Toad Tries Yoga

One morning, Frog found Toad lying on the grass.

“I am not asleep,” said Toad.

“I am centering myself.”

“What does that mean?” asked Frog.

“It means I am doing yoga,” said Toad.

“I read about it in a book. If I stretch my arms and breathe deeply, I will feel calm and wise.”

Frog sat down beside him.

“Do you feel calm and wise now?” he asked.

“I mostly feel itchy,” said Toad. “And my foot is asleep.”

Frog helped Toad wiggle his toes.

“Let me try again,” said Toad.

He stood on one leg and raised his arms.

“I am a tree,” said Toad.

“You are a very fine tree,” said Frog.

Then Toad wobbled.

“You are a tree in the wind,” said Frog.

Then Toad tipped over and fell with a soft thump.

“I am a tree who has taken a nap,” said Toad.

Frog laughed.

“You do not have to be perfect at yoga,” he said. “You only have to be you.”

Toad nodded. “Maybe I will just breathe for now.”

So Frog and Toad sat cross-legged in the grass.

They breathed in and breathed out.

“I do feel calmer,” said Toad.

“And wise?” asked Frog.

“I think I am wise enough to know when to stop standing on one leg,” said Toad.

Inspired by Arnold Lobel. Co created with ChatGPT