Two years ago I started the delivery
of a programme to two groups of adults from Oakfield House, Birmingham,
England.
The programme was designed around
"You and Me" Wholebody Movement. 'You and Me' Wholebody
Movement is based on the benefits of Hatha Yoga and was devised
by Maria Gunstone specifically for people vvith learning difficulties
and/or disabilities.
The aim of the programme is to improve
self-awareness, build confidence, improve social and behavioural
skills and develop concentration and co-ordination. We are achieving
this through breathing exercises loosening techniques, basic Yoga
postures and relaxation. I would like you to join me in this nasal
breathing exercise. When you have accomplished this you will
perhaps appreciate the skills some members of the groups have
almost mastered. This exercise helps focus the mind and relaxes
the individual prior to the commencement of exercise or relaxation.
Have a hankie ready, right let try-.
1. Close your mouth and keep it closed.
2. Using the right index finger, place on the right nostril and close it.
3. lnhale (breathe in).
4. Holding your breath, release the right index finger and place left index finger on
left nostril and close it.
5. Exhale through nostril.
We repeat this in reverse without opening your mouth. Keeping left forefinger on nostril, breath in.
Hold breath.
Change fingers to right index, close
nostril, exhale. You may now blow your nose !
This is repeated in total three times.
It is also very good for cleaning
the sinuses.
This simple exercise has been part
of the programme for two years and we have not perfected it yet.
The group I work with are at differing levels of ability and communication. Therefore the programme we follow, although similar in its content, varies in levels of difficulty. lntially we started the sessions at Oakfleld House with it taking many weeks for me to be accepted within the groups. Some sessions covered very little of the intended programme as groups members would not remain in the room or would want to continually visit the toilet. Rather than try and make individuals stay I worked on the principle that a) they wouid eventually stop asking to go to the toilet and b) if they left the room they would retum of their own accord - so we hoped. This approach eventually worked and we were able to complete many sessions successfully. Even relaxation for at least 10 minutes - A major achievement.
September 1995 saw the more able
group attending Matthew Boulton College, for their weekly session.
The intention of progressing to the college site was to develop
social and behavioural skills.
Group members were encouraged to
participate fully in the weekly sessions by responsibility for
collecting the floor mats, putting them out correctly and preparing
themselves for the session,
A typical session commences with
basic nasal breathing followed by relaxation for approximately
5 minutes. We then move on to a programme of loosening exercises.
These indude exercises for co-ordination and balance. We also
try one basic posture the one everyone appears to enjoy participating
in is called the 'Crocodile'. Verbal communication is encouraged
by asking questions of the groups i.e. 'What do we do next' ?
Counting the number of times we perform a movement.
Identifying right and left and different parts of the body.
One member of the group is particularly good at contra-rotation of the arms - something very difficult to achieve. Try it when you leave here.
The session finishes with a 2nd period of relaxation.
The group has now progressed to paired work. One of the activities which seems very successful is sitting back to back and arms linked. Whilst they sit quietly I talk to them about their breathing and we practise this.
The group then roll up and put away their mats at the end of the session.
The second group I work with are
different challenge as they have a lower level of communication
and working with them involves a great deal of 'one to one' to
show them what is required.
Until November 95 sessions with this group were still held at Oakfield House, but the group were not responding and one particular member would not stay in the room.
We decided on a trial basis to move the group to the College site for their lesson to see if their behaviour would improve.
The first week was traumatic to say the least as several of the group had not been to the College before, but we persevered - and with excellent results.
One member who would not move from
his chair at Oakfield House now participates fully and thoroughly
enjoys the sessions. Another who usually isolates himself has
encouraged a colleague to join in.
There is one person, who I
will refer to Sandra, who has particularly benefited from the
sessions. I have noticed the change in her, probably because out
of all the group members, her behaviour is the most alarming.
She has no accepted verbal communication and will screech and
spit when happy, but when distressed she displays self-abuse by
biting her hands and arms and this is usually acoompanied by jumping
up and down and making a run for the door in order to leave the
room. This happens when she feels under pressure or is asked
to do something she does not want to do.
Sandra is the only original member
of this group and it has taken two years of patience on both our
parts to gain confidence in each other. Initially she would not
stay in the room with me when we were at Oakfield House. We gradually
progressed to her allowing me near and we became invoived in simple
'one to one' work by developing bodily contact and working on
eye contact. This then regressed but since the move to the College
she has gained in confidence and actively encourages physical
contact with me. Sandra will take off her shoes and socks and
sit on the mat unaided. The final triumph for us both was about
2 months ago when she lay down on the mat, looked up at me smiling
as much as to say 'Look at me - I'm lying here'. She stayed and
lay quietly listening the music.
It has been difficult in this short time to fully convey to you the programme undertaken and the results achieved. Through participating in the programme everyone of us involved has gained something and I have been given the privilege of working with a group of very special people.