Inspire 1.0 Class 20 Bridge Sample
CLASS 20 | SAGE BLESSINGS
Reflect on the concept of wisdom and share a short blessing.
TRAINER OVERVIEW
- Timer or stopwatch
- Whiteboard or flip chart and markers
- Blank white notecards, pens and/or pencils, enough for each student to have several
- TBH Inspiration Notes collection, so each student can choose one to take home
- Now Do It! worksheets, enough for each student
- Option to display completed “Sage Blessings” cards with your community on social media or by creating a bulletin board
WELCOME TO CLASS
- Welcome everyone.
- Introduce the class topic.
Welcome to today’s class! Our topic is “Sage Blessings.”
Our TBH Blueprint focus is the “Stretch Your Mind” action point.
We’ll talk about how we gain wisdom and the value of sharing it forward, and why doing that matters to our optimal aging plan.
We will be working on the following thinking skills today:
- Attention
- Speedy Thinking
- Nimbleness
- Verbal Skills
- Memory
- Problem Solving
Hand out the TBH Welcome Packet to all new students for a more complete introduction.
TBH LET'S GET IT STARTED!
Get everyone ready to learn with this seated toes-to-top warmup.- Use the TBH music to set your pace, or choose your own.
We are going to begin with TBH Let’s Get It Started!
Being physically engaged is great for our focus, thinking and awareness. This quick warmup is a great way to get us ready to learn and explore together. We’ll do this right at our seats at the beginning of every class. Just watch what I do and follow along.
(At end of warmup) Great job, everyone! We are started up and ready to go!
FEET GET STARTED!
- Lift right foot slightly off the floor. Point toes up and down, repeat a few times. Circle foot at the ankle. Circle twice to the left then to the right.
- Lift left foot slightly off the floor. Point toes up and down, repeat a few times. Circle foot at the ankle. Circle twice to the left then to the right.
LEGS GET STARTED!
- Put both feet on the floor, about hips-distance apart.
- Extend right leg in front, resting heel on the floor if able.
- Gently firm up leg muscles from thigh to calf. Focus on feeling. Pause for a few seconds. Then relax leg, releasing tension. Give leg a little stretch and shake.
- Repeat with left leg. Extend left leg in front, resting heel on the floor if able. Gently firm up leg muscles from thigh to calf. Focus on feeling. Pause for a few seconds. Then relax leg, releasing tension. Give leg a little stretch and shake.
BACKS GET STARTED!
- While seated, gently twist upper body to the right. Hold for two deep breaths. Release.
- Repeat to the left, gently twisting the upper body. Hold for two deep breaths. Release.
- Reach arms forward, gently rounding the upper back. Hold for a few seconds. Release.
- Reach arms up, straightening upper back, sitting up tall. Hold for a few seconds. Release.
ARMS GET STARTED!
- Make fists with both hands. Hold for a few seconds. Release. Give hands a little shake.
- Circle wrists a few times clockwise and counterclockwise.
- Extend right arm in front, resting arm on right thigh. Gently firm up arm muscles from shoulder to wrist. Focus on feeling. Pause for a few seconds. Then relax arm, releasing tension. Give arm a little stretch and shake.
- Repeat with left arm. Extend left arm in front, resting arm on left thigh. Gently firm up arm muscles from shoulder to wrist. Focus on feeling. Pause for a few seconds. Then relax arm, releasing tension. Give arm a little stretch and shake.
- Rest hands on thighs. Gently tense shoulders as you raise them up, and relax and release down, repeat a few times.
VOICES GET STARTED!
- Gently open and close jaw, repeating a few times.
- Gently stick tongue out and say “AHHHHH.” Then wiggle tongue back and forth a few times.
- Squeeze eyes firmly shut, hold for a few seconds. Then release and relax. Open eyes widely.
- Say “OHHHHHHHHHH.” Have group say sound with you. Hold for a few seconds.
- Say “EHHHHHHHHHH.” Have group say sound with you. Hold for a few seconds.
- Say “AHHHHHHHHHH.” Have group say sound with you. Hold for a few seconds.
- Say “OH – EH – AH.” Hold each sound for a few seconds. Repeat 3 times.
- Have class repeat 3 times with you the phrase “live every moment, laugh every day, love beyond words.”
- Take a deep breath in through the nose and exhale out through the mouth.
- Spread arms apart and bring hands together in front, making a big circle as if hugging a large globe.
- Give selves big hug, wrapping arms across waist and squeezing gently, as able.
Click to open the TBH Let’s Get It Started! playlist.
Click to open the TBH Let’s Get It Started! complete guide.
TBH BRAIN PLAY | Sage Stories
- Briefly lead an All Together cognitive warm up to fire up the neurons.
- Challenge students to create and remember a story from a list of prompt words.
We will begin each class with a quick warm up called “Brain Plays.” These exercises are designed to flex our thinking and get us ready for the work we will do together.
Today we’re going to rev up our recall with “Sage Stories.” In a moment, I am going to share a list of words. You will work together to create a story to help learn the words on the list.
This strategy, called Storytelling, is a highly effective Total Brain Health memory technique some of you may already know. The words on our list can be used to create a story that offers a bit of wise advice as well. Here’s the catch – you’ll have just 2 minutes to create your story! After time is up, we’ll see how many of the words we can remember. Ready?
- Write one of the Sage Stories word lists below on your whiteboard/flip chart.
- Instruct students they have 2 minutes to work together and create a story to learn and remember the word list.
- After 2 minutes hide/remove the word list from view. Ask students to work together to recall the words on the list. Reveal the list to see how many they accurately recalled.
- When repeating this class, select an alternate Sage Stories word list.
- Encourage distance learners to join in from home.
SAGE STORY WORD LISTS
List 1: Sleep Ten Window Chatter Water Rise Six Stretch Warm Gargle
List 2: Soothe Blue Mood Breathe Now Anxious Believe Honest Myself Support
List 3: Friend Trip Connect Gold Listen Fun Laugh New Try Help
List 4: Regular Eat Leafy Olives Together Relaxed Healthy Seven Grains Fat
List 5: Seek New Create Think Adventure Stretch Try Always Art Move
LEARN THE TBH SCIENCE
- Present the science behind the class.
- Allow for brief discussion of the science with your students.
Have you ever met someone you thought of as wise? Pause for discussion.
Wisdom is often thought of as something we gain with age. It is true that the experiences of a lifetime can give us more insight or the ability to reflect on situations through a different lens.
But how do you think we become wise? Do you think becoming wise just something that automatically happens as we grow older? Pause for discussion.
It is interesting to think about the concept of what makes us wise. Models of personal growth often consider the development of wisdom central to the third stage of life. Experts suggest it is an outgrowth of the increased self-awareness that comes from consciously reflecting on our own experiences. And sharing that wisdom is an important way we can help others. Terms such as “sage” or “elder” are ways to describe someone who “offers his experience, balanced judgement and wisdom for the welfare of society” (Shachter-Shalomi, 1995). In many cultures, older adults are valued and even revered for their knowledge and wisdom. Today movements such Sage-ing International and Modern Elderhood are looking to increase our awareness of the importance of self-exploration and reflection for meaningful personal growth in our later years, and to build a greater appreciation of the contributions of elders in our culture.
NOW DO IT!
All together write down a 7-word blessing to share with others. - Adapt as needed to include everyone as they are able.
Making the time to reflect and really think about what life has taught us is perhaps one of the hardest steps of building wisdom. Our days are full and busy, and we aren’t often asked to think about what we have learned over our years. But doing so can be an important part of personal growth.
Today’s exercise challenges us to think creatively and reflect a bit on what we have learned with time. In a moment, I’m going to give out some notecards and (pens/pencils). Then you will all think about a blessing you would like to share forward with the world. That blessing should come from your own experiences and be a wish that you have for others. Your blessing can be for someone you love, for your community, or for the world. It can be heartfelt or funny. Here’s the catch – your blessings can only be 7 words long. And it must be in sentence form, not just a list of words.
Here are some sample “Sage Blessings” from other students to help us get in the mood. If time allows, we will share some of our blessings at the end of class.
“May you always have an umbrella handy.”
“May your mate be your best friend.”
“Bless your dreams, may they nurture you.”
“Blessed be enemies so we appreciate friends.”
I have given each of you a few cards so you can write as many blessings as you’d like in the time we have together. Ready to get started?
- Option to distribute Now Do It! class worksheets.
- Distribute several blank white notecards, pens and/or pencils to the students
- Invite students to create “Sage Blessings” statements using just 7 words. Each blessing must be a sentence (not a list of words). Share the sample “Sage Blessings” with them verbally or by writing them on the whiteboard/flip chart.
- If time allows, have students share their “Sage Blessings.”
- When repeating this class, invite students to create “Sage Advice” or “Sage Insights” (self-reflection statements) using just 7 words. Or vary the word length to 10 words.
- Distribute materials to virtual learners ahead of class. Adjust scripting accordingly.
TBH TAKEAWAY
Share this brief wrap-up to end the workout.- Ask students to talk about one thing they will “take away” from today’s class.
Wisdom is something we can gain with experience. Psychologists suggest that our third stage of life offers the chance to deepen our wisdom, and many cultures look to older adults to share that wisdom as sages or elders.
There is so much wisdom in this room, it was really fun to challenge our brains and create 7 word “Sage Blessings” together to share that wisdom!
What blessings that you heard here today stuck with you the most?
TBH TAKE A BREATH
- Lead this cooldown exercise to end class.
- Use the TBH music to set your pace, or choose your own.
Let’s wrap up with our “TBH Take a Breath.” Being mindful of our breath and sharing some positive thoughts is a wonderful way to acknowledge what we’ve learned together before we go back to our day.
- Have students get comfortable, resting both feet flat on the floor, hands resting in their laps.
- Have students close their eyes and keep them gently closed.
- Ask students to focus their attention on their breathing, noticing the rate and rhythm of their breath. Allow them to focus on their natural breathing for a few moments.
- Instruct students to begin rhythmic breathing. Ask them to inhale slowly and deeply through their nostrils, breathing gently into their chest and belly. Then ask them to exhale slowly through their lips, slowing the rate and rhythm of their breath.
- Have students continue rhythmic breathing, instructing them to continue to focus on gently and slowly inhaling and exhaling, allowing their attention to simply “ride” the wave of their breath. Allow them to focus on rhythmic breathing for several moments.
- Offer the following positive affirmation statements below in a calm, slow voice. Invite students to simply listen, repeat the phrase silently to themselves, or to think about what each statement means to them.
My body is relaxed.
I am grateful to continue to grow.
I am grateful that I can share the wisdom I have gained.
I am grateful for myself.
I take this time and this breath for me.
- Pause for several moments.
- End the exercise by inviting students to bring their awareness back to the room, gently opening their eyes and becoming more aware of their surroundings.
- Invite them to end practice with gratitude for taking a moment for themselves, for the chance to learn together and connect with each other.
Click for the TBH Take a Breath music playlist.
Click to open the TBH Take A Breath complete guide.
COMING UP NEXT!
- Thank students for attending the class.
- Ask students to select a TBH Inspiration Note to take home.
- Invite students to join you for the next TBH class.
Thank you for being here today. It was wonderful to explore ideas around wisdom together.
Before you go, please take a TBH Inspiration Note from this (bag/box/bowl). Each one has a special quote to inspire you over the days ahead.
I look forward to seeing you for our next Total Brain Health class. Be sure to bring a friend!
CLASS RESOURCES
TBH Inspiration Notes. Print out the notes at the beginning of the course. Print the notes 2-sided and in color. Cut them apart. If possible, laminate the cards for easier handling and durability. Keep the notes in a bowl or bag and allow students to randomly pick one note without looking to take home at the end of each class.
NOW DO IT! WORKSHEETS
Use these optional worksheets to run your class.
Sage Blessings Worksheet. Use this worksheet to support the class exercise as needed.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Sage-ing International. Dedicated to the conscious aging, this website is a wonderful resource for more information and experts in the movement.
Becoming a Modern Elder. This TED talk by Chip Conley is a wonderful introduction to the modern elderhood movement.
