Hello!
This story is the short bedtime adventure of Mama Wombat,
Who we will lovingly refer to as Mombat,
And her baby Periwinkle.
Periwinkle is an energetic little wombat who sometimes has a tough time falling asleep,
And Mombat is going to use a technique called Yoga Nidra to help him get to sleep.
Feel free to follow along to Mombat's cues to help you relax and get sleepy.
Mama Wombat and Baby Wombat were heading back to their burrow for sleepy time.
Mombat put Periwinkle in her pouch and said,
Time for sleep,
Periwinkle.
Try to fall asleep as we head back,
Okay?
But I'm not tired yet,
And there are so many things to see,
Mombat.
A hairy brown caterpillar slowly appeared on a nearby fern and begun to chew on a leaf.
Look at that caterpillar munching away.
Do you think it's his dinner time?
Well,
Periwinkle,
That's definitely possible because all animals are on different schedules,
And in your schedule,
It's bedtime.
Alrighty,
I'll try,
Said Periwinkle.
Mombat dodged a couple of branches and squeezed by some bushes.
I see our burrow up ahead,
Periwinkle.
Are you feeling sleepy yet?
She said,
Nope.
Said Periwinkle with way too much excitement.
Okay,
I think I might know a way.
It's almost like making your own sleepy dust.
It's called yoga nidra.
Do you want to try,
Periwinkle?
Okay,
He replied.
Okay,
Get nice and comfortable and close your eyes.
Take a long,
Slow breath in and then breathe it out.
Now,
Without touching,
Bring your focus to or think about the body parts I'm about to tell you.
It'll feel almost like you're making sure the body parts are there,
But with your mind.
You don't have to touch them.
When you start to focus,
That body part might feel tingly,
Warmer,
Or even larger than it is,
But that's completely normal.
Anything that happens is normal,
Okay?
Okay,
Periwinkle replied.
Bring your focus to your right paw.
Now your right leg.
Left paw.
Left leg.
Tummy.
Periwinkle started feeling slightly sleepier somehow.
He looked up and saw a dragonfly breeze past them.
It had beautiful colors.
Its body was neon blue and black,
And its wings were different shades of brown that flapped swiftly in the summer night.
Mom,
Look at how fast he is,
Periwinkle said.
The dragonfly changed direction towards a pond,
And he was gone just as fast as he appeared.
He sure is,
Periwinkle.
Now bring a deeper focus to your chest and notice how it goes up and down with each breath.
Take a couple of deep breaths.
Bring your focus to your left arm.
Left palm.
Now your right arm.
Right palm.
And your neck.
Periwinkle yawned.
Mombat walked on.
They were almost to their burrow.
Periwinkle tilted his head from inside the pouch and noticed a soft glow of the moon.
Mombat,
How is the moon so bright?
He asked.
Well,
Actually,
Periwinkle,
The moon doesn't glow on its own.
It reflects the light coming from the sun.
Wow,
Said Periwinkle in amazement.
I know.
Tomorrow you can ask me all the questions you want when our pal the sun is up.
Fine,
Replied Periwinkle.
Now focus on your mouth.
Right ear.
Left ear.
Nose.
Right eye.
Left eye.
Forehead.
Top of your head.
Hair on your head.
Periwinkle took a few slow blinks and just like that he was asleep.
Like tight mombats.
