Muskaan Lohia, a Class II student of Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, loves listening to stories. On September 13, she joined other children of her age to enact some of her favourite folk tales through asanas at the ‘Story with Yoga’ workshop at Starmark’s Lord Sinha Road address.

Narrated by Mira and Daleep Kakkar of the Kathakars, the first story, How Did The Tiger Get its Stripes, was about the way a clever man outwitted a tiger who wanted to eat his buffalo. “I used halasan to denote paddy fields. This requires one to raise one’s legs above the head and forward so that the toes touch the ground,” explained yoga instructor Prasanna Saiga, who guided the participants.

Said Mira, who conceptualised the programme: “Yoga helps children cope with the pressure of studies and exams. Combining it with stories helps to capture their interest.”

The idea was a success, if Muskaan’s enthusiasm is anything to go by. “I can’t wait to go home and practise the asanas again,” she said.

The second story of the day, The Magic Wrap, on the reason behind the peacock’s gorgeous feathers, was enacted through dance moves.

Said Daleep: “We hope that this exercise might help children tell their own stories through yogic postures.

Agreed Anushree Lohia, Muskaan’s mother: “Usually, it is difficult to interest a child in yoga, but introducing it through stories is a novel concept.”