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Post by Lily on Nov 5, 2008 4:57:28 GMT -7
HO HO HA HA HA:
This is our basic activity to redirect people back to listen to the leader again. It is used between other laughter activities.
Clap your hands with finger tips as you say each word. Generally this phrase is repeated 3-5 times.
Benefits: Good activity for forceful exhaling. Clapping with fingertips together stimulates acupressure points to release more "feel good" chemicals, and promotes circulation.
Variations:
1. Clap HO HO on one side of the face and HA HA HA on the other. This will help to bring balance to our actions.
2. Clap HO HO on our own hands and HA HA HA on someone else's.
3. Hawaiwan Dance-Push hands out to side saying HO HO HA HA HA then switch sides.
4. Clap in a circle over your head, then clap a circle the other way
5. Sit down, take your shoes off, lay one foot across your lap and slap the sole of your foot with each word. Repeat with other foot.
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Post by Lily on Nov 5, 2008 5:04:05 GMT -7
Balloon Breathing:
Hold your ear lobes with thumb and forefinger. Sit hunched in your chair, with elbows drawn in. As you take a deep breath in, sit up and push elbows out to side. When lungs are full, pretend that you are a baloon deflating. Make a balloon noise as you quickly exhale and return to start position.
Benefits: Having our shoulders back and our arms open creates more space in our chest cavity to allow our lungs to expand more, and allow our bodies to take in more air. Crumpling up like a balloon quickly allows our bodies to emply our lungs completely, which allows us to take more oxygen in on the next breath.
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Post by Lily on Nov 5, 2008 5:11:17 GMT -7
Sky and Earth:
Sit up in a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Place one hand down with hand parallel to the floor. Place the other hand up with hand parallel to ceiling. Close your eyes and take in some deep breaths. After a couple minutes, switch arms and repeat.
Benefits: This position opens chest cavity to allow for more air exchange. It is a wonderful stretch for the back and shoulders. By switching arms, we are keeping our bodies balanced. If you are spiritual in nature, this exercise gives you a wonderful opportunity to connect with your spiritual side: you can picture joy coming down from heaven, through you and into the earth, as though you are a conduit for joy.
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Post by Lily on Nov 5, 2008 5:21:59 GMT -7
Ray of Sunshine:
Standing up, feet spaced apart for stability, reach up towards the sky and pretend that your fingers are little raindrops falling to the ground "hee hee hee". Bend at the waist with hands hanging down, and giggle the last of the air out of your lungs. Take in a big breath, smile a big smile and raise your arms into the air as though your face is the sun, and your arms are the rays from it. Reach way up, smile and tilt your head back. When you have breathed in as much as you can, repeat with raindrop giggles. Finish activity on sunshine part.
Benefits: Bending at the waist allows us to completely empty our lungs, to allow for more oxygen at the next breath. Breathing in with arms extended up allows for a bigger breath in. This is a beautiful stretch for the back. Psychologically, it is a reminder that the sun always comes out after the rain (literally and figuratively).
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Post by Lily on Nov 5, 2008 5:22:58 GMT -7
I Love My Hair
Take a deep breath in as you run your hand through your hair. Breathe out slowly as you bring your hand back down by your side. Smile. Repeat with other hand.
Benefits: Breathing in with one hand extended towards head opens up lung cavity to allow for a bigger breath. Good stretch for arms and shoulders. Stimulates scalp, which creates more blood flow to the scalp (and the head in general), and helps stimulate our hair follicles, allowing for healthier hair. Using each hand creates balance. Psychologically, telling ourselves we love a certain part of our body, even if we don't believe it at first, is a big boost to the self-esteem.
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