Activity title: “Chair Yoga”
Format:
 Warm up-5 minutes
 Introduce group lab-3 minutes
 Instructions for activity-2 minutes
 Chair Yoga handout-18 minutes (Jerard, 2012)
 Sharing-10 minutes
 Discussion-20 minutes
 Summary-2 minutes
Supplies:
 Chair yoga handouts
 1 Stereo with yoga music
Group goals
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Demonstrate different types of therapy which can aid in managing inappropriate
emotions and channeling them into a feeling of tranquility.
Perform exercises such as timed breathing and yoga which can help alleviate negative
emotions.
Demonstrate ability to effectively interact with peers.
Identify the emotional strengths and weaknesses of the individual members and the group
as a whole.
Demonstrate ability to effectively channel negative emotions into an uplifting positive
construct.
Discuss the reactions associated with the different types of emotions and how this effects
the outside environment.
Activity:
1. Introduction
 Warm up-begin by summarizing last week’s activity. How are people left feeling
about the group? Are there any comments, positive or negative that anyone would
like to make? (All comments should be accepted and acknowledged by the leader
regardless of content)
 Educational concept/Purpose: “Today we will employ yoga as an exercise in
order to manage agitated states and improve all around range of motion. We will
not be moving from our chairs. Every move will be performed in or with the chair
you are sitting on. Yoga uses a strategy similar to the one we used with the star
known as rhythmic breathing. When your breathing is controlled, you are more
control of your emotions and your actions. The stretches we will be using off the
sheet are: forward bend, seated leg lift, shoulder stretch, bottom lift, hip opener,
and knee bends” (Jerard, 2012).
2. Description of the Activity
 Instructions for the activity: The yoga handouts are given to each person and the stereo is
turned on. With the therapist leading, each participant mimics the movements the
therapist demonstrates for 3 minutes per exercise.
3. Sharing
Members discuss how they felt before and after the exercises and what stretches they did
and did not like.
4.
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Processing
How do you think this relates to emotional regulation?
How did you feel about doing this activity?
What other situations could you employ controlled breathing?
5. Generalizing
 What problems did you encounter doing this exercise?
 What emotions were you channeling as the exercises proceeded?
6. Application
 Could you use this as a way to change how you think and feel throughout the day?
 How will an activity like this help someone who has had an emotionally rough day?
7. Summary
In summary, the participants can review the yoga handout and highlight ones they will
attempt in the future, writing underneath a certain emotion they will target to overcome
with this stretch. Thank them for their participation.
8. Link to the Chair Yoga Handout
 http://www.medimiss.net/2013/01/what-is-chair-yoga.html
Jerard, P. (2012). What is chair yoga? Retrieved from http://www.medimiss.net/2013/01/what-ischair-yoga.html