This is a chapter in the story of Anneke and Hans, 9 year old twins, living in a small village crisscrossed with little wooded parks, and canals leading out to the North Sea in Holland.
To begin, one afternoon after an especially busy day at school, the twins decided to take their time walking home by winding their way through a nearby park of large poplar trees, yew and blackberry brambles along a shallow canal.
After leaving the protection of the tall red brick houses with steeply sloping roofs on the street beyond school, they entered a small woodland. Hans and Anneke noticed the wind blowing stronger than they had thought, so they stopped alongside the path to put on their jackets.
Overhead they heard birds singing, and noticed the top branches of hundred foot poplars swaying back and forth. It seemed the birds, feathers fluffed from the wind, were huddled and tightly clutching branches to keep from losing their balance.
As kids like to play and imitate nature, Anneke had the idea that they could be like the wind in the high tree tops, by swinging their arms over their heads right side to left side, back and forth. So, for a few minutes of dancing the twins started imitating the whooshing sound of the wind by breathing in and out while bending to the right, and breathing in and out while bending to the left.
Resting a moment, the thought came to Hans - which he shared with his sister - that their 'wind dance' had dissolved their stress from school, and they agreed they were feeling much better!
It was then that they spied a particular jay high up on a branch that they named 'Jasper Jay'. He was sounding a rhythmic call of 'ee - ee - eek' over and over - quite intent on his mission.
Anneke and Hans noticed other birds singing their rhythmic songs and tried to imitate, but it was hard to hear the sounds, exactly. They told each other they'd have to spend more time paying attention to the birds singing if they really wanted to learn their calls.
After a short time, they left the little woodland behind as they took the path leading home. But, they kept up the memory of their lesson from that day, by remembering that dancing while breathing in and out evenly dissolved their stress, and left them full of fresh energy!
And, in new adventures ahead, Anneke and Hans will be learning more about nature, and some easy meditations.
Story and photo of jay in The Netherlands - Susan Kramer
Note: The characters in this story are fictional.
Anneke and Hans stories
Anneke and Hans Homepage
1. Anneke and Hans Learn a Sitting Meditation by the North Sea
2. Anneke and Hans Learn a Walking Meditation by a Canal
3. Anneke and Hans Learn a Dance Meditation in the Park
4. Anneke and Hans Learn a Relaxation Meditation in a Meadow
5. Anneke and Hans Learn about Instant Meditation and Kindness
Anneke and Hans Stories in Dutch
Related links
Meditations for Kids and Teens
Sitting meditation for kids translated into Dutch, French, German and Spanish
Walking meditation for kids translated into Dutch, French, German and Spanish
***
 | "Meditation for all Kids" Ebook or print book. How to teach sitting, walking, dance, relaxation, instant, music, running, swinging, biking and swimming meditations, plus a chapter of guided meditations on virtues, and a chapter of affirmations, inspirations and prayers. For tots to teens of all abilities. 100 pages. |
***
Dutch:
gebonden uitgave van:
"Fundamentele bewegingen voor kinderern met dansjes, meditaties en yoga" door Susan Kramer - 16 ritmische, basale, motorische vaardigheden, 9 dansjes, 9 meditaties vor ontspanning en 15 zacht bewegende yoga houdingen voor kinderen van alle leeftijden en bekwaamheden. Volledig geïllustreerd, 108 pagina's.
Save to Del.icio.us
