Avatar - The Last Yogi

Story: Here’s an easy way to share wellness activities such as breathwork, yoga and movement with children (ages 4 - 9) while tapping into the power of storytelling.

Goal: Tell a fun and engaging story that incorporates movement and wellness for Grades 1-5.

Story:

Kitara and Sokka were in their canoe (boat pose) looking for fish to bring back to their village (house pose). They saw a strange glow in the sky and canoe’d (boat pose) over to investigate it. When they got closer to the source of the light, they had to get out of the canoe (boat pose) and tip-toed (action) to the centre of the frozen, floating island. There was a biiigggg ball of ice (medicine ball) and it was glowing so brightly! They tried to peek (peek) inside but couldn’t really see so they blew on the ice to see if they could melt some of it. Belly inhale, blow slowly x3 (belly breath smell the roses, blow out the candles). Now, looking inside the ball, there is… Something inside that's glowing. “It looks like a person!!!” Kitara said to Sokka, let’s be very careful, we don't know who it is.” But Sokka said,”it's okay I'm a Warrior!” And then he uses his axe and tries to break the ball. (Strike the ball 3 times). All of a sudden there was a huuuge explosion (sound) and the ice ball broke. Kitara and Sokka had to duck to avoid the pieces of ice flying in the air (matrix back stretch, side stretch, downward dog, other side, end on the ground). When there was no more ice flying through the air, the siblings crawled the hill and peeked over (cobra pose), there was a boy sitting in the centre of the crater (does everyone know what a crater is?) right next to a huge, furry, cuddly beast! The boy opened his eyes and saw the siblings peeking at him and said “Hi!” my name is Aang, “ (tree pose) what are your names?”

Sokka, approached Aang (tree pose) very cautiously (warrior pose) and said “Are you a friend?”

Aang (tree pose) said, “We don’t know each other, but I like you already so yes, I am a friend.” The creature made a roaring sound and Aang (tree pose) said, oh this is my friend Appa, he’s a flying bison (cow pose), he flies and he’s my friend.” (To Indigenous Peoples, bison represent their spirit and remind them of how their lives were once lived, free and in harmony with nature.)

Kitara studied Aang (tree pose) and Aapa (cow pose) and whispered to Sokka “I feel like he’s a good person, let’s be friends with him”. Sokka replied saying “Okay sis, you are the most intuitive person I know, if that’s what you feel, then he probably is”. (Does anyone know what intuition or intuitive means?) - it means you have a feeling about something or someone and you’re right about it.

Sokka cautiously, shook Aang’s (tree pose) hand still in the warrior pose and then bowed to him (forward bend). Aang (tree pose) said before we can be best friends, we have to demonstrate our fighting skills. Sokka, said “that’s my most favourite thing in the world!!!”, Kitara shook her head and said “oh boy, I knew we’d like him”.

Aang (tree pose), Sokka and Kitara stood in the horse stance and then wim hof movement/breathing to gather energy, push-ups, squats, punched the air 10 times, then they did a snap kick 10 times.

Once the sequence was completed, Sokka, Aang and Kitara all laughed so loud they had tears coming out of their eyes.

When the ice ball broke, the canoe (boat pose) broke and sunk. Now they were struck on the ice island! But wait, Aang (tree pose) said, “Don’t worry! Appa (cow pose) can fly! He’s a sky Bison!

Wait we’re supposed to ride that?? said Sokka. “He’s not going to eat me right?”

“Noooo” said Aang (tree pose), “Appa (cow pose) is a vegetarian, let me and he wouldn’t hurt anybody, unless you’re a fruit or vegetable.”

All of a sudden the sky became black and ashes (does everyone know what an ash is?) began falling from the sky and there were some really big ships heading towards them.

“Uh oh!” said Kitara, those are fire nation ships coming towards up. The fire nation is trying to take over the world!

Aang (tree pose) said “that’s not nice, let me talk to them” and with that he flew towards the ships on Appa (cow pose). All of a sudden there were fireballs flying towards him and Appa! Appa (moving cow pose) swerved and dove and maneuvered so the fireballs didn’t hit them. Aang (tree pose) flew off Appa’s (cow pose) back and landed on the deck of the closest ship.

A door opened and out of it came a boy with a shaved head and a ponytail. He said “I am Prince Zuko” and I will defeat you!

Aang (tree pose) and the Prince had a big battle, the Price threw huge fireballs (kamehameha/horse stance) at Aang (tree pose) but he was able to deflect them with his air bending powers (belly breathe, blow at the fireballs). The Price and Aang fought back and forth but finally the prince lost all of his powers because he was too tired.

Aang (tree pose) said to him, “you are a good person and I see that you have a loving heart”, come with me and together we will bring peace to the world.

The Prince stood up, bowed to Aang (tree pose) and said “I would like that alot”. They hugged (self-hug) each other and flew on Aapa (cow pose) to Kitara and Sokka.

All 4 of these very powerful, smart children walked together to make the world a better place.