Alternative exercises
|
Title |
Selection considerations |
When to use |
Timing |
|
Design and adapt this opening ceremony carefully, as it sets the tone for the workshop. This can be as simple as sitting in silence as a group or as elaborate as a full greeting ceremony. |
Day One |
30 minutes |
|
|
Excellent if the group needs to strengthen connections and some participants are becoming dominant or are holding back. |
Day Two or Day Three |
30 minutes |
|
|
Similar to archetypes in that it surprises participants and leads them to relinquish some of their ‘shields’ and share some of their ‘stories’. |
Day Two or Day Three |
45 minutes |
|
|
Very good to help a group recalibrate and be reminded of maintaining a safe and respectful space. |
Anytime |
20 minutes |
|
|
Excellent for establishing deeper connections and understanding common bonds; combines humour and strong emotions. Facilitators must gauge what will work for different cultures and mixed gender groups. |
Day Two or Day Three |
30 minutes |
|
|
Excellent for establishing deeper connections and understanding common bonds; helpful for participants who are holding back from opening up safely. This is a very powerful exercise, and requires care with regard to sequencing and managing energy shift. This should be followed by something that respects the emotions released, but careful to lift the mood of the group. |
Day Two or Day Three |
30 minutes |
|
|
A very strong exercise that increases the individual’s sense of strength as well as the group’s sense of solidarity, respect and support. |
Day Two or Day Three |
30 minutes |
|
|
A good means of closure if group members need to feel a stronger sense of support and solidarity as they leave the workshop or end the day. Particularly good for groups that are very isolated. Potentially also useful for groups coping with a high level of grief or loss. |
End of Day Two or Day Three |
20 minutes |
|
|
A good, ‘grounded’ closure. It can also be a strong balancing exercise if the ‘speaking the unspoken’ exercise has been used earlier . |
End of Day Two or Three |
30 minutes |
