Connecting the Practice and Science of Therapeutic Recreation and Yoga
Session Description
A functional understanding of the mind/body connection in union with daily participation in choice activities guides towards an attuned and developed sense of esteem, efficacy, awareness and altruism. A recreation therapist’s ability to connect and share this information purposefully while engaging in outcome oriented movement activities increases the individuals’ ability to develop transferable skills and create their chosen quality of life in a sustainable manner. Evidence based research in neuroscience supports the use of meditation, mindfulness, breathing exercises and movement activities in the journey towards health and wellness. The information in this session will be explored through lively dialogue and experiencing a 3 minute breathing/movement activity that demonstrates the interventions spoken about. To close, individuals will be asked to write down and share how they feel they can effectively integrate what they learned into practice.
Learning Outcomes - Provide three measurable learning objectives for the session that relate to the NCTRC Job Anaylsis.
1.) Identify three functions of the limbic system and how to refence these functions in selecting goal oriented behavior change activities.
2.) Identify two maladaptive processes the chronic perception of threat induces on the brain/mind and how recreation therapy can aid in increasing emotional stability and mental flexibility.
3.) Participate in a movement and diaphragmic breathing exercise that can be implemented into routine TR/RT practice.
Detailed Session Outline - Include time spent on each portion of the outline. An example is given in the help text.
Connecting the Practice and Science of Therapeutic Recreation and Yoga
INTRODUCTION (10 minutes)
Connecting Fundamental Principles of Recreation Therapy and Yoga
Recreation Therapy as a practice embraces a holistic perspective in relation to guiding people towards choosing, attaining and maintaining their chosen quality of life. We recognize people as a whole and equal being, mind, body and spirit and we play to their ability. Similarly, yoga’s practice focuses on acceptance, affirmation and union of the whole.
We are all responsible for our own internal development. As professionals, we can create the space for growth and share/incorporate practices like breathing, posture, and movement exercises while focusing the dialogue on ideas that foster self reflection and mindfulness. Feeling/perception, breath and posture directly affect the brain/mind’s form and function
We are going to start with looking at the interconnection of life:
Atom à Cell à Tissue à Organ à Organ System à Organism à Environment
-each piece is equally important and equally adaptable depending on circumstance
We are going to focus on a lot of science because it is available and it supports our professional practice. I also believe the ability to communicate about how the mind/brain/ body operates is helpful to those we serve in their pursuits. Understanding is key in growing. Thankfully, a lot of this is also intuitive and does not require jargon..
The mind/brain connection is what we are going to focus generally on because it runs the show.
BODY (70 minutes)
Mind/Brain Connection (10 minutes)
Brain is made of neurons and glial cells that form neural networks
Chemical and electrical signals transfer information through neurons
We learn about ourselves and our environment via our senses. Sensory information travels through our nerves, to our limbic system and then to our cerebral cortex. What we sense elicits emotional reactions which we develop as functional thought and action.
Learning and Memory imperative to life – we naturally learn through play
Neural networks are plastic and experience dependent = form functional connections to best support life
Most of what the brain does is unconscious to us, occurring automatically. However, it is the automatic nervous system that delegates bodily resources and creates perceptions.
Prefrontal Cortex = conscious thought and executive functioning
Limbic System = “Emotional Brain”
Every message travels through the limbic system first.
The Limbic System Connection (15 minutes)
All stimuli our body senses runs through our limbic system (emotional brain) first and foremost to maintain and sustain life. After the limbic system adjusts appropriately to external stimuli to maintain homeostasis, information is then processed in the prefrontal cortex for executive cognition.
Thalamus
“Gateway to the Cerebral Cortex”
Relays sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex
Regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness
Hypothalamus
Maintains homeostasis in the body
Regulates the functioning of the Autonomic Nervous and Endocrine System
Responsible for regulating hunger, thirst, response to pain, levels of pleasure, sexual satisfaction, anger and aggressive behavior
Senses temperature, osmolarity, glucose, sodium concentration, hormones, pulse, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, sweating and arousal in response to emotional circumstances
Hippocampus
Responsible for Learning and Memory,
Amygdala
Coordinates behavior in response to environmental stimuli, especially that of emotional content, attention and social processing
Autonomic and neuro-endocrine responses
- Processes perception of external environments/threat and sends messages to Hypothalamus to engage Sympathetic Nervous System
Her one of two things occurs automatically: Sympathetic Nervous System or the Parasympathetic Nervous System activates.
Autonomic Nervous System Connection (5 minutes)
Autonomic Tone maintains bodily homeostasis through balance of SNS and PNS
-Maintains fluid balance, blood pressure, etc… through communication between cells within organism
Perceptions effect response. Exercise is a SNS response but is beneficial because we choose to enjoy it. Exercise also builds a tolerance to increased heart rate. Erratic heartbeat is normally perceived as adverse and triggers SNS.
SNS and PSN have dual responsibilities and a perception depended like many things in our body: oxytocin (released in face or threat and when we connect), cortisol (in face of threat and whe new first wake up/has a daily cycle for body homeostasis) and acetylcholine (inhibitory for visera/organs, excitatory for muscles, neuro-generative neurotransmitter)
Adverse Childhood Experience Studies (10 minutes)
We are all touched by “adverse” experiences. 1 in 5 of all people are directly affected
CDC statistical findings and journal publications/study results involving ACE studies
The Social-Ecological Model - Individual, relationship, communal and societal
Interdependence/effects of adverse experiences
Child Maltreatment – Physical, physiological, behavioral and economic costs/consequences
Neuro-endocrine system adapt, chronic sympathetic response causes widespread degeneration to the whole body, including the brain.
Sympathetic Nervous System Connection (15 minutes)
“Fight, flight, freeze”
Also inhibits connection with frontal lobe during response.
Amygdala recognizes threatening stimuli à
The immediate life saving response = Adrenal Glands release hormones
- Adrenaline/Epinephrine – surge of energy, focuses attention
- Norepinephrine – increases arousal, focus
They are both released as a backup system to one another in the case of a life or death situation. If adrenaline and norepinephrine’s immediate response is not enough, cortisol aids the sympathetic response within a few minutes because it has a multistep process of production
- Amygdala feels a threat à send a message to the Hypothalamus which releases Corticotropin Releasing Hormone à
Pituitary releases Adrenocorticotropic hormone à
Adrenal glands release Cortisol (Hormone)à Blood
Cortisol is great when a saber tooth tiger is going to eat you, blood gets deferred to appendages, pupils dilate, heart rate increases etc… BUT
When Sympathetic Nervous System is constantly and unnecessarily triggered Anatomical, Physiological, Emotional, Mental, Behavioral, Social reactions ensue (ACE studies)
Neurally, cortisol impairs/degenerates the hippocampus while affecting the size and connectivity of the amygdale to the hippocampus (needed for learning and memory) and the prefrontal cortex (executive thought) and decreases the amount of gray matter, etc.
LITERALLY CHANGING THE STRUCTURE and therefore function. This is observed in those who have what is clinically classified as depression, anxiety, etc.
Physically suppresses immune system, inhibits collagen/bone synthesis, ability to sleep, libido, digestion, clarity of thought etc. while it increases abdominal fat, blood pressure etc. It literally changes our epigenetics.
The mind is a powerful thing. Simply the PERCEPTION of threat begins the sympathetic response. Our cognition directly affects what our body does cellularly.
BUT THERE IS HOPE!!! The brain is able to change and create new neural connections with conscious and continual practice!! J
oxygen transfer into blood because most blood capillaries in lower lobes. Oxygen is essential for cellular metabolism and maintains proper pH
Parasympathetic Nervous System Connection (10 minutes)
“Rest, relax digest”
While breathing occurs autonomically, it is also the only visceral function we can cognitively control.
Diaphragmatic breathing engages the diaphragm to contract, creating a space of lower pressure in the chest cavity and allowing the lungs to fill fully.
Diaphragmatic breathing stimulates the Vagus nerve (Cranial nerve X which reaches from the underside of your brain near the stem, into your face and into your abdomen to your organs) which releases Acetylcholine, engaging the Parasympathetic Response. The Vagus nerve is primarily responsible for the entire body’s parasympathetic response.
- Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter. Viscerally it causes an inhibitory response. Muscularly it causes an excitatory response.
- Acetylcholine plays a major role in enhancing sensory perception, attention, learning, memory, focus, critical thinking, creativity, executive thinking, and neurogenesis.
Oxygen is 100% vital to life (side bar but fun point to ponder which speaks to the importance of breathing, the body can live for over a month without food, a little over a week without any water, but a mere 5 minutes without breathing and your brain tissue is dead.)
Share about the studies that also explored the PNS:
-Perception imperative – determines neo-endocrine response
-Breathing/meditative studies effects on blood pressure
-Study of awe – engaged PNS decreases inflammation – cytokines
-Extending arm vertically and horizontally à lower corisol
-Flowy arm à Lowers cortisol
-Body posture effects neuro-endocrine system
-Singing/dancing à increases oxytocin
-Reaching out to others/being altruistic àincreases oxytocin also increases heart health
-Positive perspective à lowers corisol
-Mindfulness/Meditation à increases neurogenesis (especially in hippocampus). Increases grey matter in hippocampus. Decreases grey matter in amygdala
CONCLUSION (15 minutes)
Movement/Breathing Activity with music (5 minutes)
Move with your breath and within your means and comfort level. You can sit or stand. You can follow my verbal/visual cues or embrace however the music makes you feel and move to your own rhythm! J
Key components for self determined change:
Arousal control
Positive self talk
Setting goals/dreaming
Plan/visualize
Purposeful Recreation and Play = Optimal time for new learning
Recreation and play, by nature provide an experience that is typically perceived as safe so we are already in an emotional/cognitive state that provides a strong foundation for learning. Here, we can begin practicing positive self talk, setting goals, visualizing/mentally rehearsing and practicing arousal control (diaphragmatic breathing) to combat a sympathetic response which no longer serves a functional purpose and begin exercising techniques/actions/skills that will enhance our chosen quality of life. The direction in which we set our focus is the direct we will grow. When we ruminate on information it creates a neural pathway in our brain, merely thinking changes the structure of our brain. Brain plasticity is why recreation, as a modality is so powerful. Recreation is chosen, so it is sustainable while naturally serving to increase people sense of efficacy, esteem, awareness and altruism. It allows a place for people to develop skills in a safe and equal environment…EVERYONE can play. We all have the ability to feel fulfilled and happy (let’s face it, if we did not believe this we would not do what we do), but it all starts with emotional/cognitive wellness, it starts with play!I hope you develop this information further and seek out the neuroscience that supports our profession! There is a lot to learn and there are a lot of people to share this information with so continue developing your knowledge base, master the information and apply it to play! It makes all the difference in the world!Thank you with all of me, for you time and interest! Have a beautiful day!
NCTRC Job Analysis.
Implementation: Selection of programs, Modalities and/or interventions
Advancement of the Profession: Professionalism, Credential maintenance/ professional competencies, PR/promotion/marketing
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals