Aesop’s Fables are well loved the world over for their entertainment value and moral education. Here Sydney Solis adapts The Lion and the Mouse into a yoga story perfect for kids yoga classes. Watch next week for The Farmer and the Fox.
Once upon a time there was a great lion. Roaming in the jungle, he spotted a tiny mouse and pounced on it. “Ah ha! I have caught you!” The lion roared. “Now I will have a tasty snack!”
The little mouse shook in fear, but found the courage to say, “Lion, please, I beg you. Do not eat me. If you spare my life, I promise to return the favor and help you one day.”
“Ha! How can such a little mouse do anything important for such a great creature as I? I’m hungry!” And he lifted the mouse up by its tail and opened his great jaws wide.
“Please! I am sure I can help you one day! Give me a chance. Such a great creature as you surely has the power to spare some one his life!”
“All right. I will let you free,” the lion said, and went to sleep under a tree.
The next day, the mouse met the lion again, but this time the lion was caught in a net from a trap that hunters had set for him. The Lion looked at the mouse with sad eyes and said, “Dear friend, can you help me?
And the little mouse looked at this great beast trapped and helpless. Then the mouse said, “Of course!” And went to work gnawing the ropes with his teeth and setting the lion free.
Yoga Asana:
Who is this story about?
Lion – Lion pose, simhasana, – roar like a lion, the great courageous and powerful creature that you are.
Mouse – Child pose, balasana, – then squat, bring hands to chest like a mouse and walk around squeaking. No matter how small you are, you are capable of big things!
What happens in this story?
Net – Upward facing bow pose, urdva dhanurasana, or upward boat, urdva navasana, The trap of pride, fear, anger, hatred and revenge.
Gnawing – Opening and closing mouth wide, exaggerating chewing motions, puckering mouth to exercise the muscles of the face.
What is the benefit of showing mercy?
An Open and Free Heart , Peace and Freedom- Camel pose, - ustrasana
Shavasana and Meditation:
Visualize a lion in side your heart. See its radiant, golden mane. Feel its strength, courage and power. The lion’s power comes from his peaceful abiding. He knows that his strength and power comes from divine goodness, forgiveness and love. He does not harm others but grants them mercy and freedom instead.
See a little mouse inside your heart. Know that that little mouse is capable of great things – kindness, intelligence, quick-thinking. Nothing is ever too small to be of no importance. Know that you are important. Practice acts of kindness small and large.
Discussion:
How are you like the lion? Have you ever had the opportunity to have power over another? What did you do?
How are you like the mouse? Have you ever been bullied or threatened by someone bigger and more powerful than yourself? What did you do?
What do you think would have happened if the lion ate the mouse instead of freeing it? How would that have affected the lion’s ability to be freed from the net?
Make a list of creatures in your life that are small and helpless. How do you treat your pet, baby sister or the spider in the bathtub? How does remembering the way you treated them make you feel? Happy? Proud? Ashamed?
How can we treat others who are different from us in looks, clothing, language, religion and nationality with respect and dignity?
Look at your body. Every human being has the same fingers, toes, bones, ligaments, organs and muscles.
Affirmation:
- I use my power for love and mercy toward all creatures in the world.
- I treat others as I wish to be treated.
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