🐎 Happy Hurdles: a kids' relaxation and calming tale

0:08 [SPEAKER_00]: Hello everyone, let's get ready to be calm on Awe Island. [SPEAKER_00]: I know you're looking forward to our deep dragon breaths. [SPEAKER_00]: I am too. [SPEAKER_00]: First, let's see if you have everything you want for our story today. [SPEAKER_00]: Are the lights in your room, dim or off?

0:37 [SPEAKER_00]: Do you have your favorite blanket or listening buddy? [SPEAKER_00]: Before we begin our story, let's relax. [SPEAKER_00]: Now, set your listening buddy to your side, and let's take three deep dragon breaths. [SPEAKER_00]: Breathe in through your nose, filling up your chest and belly, and then out through your mouth, pretending you are breathing fire.

1:11 [SPEAKER_00]: Ready? [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, deep breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Again, deep breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Last one, fill up your chest and belly. [SPEAKER_00]: Deep breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Today, you are going to think about how your body feels as you rest in sunlight. [SPEAKER_00]: This is all pretend, so you are very safe.

2:19 [SPEAKER_00]: You will start by thinking about your feet, slowly move up to your head, and end with thinking about your entire body. [SPEAKER_00]: It is in a warm and bright green meadow. [SPEAKER_00]: The grass is soft and fluffy, waving gently with the breeze. [SPEAKER_00]: Think about your feet. [SPEAKER_00]: Focus on how they feel as the sunlight shines on your toes.

2:58 [SPEAKER_00]: Are your toes feeling cozy and warm? [SPEAKER_00]: Let the sun warm your feet and breathe, like a dragon, in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Next, think about your legs. [SPEAKER_00]: How do they feel? [SPEAKER_00]: your legs are warm and tingling, just like your feet. [SPEAKER_00]: Relax as you feel the sunlight shining on them.

3:47 [SPEAKER_00]: Now focus on your tummy. [SPEAKER_00]: How does it feel? [SPEAKER_00]: Relax into the soft green grass and breathe, [SPEAKER_00]: in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: The sun gently warms your belly as you lie in the grass. [SPEAKER_00]: How do your hands feel? [SPEAKER_00]: Allowing the shoots of grass to grow between them.

4:38 [SPEAKER_00]: Your hands relax as the sun's warmth surrounds them. [SPEAKER_00]: Now think about your arms, how do they feel? [SPEAKER_00]: Let the sunlight gently warm them as you rest your arms in the grass. [SPEAKER_00]: Next, focus on your shoulders, let them settle down into the grass and breathe, like a dragon, in and out.

5:26 [SPEAKER_00]: The sunlight warms your shoulders gently. [SPEAKER_00]: Now think about your neck. [SPEAKER_00]: Is it relaxed and soft? [SPEAKER_00]: Feel the sun surround your head with a cozy glow. [SPEAKER_00]: Notice and enjoy the feeling of comfort as the sun gently warms your face. [SPEAKER_00]: Loosening your jaw and your forehead.

6:02 [SPEAKER_00]: Now your whole body is bathed in sunlight as the cozy sunbeam covers your feet legs back hands arms shoulders neck and head like a cozy blanket relax and feel the sun hug you as you rest in the soft grass [SPEAKER_00]: As you continue to enjoy the sun's warm, let's take three more deep, dragon breaths.

6:41 [SPEAKER_00]: Deep breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Breathe in through your nose and breathe fire out of your mouth. [SPEAKER_00]: Again, deep breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Last one, fill up your chest and belly, deep breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Great job, everyone. [SPEAKER_00]: I hope you are tucked in nice and cozy.

7:47 [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, I think we're ready to begin our story. [SPEAKER_01]: Let's become an away island. [SPEAKER_01]: Our story today is happy, hurdles. [SPEAKER_01]: It was a bright and early morning on beautiful away island. [SPEAKER_01]: The sun was just peaking over the horizon. [SPEAKER_01]: A new day had started.

8:38 [SPEAKER_01]: Bright golden sunlight spilled across the island. [SPEAKER_01]: Lighting the grassy fields, forests, lakes, and rivers, a sunny horsey, ah, as a sun beam shown through the windows of his stable, waking him up. [SPEAKER_01]: He blinked his eyes a few times, and stretched out one leg [SPEAKER_01]: Then he, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

9:39 [SPEAKER_01]: or would he spend the day in the pasture? [SPEAKER_01]: Just relaxing. [SPEAKER_01]: Whatever happened, a Sani would enjoy it, especially if the weather was as beautiful as he assumed it was. [SPEAKER_01]: Just then, a Sani heard a jingle and looked up. [SPEAKER_01]: That jingle sounded like a saddle being carried.

10:09 [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe it was one of Hassani's writers. [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe today he would go for a ride. [SPEAKER_01]: Hassani waited a moment and then saw the door to the stable open. [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, it was a writer. [SPEAKER_01]: One of Hassani's very favorite writers actually. [SPEAKER_01]: It was Dr. Bowsky, who came through the stable door, carrying a big leather saddle with metal findings that jingled as Dr. Bowsky walked.

10:49 [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky was the Awe Island Federal anarian. [SPEAKER_01]: She worked very hard taking care of animals on Awe Island. [SPEAKER_01]: She was also a Sonny's vet, and she always checked up on him if he ever needed any healthcare or medicines. [SPEAKER_01]: But when Dr. Bowsky had time off, she liked to come by and go for rides with his Sonny.

11:20 [SPEAKER_01]: She was one of Hassani's favorite writers because she always was very kind. [SPEAKER_01]: Plus, she liked to try out new skills and visit new places. [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky came toward Hassani's stall. [SPEAKER_01]: Hi Hassani, good morning, she said. [SPEAKER_01]: Asani Nade happily in reply, greeting her in his own way.

11:55 [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky stroked Asani gently on his head. [SPEAKER_01]: Then, as she fastened the saddle onto Asani's back, he took the chance to eat some of his delicious breakfast hay. [SPEAKER_01]: When he had finished breakfast, [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Brouski put on his sonny's bridal, then she gently escorted Hassani out of his stall and out of the stable into the enclosure.

12:28 [SPEAKER_01]: The weather was as beautiful as Hassani had guessed. [SPEAKER_01]: The sun glimmered in the brilliant blue sky. [SPEAKER_01]: A few fluffy white clouds skipped across the heavens as a gentle breeze caused the trees to sway. [SPEAKER_01]: What a beautiful day for a ride. [SPEAKER_01]: Right, Hassani said, Dr. Bowsky, Hassani Nade happily.

12:59 [SPEAKER_01]: Then Dr. Bowsky climbed up, swung a leg over Hassani's saddle, and they were off. [SPEAKER_01]: Asani began with a gentle walk, and then when Dr. Bowsky was ready, Asani began to trot. [SPEAKER_01]: Soon they were both ready to gallop. [SPEAKER_01]: Clip-ty-clop, Clip-ty-clop. [SPEAKER_01]: Asani loved to gallop.

13:27 [SPEAKER_01]: He enjoyed the feeling of the wind blowing through his dark, [SPEAKER_01]: Clippity, Clop, Clippity, Clop. [SPEAKER_01]: Just as Hasani got into his stride, Dr. Bowsky began to slow him down again. [SPEAKER_01]: That was odd. [SPEAKER_01]: Usually they galloped much further before stopping.

13:59 [SPEAKER_01]: Hasani shook his head and grumbled just a little, disappointed that they were slowing down. [SPEAKER_01]: He wanted to gallop more. [SPEAKER_01]: Asani looked around. [SPEAKER_01]: He had been so focused on his speed that he hadn't noticed he was in a different area than he'd ever been before.

14:25 [SPEAKER_01]: And there were strange little white gates here and there. [SPEAKER_01]: But they weren't connected or attached to anything. [SPEAKER_01]: Normally, in Hassani's experience, gates were attached to fences, so why were these gates here? [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowski gently directed Hassani to face one of the gates.

14:51 [SPEAKER_01]: His head pointing right at the little white gate. [SPEAKER_01]: Then Dr. Bowski indicated to Hassani that he should run. [SPEAKER_01]: Right towards the gate. [SPEAKER_01]: Asani hesitated a minute. [SPEAKER_01]: She wanted him to run toward the gate. [SPEAKER_01]: That didn't make a lot of sense to Asani, but he trusted Dr. Bowsky, so he began to run.

15:23 [SPEAKER_01]: But before he reached the gate, Asani stopped, he couldn't run through the gate. [SPEAKER_01]: It wasn't possible. [SPEAKER_01]: What was Dr. Bowsky thinking? [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky stroked Hassani's neck understandingly and spoke gently to him. [SPEAKER_01]: It's okay, Hassani. [SPEAKER_01]: That gate is called a hurdle.

15:52 [SPEAKER_01]: You are supposed to run toward it and then jump over it. [SPEAKER_01]: I know it seems strange, and maybe even a little scary at first. [SPEAKER_01]: But it's really fun once you learn how to do it. [SPEAKER_01]: Asani listened carefully. [SPEAKER_01]: Of course, he couldn't speak human language.

16:17 [SPEAKER_01]: And Dr. Bowski didn't know that he could understand as much human language as he actually could. [SPEAKER_01]: Instead, he turned his head and gave her a look. [SPEAKER_01]: He hoped she would understand from his expression that he was very unsure about all this. [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky understood animal's body language pretty well.

16:46 [SPEAKER_01]: So when she saw Hassani look at her, she guessed what he was thinking. [SPEAKER_01]: She laughed and said, I get it, Hassani, you're not so sure about these hurdles, but don't worry, let's start with the short ones. [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowski hopped off the saddle. [SPEAKER_01]: Walking, she guided Hassani over to the smallest hurdle, so that Hassani could take a look at it and feel more comfortable about it.

17:22 [SPEAKER_01]: Asani stared intently at the hurdle for a few moments. [SPEAKER_01]: It was pretty short. [SPEAKER_01]: It didn't look at all scary, now that he was close to it. [SPEAKER_01]: As a test, he carefully picked up one foot and noticed he could easily step over the hurdle. [SPEAKER_01]: It really wasn't very high.

17:49 [SPEAKER_01]: Asani thought, well, maybe I can jump over this hurdle. [SPEAKER_01]: To give himself courage, Asani took a deep dragon breath in and out. [SPEAKER_01]: Then, as Dr. Bowsky stood and watched, a sunny backed up, gave his head a little shake and ran. [SPEAKER_01]: He was determined to jump over the hurdle, so he ran toward the hurdle, [SPEAKER_01]: Wow!

18:43 [SPEAKER_01]: He had done it. [SPEAKER_01]: He had jumped over the hurdle. [SPEAKER_01]: It wasn't hard at all. [SPEAKER_01]: As Sonny felt proud of himself. [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky was proud too. [SPEAKER_01]: She clapped and said, good job, as Sonny, let's try another one. [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky led the little horse over to another hurdle.

19:12 [SPEAKER_01]: This one was just a little bit bigger, a sonny looked at it. [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, he could still step over the top, but just barely. [SPEAKER_01]: He took another deep dragon breath in and out. [SPEAKER_01]: ready for the new challenge. [SPEAKER_01]: Then the brown horse again backed up, gave his head a shake, and ran, determined to jump over the taller hurdle.

20:02 [SPEAKER_01]: He leaped up, and again landed gracefully on the other side. [SPEAKER_01]: Now, Hissani was very proud and also feeling pretty excited about this new skill he was learning. [SPEAKER_01]: You're doing great, Hissani. [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky said, let's try just one more today. [SPEAKER_01]: Hissani followed Dr. Bowsky to one more hurdle.

20:35 [SPEAKER_01]: Hissani looked at it. [SPEAKER_01]: This was the biggest hurdle yet. [SPEAKER_01]: It was too tall to step over. [SPEAKER_01]: Asani looked at Dr. Bowsky, giving her his, are you sure? [SPEAKER_01]: Look. [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky nodded, encouragingly to him, and said, you can do it asani.

21:02 [SPEAKER_01]: I know it. [SPEAKER_01]: It would be a challenge, Hassani thought, but he had successfully jumped over the other hurdles. [SPEAKER_01]: So why not this one too? [SPEAKER_01]: Hassani took one more, deep, dragon breath in and out. [SPEAKER_01]: then he backed up once again, gave his head a shake, and ran, determined to jump over the high hurdle.

21:49 [SPEAKER_01]: He ran as fast as he could, and then left into the air. [SPEAKER_01]: He vaulted over the hurdle, and landed gracefully on the other side. [SPEAKER_01]: He had done it. [SPEAKER_01]: This time, Dr. Bowsky actually cheered, Yay Hassani, that was awesome, great job. [SPEAKER_01]: She stroked his head and his mane and said, Great work today, Hassani.

22:26 [SPEAKER_01]: We'll keep practicing this skill. [SPEAKER_01]: Soon, you'll be leaping over all the hurdles. [SPEAKER_01]: Hassani nade with delight. [SPEAKER_01]: He was happy he'd get the chance to jump over hurdles again. [SPEAKER_01]: Then, Dr. Bowsky got back up into the saddle, saying, OK, let's head home, Hassani.

22:56 [SPEAKER_01]: Hassani trotted all the way back to the stable with his head high. [SPEAKER_01]: He was proud that he had tried something new. [SPEAKER_01]: Even though it had been a little scary at first, [SPEAKER_01]: Dr. Bowsky hopped off and led the little brown horse to his cozy stall. [SPEAKER_01]: Asani Nuzzled Dr. Bowsky as the saddle was removed.

23:31 [SPEAKER_01]: He wanted to show her how grateful he was for the fun day. [SPEAKER_01]: Asani was very hungry after galloping and so much leaping. [SPEAKER_01]: And Dr. Bowsky seemed to know this. [SPEAKER_01]: She brought him some fresh hay. [SPEAKER_01]: It was very delicious. [SPEAKER_01]: And Asani crunched away at it gratefully.

23:59 [SPEAKER_01]: As Asani finished eating, Dr. Bowsky pet him one more time. [SPEAKER_01]: She said, I'm proud of you, Hassani, get some rest now, and I'll see you again soon. [SPEAKER_01]: As Dr. Bowsky left the stable, waving by to Hassani, he wynneed his thanks. [SPEAKER_01]: After finishing his hay, Hassani realized how tired he was.

24:34 [SPEAKER_01]: It had been a very busy morning, and gave himself a little shake, then he settled himself into his comfy stall. [SPEAKER_01]: As he got comfortable, a sunny thought about everything he had to be grateful for. [SPEAKER_01]: He was grateful for his warm and cozy stable and stall. [SPEAKER_01]: He took a deep dragon breath in and out.

25:28 [SPEAKER_01]: And closed his eyes. [SPEAKER_01]: He was grateful for the delicious hay that he always enjoyed eating. [SPEAKER_01]: He took another deep dragon breath and out. [SPEAKER_01]: Most of all, Hassani was grateful that Dr. Bowsky had helped him learn a new skill. [SPEAKER_01]: He was so happy to have jumped over the hurdles today.

26:15 [SPEAKER_01]: He smiled as he took one last, deep dragon breath, in and out. [SPEAKER_01]: is mind-quieted, and Hassani fell asleep, dreaming of Dr. Bowsky and the new hurdles he would jump over soon. [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for joining us to be calm on Awe Island. [SPEAKER_01]: See you next time.