90 Recovery skills 2 ( continued )
TO THE TRAINER
PART II : THE TRAINING
Aim . To practise exercises that strengthen a survivor ’ s awareness of her body , feelings , heart , thoughts , and breathing .
TEACHING INSTRUCTION . PAUSE FOR DEEPENING .
By teaching them different skills and deepening their experience of them , we help survivors to notice and become familiar with what is helpful to them . When they try new movements and these are helpful , it will assist them to manage future situations better .
When you deepen experience , ask one question at a time , and then pause . When the survivor reports a positive experience , ask her to stay with that feeling , and pause again to give some time for deepening . Then ask : “ What do you experience now ?” or “ What do you feel now ?”
GROUNDING EXERCISE
Grounding Exercise 7 . Feeling the weight of your body .
When we are overwhelmed , our muscles often go from being extremely tense into collapse . From being in a state of active defence ( fight and flight ), they move into a state of submission . They become hypotonic , or completely relaxed ; this is more than ordinary relaxation .
In the exercise , we activate the muscles in the torso and legs . Activating the core muscles gives us awareness of our physical structure . When we get in touch with this strength and structure it is easier to bear our feelings . We can contain our experience better , whatever it is , and manage better feelings of fragmentation or being overwhelmed .
DISCUSSION
Discussion . How do you feel after Grounding Exercise 7 ?
Ask the participants whether they notice any differences in their body , feelings , breathing , heart and thoughts . Ask which changes they notice most .
TEACHING POINT . PRACTISING EXERCISES .
Point to the list below . Emphasise to the participants that it is vital to follow each step , with a human rights-based approach in mind , when they are teaching exercises to women they help .
What do we do ? 1 . I describe the exercise . 2 . I ask you whether you are willing to try it with me . 3 . I do the exercise together with you . 4 . I ask you to be aware of certain things and to focus on them . 5 . We take time to absorb what was happening .
6 . Afterwards we discuss how you experienced the exercise , what you felt and whether it made a difference .