Dahn Yoga Useful Exercises

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Children can perform the following four exercises in the classroom, at home or during a BR class.
Playtime.
Children often express pent-up emotions by talking about troubling feelings with their favorite dolls, puppets, stuffed animals or other toys. Playing provides them with a unique method for communication, exploration, creativity, imagination, and self-expression. If your child tends to be verbal while playing with toys, set up situations to join in and stimulate communication. First, let yourself relax into the mindset of a child. Lose your own self-consciousness and prepare to be silly, natural and flexible. Next, let the child know he is in charge and can create whatever situation he wants. “You are the boss. I will do as you say.” Let the child direct the action. If he has difficulty getting started, you can initiate by suggesting a situation, “Let’s pretend these dolls are going to…” Help the child embellish the story until he takes the lead.

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Play your part as instructed as you watch and listen carefully for signs of frustration, anger or fear they signal through their play. The idea is that the child gets to play different roles and act out the feelings and emotions that go along with them, thereby releasing his own conflicts. The information you get from children acting out lets you know what their concerns are and can help you meet their needs better in daily life.
Cool down
The first weeks of school in September are very warm in many locales. As children readjust to their new routine, they will often feel tired and hot. Quiet, guided meditation can provide welcome relief from uncomfortable conditions. As with any guided meditation, it is important that children are able to focus on their body before starting. Guide them through some simple Do-in stretching that relaxes the neck, shoulders and hips. Next, ask them to sit or lie down using a soothing voice; direct them to begin chest breathing, inhaling and exhaling slowly through their chest. Once their breathing becomes deep, ask them to focus on the brain. Have them imagine cool water trickling down the top of the head, face, throat, chest and abdomen, then down their shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingertips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles and toes. You could also have them imagine standing under a cool, fresh waterfall. Once they have bathed and cooled in this water, gently bring them back to their breath. If there is time, have children draw a before and after picture of how they felt before experiencing the soothing effects of water and how it felt after. They will be able to see with their own eyes how the power of imagination can change how they feel.

Shake it up.
This exercise will help children learn the difference between relaxation and tension by giving them direct feedback. Ask the child to lie on the floor with arms and legs comfortably spread. Sit beside the child, and let him relax for a minute. Then, lift up one leg and gently shake it. The child can feel whether his limbs flop freely or not. Have him practice letting go of muscle tension, shaking both legs and arms loose for him. This provides a great way to quickly release tension from body and brain. After about a minute, stop and ask him to close his eyes and feel what being truly relaxed is like. Have him lightly breathe in fresh energy to the chest and breathe out stagnant energy, while focusing on his fingertips. You can also adopt this exercise in a classroom setting by pairing children together. ‘Shake it up’ will teach children to work together and trust each other. It is important that the trust children put in each other not be betrayed. Trust requires partners to make no sudden movements or drop a leg.
Testing 1-2-3.
Taking their first test after a long holiday is bound to make children more anxious than usual. To get students to be quiet and focused, take a few minutes and have them do this exercise while seated at their desks.
Have them bring their palms up, facing each other, finger slightly curled and tap their fingers together while focusing on the tips of their fingers. Once they are focused on this activity, ask them to stop and breathe in and out deeply while focusing on their fingertips. Their energy will immediately be more focused.
Extend the exercise to brain tapping to activate the brain. Ask students to bring their fingertips to their head. Guide them to close their eyes and tap their head on the front, sides, back and top—all around. Finish with guided breathing, inhaling through the crown of the head (Baek-hoe) and exhaling through the temples (Tae-yang).

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Filed under: Children Exercises, Dahn Yoga, Dahn hak Yoga, Healing Society, Ilchi Lee on October 8th, 2007