Seed
®
Flower Stretch
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This is a fun, physical, group warmup activity which works with all ages.
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In a circle, demonstrate being a seed (crouched and hunched as much as
possible).
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Everyone adopts the seed position.
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Then imagine that you are slowly going to grow into a flower.
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The idea is to grow as slowly as possible, which is very challenging,
e.g., people will experience thigh burn and are usually to do things fast.
This forces a mental slow down so really emphasize that its about growing
as slowly as possible.
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 However,
as the instructor, make sure you grow about as fast as the fastest person,
so you call demo and talk people through the first time.
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Encourage people to stand right up on their tippy toes, arms completely
outstretched, face oriented to the sun. Hold it.....
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Then relax.....Now we are going to do it again, the time
though, grow just a tiny bit faster. Still very slow.
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Then repeat, a little faster this time.
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Do it again, a little faster again. About this time, encourage
people to let out a big sigh as they are flowering, then relax.
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Next time, a bigger sigh. And maybe another time, really big sigh,
and a little jump in the air.
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Then do it faster, this time jumping into the air and letting out a big "ahhh!"
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Then ask if everyone can do it together, in unison. Then try again,
for the big finale - their best jumps and cries.
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 By
the end of this simple activity people are laughing physically stretched
and aerobically warm and they've got a good solid dose of sunlight in
their faces which helps to wake them up.
Variation
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Equipment:
A quiet field in the morning is ideal. Can be indoors.
Time:
Total ~ 5-10 minutes.
Brief description:
Fun physical warmup. In a circle, everyone starts as a small seed
(crouched, hunched), then slowly sprouts and grows, eventually flowering
towards the sun (tippy toes, arms outstretched). Repeat, getting
faster each time, leading eventually to seeds in unison jumping into the
air and letting out loud "ahhhs"! |