Warmups and Energizers are sometime necessary to stoke the energy of a group. But "up" energy isn't always the goal. If you want to "ground" a group, a moment of silence can be powerful.

Experiment with different ways to slow people down and get them connected. The senses are a powerful way to get people into the present moment. Starting with the *literal* ground we're standing on can help.

For the brave, try reading a poem that means something to you. Have the whole group share the reading, with each person taking a line or two. Unpack what the poem evoked for each person.

For more on starting with stories and poems to slow groups down while getting them connected, listen to my podcast interview with Nancy McGaw