Facilitation technique: Stress Management

Activity: Hatha Yoga

Activity Source: Yoga for Individuals with Disabilities: NCHPAD - Building Inclusive
Communities. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2016, from
http://www.nchpad.org/295/1845/Yoga~for~Individuals~with~Disabilities
Equipment- Large open relaxing space, Yoga matts
Activity Description: Hatha Yoga deals with postural and breathing exercises (Datillo,2015).
Yoga can create positive thinking, through breathing exercise create a positive flow of energy
and increase physical functioning (Datillo, 2015). Hatha yoga has three components: breath
work, physical posture and deep relaxation. For the first component breath work and exercise
called belly breathing will be done, which is rapid breathing (NCHPAD, 2015). The participant
will put one hand on the belly and rapidly inhale and rapidly exhale, doing this rotations ten
times. Next is physical posture which is carried out through 3 exercises. The first is the shoulder
stand, which is when the participants are lying on their back with there hands underneath them,
and then slowly rolling on so their butt is not touching the ground. The second pose is the fish
pose. Still laying on their back the will push up with their fore arms creating an arch in their
back, with their head tilted back. The last pose in the prone stretch. The position for this will
change to their stomach and arms are stretch out straight in from of them. They will then lift one
leg and the opposite arm and hold for a few seconds, then switching sides. The last component
deep relaxation, is for the participants focus on breathing and be in calm state (NCHPAD,2015).
For this they will be laying on their back and hands at their sides and legs shoulder with apart.
The whole session should last for about 30-45 minutes.
Leadership considerations: The CTRS will function as the Yoga instructor. There should be
other CTRS on staff to assist in one on one if there are multiple participants needed extra

assistance with the activity. The yoga instructor needs to be certified in therapy yoga and know
all the safety measures/ how to create a safe environment for the populations that is being served
at the time of the session. The CTRS needs to conduct an initial assessment for each individual,
to gage that persons current strength and ability. This will ensure that if extra help getting in and
out of the pose is need and where the problem areas are.
Adaptations with individuals with Cerebral Palsy: CP is a neurological disorder that affects
the brain and muscles (Porter 2015) People with CP might have poor muscle tone and muscle
coordination. The first adaptation would be to the shoulder stand and fish pose. In the shoulder
stand a CTRS should work with participant to help them get into the pose (NCHPAD, 2015)
The CTRS should sit at the edge of the mat and gently help support the back of the participant in
rolling up. While doing so, make sure the ask if they are comfortable and feeling the stretches in
the areas being worked on. For the fish pose the CTRS should kneel above the participant around
the waste, straddling them and gentle lift the forearms or support them if they cannot hold the
position. It is very important for the CTRS to have a complete assessment of the functional
strengths for the person with CP so that proper assistance in a least restrictive way can be carried
out.
Adaptations for a person with limb loss: For a person who has an upper extremity amputation
that results in an elbow disarticulation, and body powered prostheses and a myoelectric
prosthesis can be used (Porter 2015). If prosthetics are not used another adaptation could be to
use a soft foam block that will support the participant for the fish pose. A CTRS would assist in
getting into the position placing the side of the limb loss comfortably on the foam block while
their other forearm resumes normal positioning. These modification and equipment should be
made prior to the session to ensure that the height of blocks used to assist is correct.

Adaptations Source:
Dattilo, J. (2000). Facilitation techniques in therapeutic recreation (3rd ed.). State College, PA:
Venture
Porter, H. R. (2015). Recreational therapy for specific diagnoses and conditions. Enumclaw,
WA:
Idyll Arbor.
Yoga for Individuals with Disabilities: NCHPAD - Building Inclusive Communities. (n.d.).
Retrieved October 19, 2016, from
http://www.nchpad.org/295/1845/Yoga~for~Individuals~with~Disabilities