Zephyr and the Wind Dragons

Secret Powers of Breath

By Al Lee, Avery Storms, and Lark Huang-Storms, PhD.

“I wish I’d known that when I was younger!”

How many times has that thought passed through your mind as an adult? Zephyr’s mission is to open the door to the unmatched power and potential of the breath to our children – to make sure they start young with the tools they need to be happy and successful in life.

Zephyr teaches kids that they have a “secret weapon” when they need to make good decisions; when they’re dealing with difficult emotions like fear, frustration, and anger; and when they want to activate physical energy and focus. These skills can make a huge difference in their lives as they move through childhood and the teen years, navigating the inevitable stressors and challenges.

The breath is a powerful tool for self-regulation, performance enhancement, and a source of health and well-being for everyone. Doctors and healers from all traditions, extreme athletes, performing artists and scientific researchers have shown that developing simple breath awareness can unlock internal resources for all of us. It is our goal to bring this simple yet impactful message to children and those who care for them.

Rendered in graphic novel format with beautiful and engaging artwork, Zephyr is designed to be enjoyed by children on their own terms. Young children will love reading it with the help of a parent, teacher, or therapist, while older children and young adults can explore it independently. Following along with the relatable Zephyr they will learn to understand, use, and retain powerful breathing lessons.

This book uses multisensory approaches to teach simple breathing skills alongside Zephyr, a curious young Wind Dragon who falls (literally) into an adventure. To find his way back home to his family and friends, Zephyr learns key lessons of breathing to conquer his fears, harness his emotions, and unlock his inner strength. Along the way he is guided by Wind Keepers – wise and sometimes eccentric teachers who share the knowledge he needs to get home and realize his full power.

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Book Chapters

Zephyr is a young wind dragon whose story has all the elements of a heroic journey. Lured by the thrill of a daring flying stunt, Zephyr finds himself far away from home in a strange land trying to find his way back to his family and friends. Along the way Zephyr is introduced to extraordinary teachers and must learn and internalize their lessons to make his way home.

Chapter 1: THE VORTEX

A carefree Zephyr is playing with friends in their idyllic cloud kingdom Snallygaster when he makes a risky maneuver and suddenly finds himself falling to earth and in a strange, unfamiliar world with no idea how to find his way home.

Chapter 2: THE FIRST DRAGON SECRET - Courage

As his terrifying fall is about to end in disaster, Zephyr is rescued at the last minute by the great Wind Keeper Vindur on an icy mountain top. Vindur shows Zephyr that the first step in finding his way home is to manage his fears.

Vindur’s Wisdom:
Overcoming Fear and Anxiety
Vindur shows Zephyr how to use the breath to melt the icy freeze of fear; she teaches him that fear is natural and courage is acting in spite of our fears. This lesson combines simple verbal affirmation and strong physical cues that are easily accessible to all readers.

Chapter 3: THE SECOND DRAGON SECRET – Energy and Strength

Zephyr seeks out the Wind Keeper Brubru for the next piece of the puzzle and finds him on a verdant jungle island in the middle of the ocean. He is exhausted from his journey but Brubru shows Zephyr how to access his vitality and strength, shining within him like a sun.

Brubru’s Wisdom: Overcoming Fatigue
Zephyr learns that nearly all our energy comes from the breath! Understanding that fact and using full diaphragmatic breathing helps him access all his power. This lesson incorporates guided visualization and a rhyming mnemonic.

Chapter 4: THE FINAL DRAGON SECRET – Power of Mind

Zephyr flies above a sea of cherry trees in full bloom, feeling more than ready to get back to his family and friends. He’s impatient and gets annoyed by pesky monkeys getting in his way! But he has a final lesson to learn from Kaze – The Golden Wind Keeper. Kaze shows Zephyr that emotions help us so long as we recognize them and don’t let them control us.

Kaze’s Wisdom: Overcoming Distractions
Zephyr learns how the breath can help us become more aware of emotions and also take control of them so we can focus on our most important goals. This lesson incorporates progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness to manage internal and external distractions.

Chapter 5: Ending

Kaze flaps her golden wings and creates a massive swirling vortex extending high up into the sky. Using the lessons the great Wind Keepers have shared, Zephyr musters all his power, calms his emotions, focuses his mind and makes the formidable journey back to Snallygaster. There he is reunited with his family and friends with a new sense of confidence and gratitude

Authors

Al Lee

Al Lee is the co-author of the book “Perfect Breathing: Transform Your Life One Breath at a Time” (Sterling Publishing) and the soon-to-be released “Life Unleashed: How To Be Better At Everything You Do” He has been teaching others how to improve their performance, health, and emotional well-being using energy management, communications, emotional intelligence, and breathing techniques for nearly 20 years.
Al’s extensive personal experience is augmented with years of research and scores of interviews with experts and peak performers in the fields of health and healing, sports, performing arts, and emotional well-being. Al is a frequent speaker for corporations, conferences, and trade groups.

Lark Huang-Storms, PhD

Dr. Huang-Storms is a licensed psychologist, clinical educator, researcher, and parent of two marvelous humans. She has a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology & Behavioral Medicine, a Masters in School Psychology, and has worked as an elementary and high school teacher.

Currently, Lark is a Pediatrics faculty member at Oregon Health & Science University where she directs a state-wide autism program for community educators and medical professionals. She also sees patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital and supports research at the Center for Integrative Brain Research. Lark has had the privilege of caring for the mental health and wellness of children and families for over three decades. As part of her work, she studies and shares mind-body practices including biofeedback, neurofeedback, tai chi, breathwork, and mindfulness.

Avery Storms

Avery Storms is a graphic novelist, painter, animator, and musician. He is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art and a recipient of an Eisner Scholarship Award. His other graphic novels include “Reborn,” written by Mitch Klebanoff, “The Hennesy Secret,” written by Soul Singh Khalsa, and “Ren300,” an original miniseries.