Babar’s Yoga For Elephants by Laurent De Brunhoff

Fans of Jean de Brunhoff’s beloved Babar the Elephant stories and yoga enthusiasts alike will find a delightful convergence in the delightful book, Babar’s Yoga for Elephants.

Long before yoga gained popularity with celebrities like Sting and Madonna, Babar and the residents of Celesteville were already discovering the joys of this ancient practice for finding inner peace and tranquility.

Now, elephants everywhere can join in on the fun! This charmingly illustrated book provides step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow illustrations for 15 different yoga positions and stretches, as well as helpful breathing exercises.

But Babar’s Yoga for Elephants goes beyond just the physical poses. It also addresses a unique challenge that human yoga books often overlook – what to do with your trunk while in a pose! Babar himself takes the time to explain how yoga was introduced to Celesteville and how he and his loyal friend Celeste stay fit by practicing yoga during their many travels.

With its timeless wisdom and playful illustrations, Babar’s Yoga for Elephants is a must-have for anyone who loves elephants, yoga, or simply a heartwarming story. Whether you’re a human or an elephant, this book is sure to bring joy, relaxation, and a sense of well-being.

Yoga for Elephants: Ancient Seals to Modern Day Practice

A few years ago, archaeologists made an intriguing discovery in a cave several days from Celesteville. They found paintings of elephants in yoga positions and little clay cylinders with drawings depicting elephants doing yoga. These artifacts dated back to the earliest times of elephants on Earth. When our scientists at the National Library studied these seals in Celesteville, they were astounded. It appeared that elephants not only practiced yoga, but may have even invented it.

Elephants and human yoga experts at the National Library studied the ancient seals for months. They found that all the poses depicted on the seals are still practiced today. The only noticeable difference between prehistoric elephant yoga and contemporary human yoga is that people take off their shoes to do yoga, whereas elephants put them on, and they always have.

Yoga became immensely popular in Celesteville after the secret of the ancient seals became known. The modern elephant’s life is stressful and complicated, and yoga provided the calm and control needed in their busy and demanding days. Babar, along with Celeste, the children, Arthur, Cornelius, and Zephyr, started attending daily yoga classes by the lake at sundown. As their skills grew, they invited the master, Sree Mahash, to Celesteville for advanced instruction.

The Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has become an integral part of Babar’s daily routine. He starts his day with a series of movements called the “Salutation to the Sun,” which helps loosen his body after sleep and prepare him for the day. This sequence involves various movements that stretch and energize the body. Babar then moves on to more challenging poses to improve strength and balance.

Yoga has many benefits for elephants and humans alike. It helps them relax, draw strength from within, and improve their physical and mental well-being. The poses stimulate the body and refresh the mind, providing a sense of peace and harmony.

A Sample Yoga Sequence

Here is a sample yoga sequence that Babar follows:

Salutation to the Sun

To greet the new day and refresh the air in his lungs, Babar starts with the Salutation to the Sun:

1. Inhale and lift your arms above your head, arching your back slightly
2. Exhale and bend forward, bringing your hands down to the floor
3. Inhale with your hands on the floor, put your right foot just behind your hands, keeping your left leg behind you
4. Stay close to the ground and look up
5. Exhale and bring your right foot next to the left in a plank position
6. Exhale more while pushing your rear end up and keeping your head down in a downward facing dog position
7. Bring your knees, chest, and chin to the floor
8. Inhale and push up onto your arms and upward facing dog
9. Exhale and push back into downward facing dog
10. Inhale as you bring your left foot forward
11. Exhale and bring the other foot forward, rising slowly into a head to knees position
12. Inhale and slowly rise until your arms extend over your head

Other Poses

Babar also incorporates various other poses into his practice to strengthen different parts of his body:

1. Sit with your hands on the floor and legs extended, inhale and push your body upward, keeping your knees bent
2. Exhale and move back to a sitting position with your rear end close to your hands, arms extended behind you
3. Lift your legs and put your feet back on the floor
4. Inhale, lift your body again, keeping your legs straight out in front of you
5. Exhale and return to a sitting position as you started out
6. Bend over and put the top of your head on the floor between your hands
7. Put your weight onto your head and hands, lift your legs off the floor while keeping your knees bent
8. Push your rear end up and keep your knees tightly bent
9. Lift your head off the floor, straighten your arms

Finding Peace and Harmony

Babar believes that yoga is not just about the physical practice; it is also a form of meditation. Focusing on breathing and being present in the moment helps elephants connect with their inner selves and find peace and harmony.

Babar and Celeste have taken their yoga practice with them on their travels throughout the world. They have found peace and relaxation by practicing yoga in various iconic locations, such as in front of the Louvre Museum in Venice or in the meadows of Central Park.

Yoga has become an integral part of life in Celesteville, offering elephants and humans alike the opportunity to relax, find balance, and experience inner peace. Babar and his fellow elephants hope that yoga will bring these same benefits to anyone who chooses to practice it.

Namaste.