Objective – While enjoying a simple story and adequate narration, we can introduce several aspects of the Yoga Chakra. The topic of this story addresses the jnana yoga branch.
Age level – 4 to 9 years approximately.
Asana – While narrating the children perform the asanas.
It is a beautiful morning in the big forest. The sky is blue and the sun is shining, it is neither too cold nor too hot. Near a lake (stream, river, etc.) there is a large tree with branches reaching high into the sky – tadasana.
In its trunk there is a hole from where a Littlebug peeks out and looks around, it looks up and down, to one side and the other side – greeva sanchalanasana.
Littlebug is amazed at what it sees and with a heavy sigh says, “But who am I? What am I doing here?”
No one answers, so Littlebug leaves the hole. On its right side there is a beautiful butterfly – titali asana. Littlebug watches the light, soft, slow flutter of the butterfly. It goes towards the butterfly wanting to ask, ‘Who am I?’, but the butterfly flew away. Littlebug could not ask, but thought, ‘Maybe I’m like the butterfly’. So Littlebug tried but could not fly like the butterfly and said, “So if I am not a butterfly, who am I? What am I doing here?”
Suddenly, at the edge of the forest, on his left side some branches start cracking and a lion appears right in front of Littlebug´s eyes – simhasana. It is a big lion, paws anchored to the ground, chest projected forward, proud and fierce. After overcoming the surprise and seeing the lion so firm and confident, Littlebug thinks it could also be a lion . With joy it approaches the lion and says, “Do you think I am a lion like you?” There is deep silence, then the lion opens its mouth to respond – simhagarjanasana. Littlebug is so scared and it quickly leaves without waiting for an answer. Littlebug unhappy and almost crying says, “I can’t roar like a lion, so who am I? What am I doing here?”
Lowering its head Littlebug sees in the grass near the lake a crocodile – makarasana. The crocodile is absolutely still, not moving, just still. Littlebug thinks, ‘This could surely be me, it does not roar, it does not fly. I can be still’. However, time passes, and passes and more time passes, and the crocodile still does not move a bit. Littlebug is getting bored being still and asks the crocodile, “Do you think I could be a crocodile too?” “Oh no!” says the crocodile, “you can’t be still.” Littlebug agrees that being still for so long does not suit it, “But, who am I? What am I doing here?”
As it wanders around aimlessly in the forest, it sees a turtle – kurmasana. It is completely tucked into its shell. Little-bug thinks, ‘This is a very old animal so it must be very wise’. Littlebug gently knocks on the shell, and watching the turtle, Littlebug also stretches one leg, then the other leg, one arm, then the other arm and then slowly stretches out the head. Littlebug is happy and tells the turtle, “Look, I can do everything you do, so do you think I am a turtle like you?” Gently nodding, the turtle replies, “Maybe, maybe, maybe.” So Littlebug begins to move like a turtle, but soon is simply moving too fast. “So I am not a turtle either. Who am I? What am I doing here?”
Pranayama
Tired, Littlebug closes its eyes and sits down in the grass – and wakes up to the sound of something buzzing and the delicious smell of honey. Littlebug lookes up and sees a big bumble bee – bhramari. “I know I cannot fly and I cannot make honey, although I love honey very much. I am not a bumble bee, but who am I? What am I doing here?”
Pratyahara
Tired of trying to be someone, Littlebug lies down near the lake – shavasana. The beautiful butterfly returns and sees Littlebug lying on the grass.
Introduction to relaxation: feeling the warm air, heat from the sun, listening to the sound of birds, water flowing, and so on. If possible: rotation of consciousness according to the ages of the children and experience of the group; use the image of a butterfly gently touching each body part.
Yama and niyama – Manahprasad and Namaskara
Littlebug begins to move, sits up and sees its reflection on the calm waters of the lake, like a mirror it sees itself. Littlebug finally sees, “I am that. This is me. I am me.” Littlebug is happy, it has the answer to its questions. “I am happy to be me, a Littlebug and to be friends with the sun, the river and trees, the beautiful butterfly, the proud lion, the still crocodile, the slow old turtle and busy bumble bee. This is the best way to be.”
As a way to externalize and capture some aspects of the experience, each child is given a sheet of paper or similar and materials to draw and paint. Who is Littlebug for you? Children draw what they think Littlebug is, then you can add them to a paper craft tree.
Observation: we are all different, we are all worthy and knowing this brings happiness and acceptance of oneself and others, so we can greet everyone respectfully every day.
Based on the story El Mausito by Lolo Rico de Alba