One of the most popular poses in yoga is Warrior pose. It comes in three variations, creatively called Warrior I, Warrior II, and Warrior III. Warrior, with its three variations, is a terrific pose to examine and explore the cultural variations of Warriors throughout the world in a Social Studies curriculum.
warrior II
Social Studies – Cultural Variations of Warriors
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In pairs, or small groups, have students study various Warriors – samarai, pirates, medieval knights, Vikings, Iroquois, Masai, Sikhs, Aztecs, Celts, Amazons, etc. Be sure to include a variety of cultural backgrounds, geographic regions, and time periods. Examine the rules, or honor code, followed by these Warriors. Possibly include weapons used, historical significance, strengths and weaknesses.
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Have each group present their findings (poster, written, aural, powerpoint, video – be creative).
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As you perform Warrior pose consider which Warrior comes to mind. Mentally choose another Warrior to see if the pose changes and in which ways. Does one version of Warrior pose (I, II, or III) remind you of a specific type of Warrior and why?
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Create an affirmation which reflects your personal Warrior code (ex: I am strong).
Older students (tweens and teens) may also enjoy the Spike TV show Deadliest Warrior which pits two warriors against one another. Through scientific evaluation, dramatizations, and some really cool slow mo camera shots, they declare a winner. My kids’ favorite from Season 1 was Shaolin Monk vs. Maori Warrior. Be warned, however, that this is for OLDER kids, you may want to pre-veiw an episode before your four year old has nightmares.
I’d love to hear how your class applies this lesson plan. Be sure to send in your comments to tell me about what insights you’ve gained from studying Warriors of the world through Warrior pose.
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I was Wonder Woman as a kid (and still am for all intensive purposes) Great visual! I’ll take that to hot yoga today!