The Yamas in Pajamas A Guide to Yoga for Kids and Their Adults

There is an abundance of books that cover the subject of the eight limbs of yoga for adults, and there is a growing wealth of wonderful books for children about how to get started with yoga, many of which focus on the benefit of practicing postures (Asana, the third limb) and breathing (Pranayama, the fourth limb). This book, however, is intended for adults who spend time with children, and offers a trail guide to begin exploring the first limb of yoga for kids so that together we may all access an inner wellspring of confidence and guidance towards contentment in modern times. When we explore the eight limbs of yoga as a whole, it can ignite transformation within and around us.

The yoga Deven practices and covers in this book is based on the eight limbs of yoga as written by the great sage named Patanjali. She uses these principles of yoga to take care of the instruments of her body and mind. These principles also help her discover the sacred in the mundane or chaotic, peace in parenting, and maintain balance.

The eight limbs are exciting, expansive, confusing, elusive, and inspiring, so in this book we will focus on exploring the Yamas. There are five Yamas or external guidelines: kindness, honesty, reciprocity, moderation and letting go. The Yamas help us figure out how we can be with others in the world so we can be our most authentic self. In "The Yamas in Pajamas" you will discover many techniques you can practice in your living room or classroom as part of your daily or morning routine. Exploring the philosophies of the first limb of yoga, the Yamas, can access an inner wellspring of confidence and inner guidance towards contentment.

This unique offering, chock full of Deven's personal research and time-tested techniques that work with all kids ages three to ten years old, and draws from the full spectrum of yoga philosophy that is thousands of years old. It is intended as a guide, providing philosophical context for parents, teachers, caregivers, and kids yoga teachers who are interested in forging a path of co-learning with the next generation.

Each chapter includes reflections, guided meditations, breathing exercises, journal prompts, some activities, and mindful movements or body shapes for each Yama, so kids and their adults can experientially explore these concepts.

Deven Sisler has been teaching yoga, mindfulness and meditation to children and families internationally since 2005, and offering kid's yoga teacher trainings since 2016. She loves sharing the tools of yoga with people of all ages and believes that everyone can benefit from investigating kindness, honesty, generosity, wisdom and self-liberation.

Deven ignites delight, empowers yoga practitioners of all ages through creativity on and off their mats. A Yoga Alliance 500 hour certified yoga teacher, E-CRYT yoga teacher and senior AcroYoga teacher she is known for her joyful, playful approach to partnership and collaboration, and her articulate teaching. She creates a safe, fun, inclusive container for children, families and adults in all her classes, intensives and teacher trainings. As a retired actor and clown, her perspective through the lens of yoga and acrobatics heightens kinesthetic and proprioceptive awareness, while she strives to cultivate trust, communication and community building in all her endeavors.

Deven has worked with and welcomes parents, grandparents, current yoga teachers, educators, counselors, caregivers, therapists and anyone who wants to share the practice of yoga with children. To teach children well in these modern, changing times is her focus and her hope is to support the next generation with tools that build self-awareness, confidence, comfort and strength.