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A warm up is an exercise that captures the group’s attention, relaxes them, and prepares them for the experience to follow. There are a wide variety of warm up activities (such as socially oriented games). Warm ups can be structured or casual or impromptu. The occupational therapist should choose a warm up that challenges members enough to hold their interest but is not beyond their capabilities (14/02/2009, Cole M. B, @ books. google. com). Other types of warm ups can be physical activity or an introductory painting activity. Physical warm up’ activities include such things as: shoulder rubs, milling round and shaking hands, circle dances, etc. , which help to get energy flowing. (Liebmann M (1986) Pg. 26). Some types of warm up are aimed at building or reconstructing an appropriate body image, as well as enlarging movement range by using a sequences of changing qualities of movement. For example, running as fast as you can and then stopping, in order to restore phrasing and self control over endings in movement. (Jones K S (1992) Pg. 33-34). In an established group, introductions and warm up activities may not be needed each time.
The group comes together, has a brief discussion about the session’s theme, and then everyone gets straight on with the activity. This is possible because the ‘ground rules’ and way of working have been worked out and have become an implicit part of the group. If new people join, these ‘rules’ will have to be explained. Form time to time, an established group will need to spend some discussion time to reassess its way of working and its ground rules, and possibly to agree on some change if it seems appropriate (Liebmann M (1986) Pg. 26). Warm-up exercises give clients a chance to become familiar with art therapy and the group experience.
They allow group participants “loosen up” and relate better to one another. The warm-up helps desentisitze apprehensive individuals to the art experience because it is often fun and easy; there are few risks involved. This practise helps convey the message that in art therapy “it does not matter how one draws. ” It is the expression of thoughts and feelings that are important. Quick creative exercises often prove helpful in facilitating group interaction and growth. It’s beneficial to the group process if the warm-up acts as a transition, relating in some way to the group project (Buchalter S (2004) Pg. 8).
In addition warm-up stimulate the creativity and spontaneity of group members (Holmes P. & M Karp (1991) Pg. 28-29). Further, warm-up facilitate interactions within the group, increasing a sense of trust and membership through techniques that encourage interactions between individuals (for instance, sharing of names, sharing of experiences, physical activities that involve some degree of touch or non-verbal communication). This process of warm-up develops the cohesiveness of the group, while at the same time allowing members to get some sense of the various strengths and qualities of individuals within the group.
This phase of a psychodrama has many similarities to the processes that might be observed in an encounter group or a dramatherapy session, or as we ‘warm up’ to any daily activity. Finally, warm ups help members focus on personal issues on which they wish to ‘do some work’ in the psychodrama session. A list of warm up exercises follows. ??? Name Games ” Another version of name game is to pass or toss an object to a person and then name the person’s name that the object is passed to. It is important to mind the abilities of the group that you are with as some may not be able to catch as a result of a disability. Mill & Grab ” Mill and grab ” Ask the class to move around the room at random. Call out a number. Students must get into groups of that size as quickly as possible, grouping with those closest to hand. Repeat a couple of times. Then introduce a shape the group have to form as after the number ” the number itself, then a square, then x number of feet and/or hands on the floor etc Walk/freeze ” group are instructed to walk then freeze. explain importance of total freezing. Repeat until a rhythm is established. Then introduce the following variations: ??? Body Slaps ” Everyone touches or slaps themselves all over.
This is to help people who do not know each other to bond. ??? Shoulder Massage ” In a circle, everyone massages the shoulders of the person in front. Then turn around and repeat on the person who was initially massaging your shoulder. ??? Farm Yard Animals ” Participants are asked to close their eyes and assigned an animal. Then walk around the room making the noise of the farmyard animal e. g. chicken in order to meet up with other animals of same species. Same animals should group themselves together. When you meet your fellow species you must stand and hold hands in a circle. Mirroring – In this exercise, everyone in a big circle, players per 2, facing each other. They can move (arms, legs, eyebrows) slowly, and the other player will mirror them. ??? Pass The Mask ” in a circle, One player starts by passing the mask to her/his left-hand neighbour. The neighbour does the same, passing the `Mask` to her/his left-hand neighbour. The 2 examples of warm-up that can be applied to adults in a mental health day centre are Name Games and Shoulder Massage. There are a number of issues facing individuals with mental health difficulties e. g. ow self-esteem, social withdrawal/isolation, difficulty concentrating, loneliness, problems with attention and memory, etc. It is therefore important to choose warm-ups that can help to deal with some of the issues. For these and other reasons the leader may choose Shoulder Massage and Name Games. However, before beginning the warm ups, the leader should make sure that the room is clutter free and chairs arranged properly. To begin the warm up activity, the leader should introduce him/herself to the group and explained the purpose of the activity to the participants.
To apply Shoulder Massage, the leader should ask participants to form a circle and face one direction. Then the leader should instruct each person to place their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them and each person then gives the person in front of then a shoulder massage. The leader should encourage participants to give feedback like “that was nice or perfect” to the massage giver. After a few minutes, the leader should ask the group to do an about-face so that they are now massaging the shoulders of the person who just gave them a massage. A second example is the Name Game.
There are different versions to this game. A version of this game is to pass or toss an object to a person and then name the person’s name that the object is passed to. But as individuals with mental health difficulties may not be able to catch objects as a result of their mental health difficulties/medication, the leader may amend this game by omitting the passing or tossing an object to the version below. The leader should instead: 1. Have everyone sit or stand in a circle. 2. Get the first person to say their name and something they like starting with the same initial, e. g. “my name is Mary and I like Muffins” 3.
Then get the next person to introduce the first person (Mary) again and them Him/herself saying “this is Mary, and she likes muffins. My name is Jack and I like dancing. 4. Go round the circle with every person introducing everyone from the very first person (Mary) (07/02/2009, @ www. scribd. com). These activities can help to relax members of a group, introduced them to each other encourage them, build their self esteem, improve concentration, etc. (16/02/2009, @ www. recreationtherapy. com). Liebmann M (1986) Art Therapy for Groups, United Kingdom, Routledge. Lecture 4 Activity Preparation Revised Sept 06, 0702/2009, @ www. scribd. com .