Are you ready to travel across the hot desert with Mary and Joseph and be part of the Christmas Story, the day Jesus was born? (1) Mary and Joseph ride a donkey to get to Bethlehem. Become a KICKING DONKEY. From Down Dog Pose kick one leg up into the air, followed by the other leg. (2) There are lots of CAMELS in the desert. Come into a Camel Pose. Camels endure days in scorching deserts. Stand on knees. Knees wide as hips. Start with hands on your bum and sort of move hips forward a little bit. You can stay here or if you're feeling adventurous, put hands all the way down on your ankles. Maybe even look back to the wall behind. Come back up and sit down. Shake the hot sand off your body. 3) Well done! You've crossed the desert and the only place to rest is a shelter for animals. (4) Mary has given birth to Jesus. Come into Boat Pose to be the MANGER (animal feeding trough that is the cradle for Jesus). Sit up tall. Bend legs. Lean back. Take your arms in front of you and balance on your bottom. Lift legs. Tighten belly. (5) Oh no, there's a desert storm. It's rocking the cradle, so wiggle from side to side. (6) Mary has given birth. Become BABY JESUS in Child Pose. (7) MARY sits in Easy Pose (legs crossed) and bows down to the floor in praise and gratitude for the birth of her son. (8) JOSEPH stands in Tree Pose because he wants to be strong and stable for Mary. (9) You see something above you. Shift your gaze from the floor to the heavens. You see THE 3 WISE MEN. The first one is short, the second is medium-sized, and the third one is tall. Switch between them by being short in Squat Pose, medium in Chair Pose, and tall in Mountain Pose on tiptoes with arms extended to the sky. (10) Come into the TALL WISE MAN, Mountain Pose on tiptoes with arms extended to the sky. (11) Step your feet out wide. Stretch arms to sides as far as possible. With your one head, two arms, and two legs you've turned into a FIVE POINTED STAR - a wishing star. Quick. Make a wish.
Everyone plays one of the parts (e.g. Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Three wise men, Star, Donkey, Camel, Cradle).
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