The concept being taught is the use of movement to decrease tension in the shoulder area. According to Swami Vidyananda, shoulder movements can help decrease tension in the shoulder area and decrease stress. Joint freeing exercises were also taught in the Ease and Disease module.

The goal for implementation is to teach the client three shoulder movements (abduction/adduction, circumduction, & flexion/extension) during an online mental health clinic session. The movements will be taught in one session and then during the next appointment, a few weeks later, the client will be asked about her experience with the practices.

Client is a 13 year old female with increased stress at school. She has noted that her shoulder areas feel tight when she is feeling stressed. She has no other physical ailments and has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.

My vision was to teach joint freeing practices for shoulders online, during the client's routine telepsychiatry outpatient mental health appointment. I would then review with client, a few weeks later, feedback on how her individual practice of the joint freeing exercises went at home. I utilized movements which included abduction/adduction, flexion/extension, circumduction, rotation, elevation/depression (of scapulae), protraction/retraction (of scapulae).

This would be a hatha yoga practice, that is being coordinated with the breath. The goal is to help the client alleviate stress/tension, which manifests itself in her shoulder areas. Hatha yoga can help alleviate tension and strain.

The client is a well spoken 13 year old female who suffers from anxiety and has experienced developmental trauma.

Suggestions for my client were to set aside a time in the morning (and if that's not possible, then at night before bed), to sit in a chair with feet flat on the floor (using blanket under the feet if necessary), to do these practices on a daily basis. The client could modify the practices if she found it too strenuous or challenging.

Yes. The goal was achieved easily, as the client had expressed interest in learning practices to alleviate stress. She reported, in her feedback session, that she had noted a decrease in stress and tension all over her body, but particularly in the shoulder areas.

I had to adapt the practices as I worked with the client, allowing the elbows to remain bent for some of the practices, so as to alleviate pressure on the shoulder.
The client also used a blanket under her feet, to allow the feet to be flat on the floor.

Yes. The client was able to adapt easily to bending the elbows and used a blanket under her feet, while seated in a chair for her practices.