EXT. CASTLE COURTYARD – DAY
Yoga mats are laid out, and soothing medieval lute music plays in the background. A yoga INSTRUCTOR stands at the front, ready to teach. A group of knights in full armour clumsily try to find their spots on the mats.
INSTRUCTOR: Welcome, brave knights, to the first ever medieval mindfulness yoga class! Let’s start by finding a comfortable seat on your mats.
KNIGHT 1: (struggling to sit) My armour is chafing. Is that normal?
INSTRUCTOR: Embrace the discomfort, sir knight. It’s part of the journey. Now, close your visors – er, I mean, eyes – and take a deep breath.
The knights try to breathe deeply, but it’s loud and echoey inside their helmets.
INSTRUCTOR: Beautiful. Now, let’s move into our first pose: “Knight’s Lunge”.
She demonstrates a lunge. The knights try, but their armour restricts them. There are sounds of creaking metal and muffled complaints.
KNIGHT 2: I think I’m stuck.
She moves to the next pose, but there’s a loud crash as Knight 2 falls over.
INSTRUCTOR: Are you okay?
KNIGHT 2: Just a minor armour malfunction. Continue!
INSTRUCTOR: Alright, let’s move into “Jousting Plank”.
She gets into a plank position. The knights try, but it’s a disaster. Knight 1’s helmet falls off, revealing his flushed face.
KNIGHT 1: I think I need a squire for this one.
INSTRUCTOR: Let’s modify. Try “Resting Squire” instead.
She demonstrates a pose. The knights attempt it but end up in various awkward positions.
KNIGHT 3: This feels less like yoga and more like combat training against invisible foes.
INSTRUCTOR: Ah, but isn’t the greatest battle the one within?
KNIGHT 2: No, the greatest battle was when I tried to put on the armour this morning.
INSTRUCTOR: Let’s finish with “Sleeping Dragon.” Lie on your backs and –
KNIGHT 3: Last time I laid down in armour, it took three squires and a horse to get me up.
INSTRUCTOR: Alright, standing meditation it is! Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and imagine you’re a tree.
KNIGHT 2: Like, a tree in a dense forest or a lone tree in a field?
INSTRUCTOR: Whichever you prefer.
KNIGHT 3: What kind of tree? Oak? Pine? Birch?
INSTRUCTOR: Just… any tree!
KNIGHT 1: Are there squirrels in this tree?
INSTRUCTOR: (sighing) Yes, and they’re all doing perfect Knight’s Lunges.
Knight 4 falls over.
Robert Walker 