

Short break

Regrouped, then discussed the concepts of the parasympathetic nervous system/sympathetic nervous system as described in stress management manual; clients understood it best as the 'gas' and the 'brakes' of a car. Then discussed concepts in Wheels of Life, a User's Guide to the Chakra System, regarding Sound or what Judith terms, the Fifth Chakra. Discussed the concepts of resonance and how each being resonates with another. The group 'nervous system' was addressed especially with regard to doing practices that not only alter the individual's nervous system, but affects that of the group.

The sound bowls were discussed as an example of an instrument that produces a frequency of sound that, when tuned into, affects the frequency of items around it. Showed effect of sound on sand (instrument was used on my end of the camera). Explained that each person is an instrument whose frequency also resonates with others. Explained that heart rate variability, and other aspects of biology also acclimate to each other in groups of people.

Group reflected on this information and asked questions. This concept of a 'collective nervous system,' was described as especially important given the group based experience of violence and how this likely affects the family.

After questions were answered, did ending sequence of diaphragmatic breathing and closed out group.

The family expressed appreciation for the experience and liked the feeling of calm that the practices produced.

The group is already a family and knew each other; this can produce challenges as they have a history with each other of which I was not a part. We will see how this unfolds. The family is Mexican and comes from a group based society, so concepts of a community and each member having an effect on the other, are congruent with their experiences.

1. review homework.
2. plan to share meditative practice involving sight and concentration (tradak).
3. plan to do demonstration using crystal and food coloring in water, teaching about Sutras 2 and 3 of book one Yoga Sutras.