A training resource for educators and group leaders containing structured exercises in wellness promotion. The user can mix and match the exercises to create workshops for groups of any size.
Wellness is the hot topic of the decade.
If you're prepared to address
the issue, you'll get plenty of opportunities. If you creatively involve
people in the learning process, your teaching will be much more
helpful than even the most entertaining lecture.
Structured Exercises in Wellness Promotion Volume 3 provides 36
designs you can use for getting people involved, whatever the setting
and time constraints, whatever the sophistication of the audience. To
aid you in the selection of appropriate content and process to meet
your objectives, the exercises are grouped into five broad categories:
Icebreakers: These short (10-20 minutes) exercises are designed to
introduce people to each other and to open up participants' thinking
process regarding wellness. They are lively! All eight engage people
actively in the topic and with each other. Try combining an icebreaker
with an exercise from the wellness or self-care section for an
instant evening program.
Wellness Exploration: These exercises explore the issue of wellness
from the whole person perspective. Rather than focus merely on the
physical, these six processes help people examine their overall lifestyle.
You'll find a mixture of moderate length assessments (30-60
minutes) and major theme developers (60-90 minutes). Any exercise
can easily be contracted or expanded to fit your purpose.
Self-Care Strategies: The first exercise helps participants examine
their self-care patterns. The next eight focus on specific self-care
strategies in different life dimensions: physical (alcohol use, diet,
relaxation, fitness), mental, relational, spiritual and lifestyle wellbeing.
The last exercise promotes personal responsibility for selfcare.
Action Planning/Closure: These four exercises help participants
draw together their insights and determine actions they wish to take
on their own behalf. Some of the activities also suggest rituals that
bring closure to the group process.
Energizers: The ten energizers are designed to perk up the group
whenever fatigue sets in. Sprinkle them throughout your program
to illustrate skills or concepts. Try one for a change of pace -
everyone's juices (including yours!) will be flowing again in 5-
lO minutes.
