Facilitation Technique Category: Therapeutic Use of Tai Chi

Activity Title: Tai Chi Techniques: Neck Exercises, Parting the Clouds, and Pushing Chi
Source: Simply Tai Chi By Graham Bryant, Lorraine James, Facilitation Techniques in
Therapeutic Recreation, Beginnerstaichi.com
Equipment: Yoga Mat (optional)
Activity Description: Tai Chi essentially is a form of meditation in motion highlighting
relaxation. TaiChi techniques allow participants to relax all areas of the body with slow flowing
movements. The first technique, Neck Exercises increases flexibility and strength in the neck,
which is one of the common areas stress manifest itself. To relieve tension, have participants
begin in the opening stance posture (Feet parallel, hip width apart, neck and head straight, hands
rested on the sides.) With relaxed shoulders, have participants to allow their head to slowly roll
forward until the chin rests close to the chest. Next, have them lift their head allowing it to gently
move backwards until looking upwards, then returning the head to facing forwards again. Have
them repeat it slowly building up to 7 complete movements. The Parting the Cloud technique
benefits to increase leg strength and stamina and promotes flexibility in the shoulder joints
another common stress area. Have participants begin in the opening stance posture. Have them
step directly forward about 12 inches with the left leg keeping shoulder width distance between
the feet when stepping forward. Have them bring their hands together at waist height, palms
facing each other but slightly apart, and fingers facing forward. Breathing out, instruct
participants to move their weight forward and push forward with their hands. When their arms
have almost reached their full extension, instruct them to have their hands open up and their
palms facing downwards and slightly outward. Ask participants to breathe in, pull back, and shift
their weight to their right leg. At the same time, instruct them to have their hands come back in a
wide circle and then returning to their starting position. Have them do 4 of this technique with
the left foot forward and 4 with the right foot. The last technique is Pushing Chi. Have
participants begin in opening stance posture again. Have them extend the left arm out in a half
circle with the hand at chest level, palm facing the center of the body and fingers point to the
right. Instruct them to put their right hand close to their body, a bit higher than their left hand
with the palm facing away from the body and the finger pointing upwards.
Leadership considerations: The CTRS functions as an instructor for this activity. It is
recommended that a CTRS implementing the activity has a ATCQA Tai Chi Certification or
take Instructor Training Courses. Doing this increases Tai Chi skills and knowledge to where the
activity can be taught safely and effectively. It also teaches one how to how to work with people
with chronic conditions safely and how to work with people with different ages and illnesses. An
instructor should allow a session size to be only as large as it can be competently monitored.
Safety topics should include not forcing and stopping if there is any pain. Inform participants that
Tai Chi is a graceful not forceful meditation and is noncompetitive.
Adaptations: Participants with Parkinsonian Gait: Parkinsonian Gait is an ambulatory disability
where individuals experience rigidity in legs and have difficulty in initiating steps and leg
movement. The conventional techniques of practicing Tai Chi involve participants to have some

ambulatory ability. However it can be adapted with Seated Tai Chi, in an effort to have a proper
session for these individuals. Seated Tai Chi still can play a positive part in these participants'
lives as regular Tai Chi. It allows participants to improve balance, mobility and reduction in
pain.
Participants with Sensorineural deafness: Sensorineural deafness is a form of hearing loss that
happens due to damage in a person's inner ear, the nerve that runs from their ear to the person's
brain, or the person's brain. TaiChi can be adapted by having an interpreter to facilitate the
session or facilitate it for that individual. To make teaching and implementing the session more
effective, handouts can be given containing information on elements of Tai Chi, detailed
instructions of each movement, and links of the type of the Tai Chi exercises so they could be
prepared before the session.
Adaptations References - Gait Abnormalities | Stanford Medicine 25 | Stanford Medicine. (n.d.).
Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/the25/gait.html
Guo, Z. (2009, October). Seated Tai Chi Chuan for Ambulatory Difficulty. Retrieved October 21,
2016, from http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32054
Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Ototoxic Medications ... (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016,
from http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/hearing/snhl.php
Teaching the deaf Tai Chi. (2015, December 18). Retrieved from
http://www.violetlitaichi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Teaching-the-deaf-Tai-ChiExaminer.com_.pdf

Facilitation Technique Category: Stress Management

Activity Title: Passive Progressive Relaxation: The Body Scan

Source: Stress Management for Life: A Research-Based Experiential Approach By Michael
Olpin, Margie Hesson, Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation by Dattilo, J., &
McKenney, A
Equipment: Yoga Mat, Blanket (optional)
Activity Description: Stress manifests itself in different ways. For most people, they have
physical signs, such as tense muscles. Muscles can stay contracted, in a tensed position, even
while asleep. The best way to manage stress is by finding healthy coping strategies. One strategy
is Passive Progressive Relaxation. This relaxation technique is intended to progressively reduce
muscle tension throughout the body through concentration. To begin the activity, have
participants to lie on their back on a yoga mat or on a foam pad. The goal here is to first relax the
muscles. Make sure that participants will be warm enough for the activity. Instruct participants to
gently close their eyes and feel the rising and falling of their abdomen with each breath. Have
them take a few moments to feel their body as a whole from head to toe, feeling the sensations
associated with touch in the places that are in contact with the mat. Instruct participants to bring
their attention to the toes of the left foot. Ask them to try to direct or channel their breathing to
that area so it feels as if theyre breathing into their toes. Allow participants to feel all sensations
from your toes. Inform participants if they dont feel anything at the moment, its fine. Instruct
participants to continue to move slowly up the other regions, the ankle, the foot and the rest of
the body. When ready to leave move on to another region, have participants take in a deep
breath, observing the sensation that is being experienced, and then letting go of it to move on.
Urge each participant to notice the time where their attention has drifted off, and have them bring
their mind back to the breathing and the region that is concentrated on. After the complete scan
of the body, have them return to normal waking consciousness by slowing moving parts of the
body. To finish the activity, ask participant to describe how theyre feeling in relation to their
stress levels.
Leadership considerations: CTRS functions as an instructor for this activity. . It is recommended
that a CTRS goes through a course or training on Relaxation Therapy prior to implementation.
Prior to implementation inform patients on the technique, its purpose and the area of focus. Be
thorough as possible in instructions and demonstration if necessary.
Adaptations: Individuals with Down syndrome: Individuals with Down syndrome experience
cognitive delays, and often experience a gradual decline in thinking ability as they age. To
accommodate, relaxation intervention can be taught using audiotapes with detailed instructions
for each area. Affected individuals' speech and language develop later and more slowly, playing a
part in short term memory. Using a multisensory approach such as the audiotape can help with
repetition and review, allowing sufficient time for processing. This adaptation also helps with
maintaining attention and interest especially if participant has a hard time attending to the
activity.
Individuals with Posttraumatic stress disorder: PTSD is a condition that occurs in people who
have experienced or witnessed traumatic event. People who experience such events can continue

to be severely depressed and anxious for months or years following the event. Exercises can be
modified to accommodate any level of experience for individuals with PTSD. Sessions can be
done on a 1:1 ratio to decrease the anxiety of a group setting. With a 1:1 session individuals can
easily speak to the instructor about preferences or specific concerns without troubling others if in
a group.

Adaptations References - Down syndrome - Genetics Home Reference. (n.d.). Retrieved October
19, 2016, from https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/down-syndrome
Miller, M. L. (2007). Teaching relaxation skills to adults with intellectual disability and
generalized anxiety disorder (Doctoral dissertation) [Abstract].
Nielsen, L. B. (2002). Brief reference of student disabilities-- with strategies for the classroom.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Anxiety and ... (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from
https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
PTSD help for Vets using Qigong - The Way of Tai Chi. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from
http://thewayoftaichi.com/ptsd-help-for-vets-using-qigong/