Elevators
What is the Elevators game?
Elevator is a set ofmovements that go up and down. They have the body push against gravity.
We use the image of an elevator as something that goes up and down.
To signal these movements, we use a slide whistle. As the whistle sound slides up, we move up. The whistle slides down, we move down.
Movements include:
- Sitting lifting one foot or leg. Note: this is particularly good for orienting students to the exercise.
- Lift both legs. Note: this is great for developing balance and core strength.
- Stand up /sit down. Cue students to attend that there buttocks lands on the seat.
- Frogs to Ballet dancers. (squat move up to tippy toes.)
- Table to Downward Dog.
- Sappling to tree pose. Note: this is good for developing balance standing on one leg.
- Laying on backs, students lift their feet over their heads- touch the ground or seat with their toes.
- Eyebrows can be lifted up and down.
- And my personal favorite: Spagetti to Superhero flying! (students lean over their seat with their bellies on the seat. When the elevator goes up, student turn their bodies to planks and fly. This is the counterpart to lifting both legs and arms.)
Note. There is something innately fun and funny about the slide whistle. This helps transform this game from tedious exercise into more of a delightful game. Generally I find that studnets appreciate the full bodied exercise.
Why is Elevators important?
This exercise is important because it helps students develop their body awareness, coordination and core strength. Students movements are guided by the sound of the slide whistle, which helps them learn to listen and respond to auditory cues.