# Galloping Circle

Participants form a circle, establish a galloping rhythm using leg steps or thigh pats, and respond together to quick physical call-outs from the facilitator.

**Time:** 5 minutes. Source specifies under 5 minutes. UWT structured this into a 5-minute run plan.
**People:** 4 to 24. Whole group standing or seated in a large circle.

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Raise physical alertness and group synchrony through shared, fast-paced rhythmic movement.
**Use it when:** Use during an afternoon lull or after long sitting periods when the group needs immediate physical motion.
**Skip it when:** Skip when participants have limited mobility, space is restricted, or the group prefers low-energy reflective work.

## Materials and tools

- No special materials.

## Before participants arrive

1. Clear a central floor area wide enough for all participants to stand or sit in a circle with arm span between them.

## Say this to open

We are going to reset our energy with a rhythmic warm-up. We will establish a horse gallop rhythm together, and then I will call out quick actions. Match the sound and movement, keep the beat, and modify any move so it feels safe for your body.

## How to run it

### 1. Establish the rhythm (1 minutes)

Form a circle. Demonstrate the basic beat: alternate light stepping in place or alternating hands tapping thighs in a steady horse-gallop rhythm (ba-dum, ba-dum). Have everyone pick up the tempo until the room moves in sync.

### 2. Call basic moves (2 minutes)

Keep the galloping beat going while calling out sudden cues. Call 'Say hi to the queen!' (participants maintain the rhythm with legs/one hand while doing a formal wrist-twist wave). Call 'Take a photo!' (everyone freezes instantly in a smile or pose for two seconds, then resumes galloping). Call 'Jump!' (everyone springs up once or raises both arms overhead, landing back on the beat).

### 3. Add complex call-outs (1 minutes)

Increase the tempo and mix in advanced cues: 'Double jump!' (two rapid hops or arm thrusts), 'Go under a bridge!' (duck low while maintaining hand pats), or 'Hold your breath!' (three silent seconds without stopping the beat). Run four to six cues in rapid succession.

### 4. Cool down and close (1 minutes)

Signal a final slow-down count: 'Five, four, three, two, one, freeze.' Take one deep breath together and invite everyone to return to their regular seats.


## Debrief questions

- How did shifting the physical rhythm change your focus or alertness?
- What helped the group stay coordinated when the cues came quickly?

**Finished output:** A completed physical energizer cycle returning the room to ready attention.

## Remote

Run on gallery view. Participants create the galloping beat by alternating hand taps on their desks, laps, or chests close to their microphones. The facilitator calls out the cues ('Say hi to the queen!', 'Take a photo!' freeze, 'Under the bridge!' duck below camera view, 'Jump!' hands raise high above frame).

## Hybrid

In-person participants form a circle facing the room camera and display screen. Remote participants join on video. Everyone uses lap or desk tapping so the rhythmic sound carries equally over room microphones and headsets. The facilitator calls prompts visible and audible to both groups.

## Access and participation choices

- Participants can perform the gallop rhythm seated by tapping hands on thighs or a table.
- Any jumping prompt can be replaced with an arm raise, seated bounce, or head bob.
- Anyone wishing to pass may act as the visual timekeeper or observe without commentary.

## If the session gets stuck

**The group gets out of sync and the beat falls apart.**

Pause the call-outs, set a steady loud lap-pat tempo with a clear count of 'One, two, ready, go', and rebuild the beat before adding cues.

**Someone cannot jump or squat safely.**

Demonstrate the seated or upper-body variation at the start so alternative movements are normalized before cues begin.


## Terms used here

- Horse gallop rhythm: An uneven two-beat cadence (da-dum, da-dum) mimicking running horse hooves.

## Sources and adaptation

Observed in Relationship Makers Handbook, pages 182-183, where origin is marked as unknown.

Retained the circle formation, horse-gallop leg/knee rhythm, and specific calls ('Say hi to the queen!', 'Take a photo!', 'Jump!', 'Go under a bridge!') from the Relationship Makers Handbook source. UWT removed the competitive split-team elimination mechanic and judged scoring to keep the exercise inclusive and brief, structured the 5-minute schedule, and added explicit low-impact seated variations.

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/galloping-circle/