We seek to publish a series of illustrated, lively read-aloud children’s chapter books that introduce young yogis to the yogic principles (beyond the yoga postures) through a curious little llama’s quests to test the boundaries of her world. In each book, she inadvertently gains wisdom from friendly animal guides she finds along the way. We are delighted to soon offer our first to be published book, Llamas and Niyamas: Yoga Fables for Young and Old, which introduces young yogis to the niyamas—healthy practices for life. In each story she meets an animal guide who embodies one of the niyamas.
Luradel Press
TM
Support our Kickstarter campaign [link to be provided when Kickstarter goes live]
We seek to publish a series of illustrated, lively read-aloud children’s chapter books that introduce young yogis to the yogic principles (beyond the yoga postures) through a curious little llama’s quests to test the boundaries of her world. In each book, she inadvertently gains wisdom from friendly animal guides she finds along the way. We are delighted to soon offer our first to be published book, Llamas and Niyamas: Yoga Fables for Young and Old, which introduces young yogis to the niyamas—healthy practices for life. In each story she meets an animal guide who embodies one of the niyamas.
Luradel Press
TM
Support our Kickstarter campaign [link to be provider when Kickstarter goes live]
Our Collaborators at Luradel Press
Book designer
Amelia Levine
CHILD BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT AND LOGO DESIGNER
EBOOK CONVERTER
Support our Kickstarter campaign [link to be provider when Kickstarter goes live]
Our Collaborators at Luradel Press
Book designer
Amelia Levine
CHILD BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT AND LOGO DESIGNER
Support our Kickstarter campaign [link to be provided when Kickstarter goes live]
Michael Levine
Publisher/Author/Yoga Teacher
Michael Levine is a RYT 500 registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance and certified Cosmic Kids yoga teacher.
You might call Michael Levine a yoga dad.
In the nineties, recovering from multiple knee and back surgeries to address several years of debilitating injuries, his friend Jenefer convinced him to try yoga. What started for health reasons ultimately changed the trajectory of his whole life. He met his wife, Kathryn, in yoga class, their first date was a yoga date, and he started writing Amal’s adventures after searching unsuccessfully for a fun way to introduce to the yamas and niyamas to their daughter Amelia.
Like for many yoga practitioners, he took years to explore yoga beyond the postures and breathing exercises. Through over three decades of study, with a variety of excellent teachers coming from different yoga traditions, he appreciates all eight limbs of yoga. Discovering that the majority of children’s yoga books still focus mostly on asana, Michael realized the lessons of Amal’s universal and timeless foibles were more relevant and needed than ever.
Now retired from patent work, Michael can dedicate his time to writing more yoga tales, teaching yoga, and improving his personal yoga practices. His other hobbies include gardening, making modifications to his catio to appeal to his inspirational feline, spending time in nature, and visiting yoga studios wherever he travels.
As part of a yoga tradition spanning over 3,000 years in which yoga guidance has been passed from teacher to student, Michael wants to acknowledge some of his most influential yoga teachers: Holiday Johnson, Diana Lang, Jenefer Angell, Julie Gudmestad, Julie Lawrence, Sarahjoy Marsh, Lynn Morrison, Nina Pigleggi, Tara Atkinson, Leslie Ellis, Kira Rafuse and Jaime Amor and their teachers. He also wishes to thank his readers and editors for their suggestions, his academic teachers, particularly his writing teachers, and his family. He is grateful for all the knowledge and kindness bestowed on him from all of the teachers in his life and the wisdom he learns from his students.
Michael Levine
Publisher/Author/Yoga Teacher
Michael Levine is a RYT 500 registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance and certified Cosmic Kids yoga teacher.
You might call Michael Levine a yoga dad.
In the nineties, recovering from multiple knee and back surgeries to address several years of debilitating injuries, his friend Jenefer convinced him to try yoga. What started for health reasons ultimately changed the trajectory of his whole life. He met his wife, Kathryn, in yoga class, their first date was a yoga date, and he started writing Amal’s adventures after searching unsuccessfully for a fun way to introduce to the yamas and niyamas to their daughter Amelia.
Like for many yoga practitioners, he took years to explore yoga beyond the postures and breathing exercises. Through over three decades of study, with a variety of excellent teachers coming from different yoga traditions, he appreciates all eight limbs of yoga. Discovering that children’s yoga books still focus mostly on asana, Michael realized the lessons of Amal’s universal and timeless foibles were more relevant and needed than ever.
Now retired from patent work, Michael can dedicate his time to writing more yoga tales, teaching yoga, and improving his personal yoga practices. His other hobbies include gardening, making modifications to his catio to appeal to his inspirational feline, spending time in nature, and visiting yoga studios wherever he travels.
As part of a yoga tradition spanning over 3,000 years in which yoga guidance has been passed from teacher to student, Michael wants to acknowledge some of his most influential yoga teachers: Holiday Johnson, Diana Lang, Jenefer Angell, Julie Gudmestad, Julie Lawrence, Sarahjoy Marsh, Lynn Morrison, Nina Pigleggi, Tara Atkinson, Leslie Ellis, Kira Rafuse and Jaime Amor and their teachers. He also wishes to thank his readers and editors for their suggestions, his academic teachers, particularly his writing teachers, and his family. He is grateful for all the knowledge and kindness bestowed on him from all of the teachers in his life and the wisdom he learns from his students.
Dejeshwini N.
Illustrator
From the joyful city Chennai, Dejeshwini started to explore the wonderful world of art and drawing when she found a pencil as a toddler crawling on the floor. Drawing every single day since and learning art from everything around her, she plunged into professional illustration as a self-taught artist despite being a commerce graduate. Dejeshwini loves creating illustrations that make people to relive their sweet past and tickle their ribs. She loves to draw everything cute and funny, when feeling bored she watches videos of baby chimps smiling and elephant calves bathing in tubs.
Dejeshwini N.
Illustrator
From the joyful city Chennai, Dejeshwini started to explore the wonderful world of art and drawing when she found a pencil as a toddler crawling on the floor. Drawing every single day since and learning art from everything around her, she plunged into professional illustration as a self-taught artist despite being a commerce graduate. Dejeshwini loves creating illustrations that make people to relive their sweet past and tickle their ribs. She loves to draw everything cute and funny, when feeling bored she watches videos of baby chimps smiling and elephant calves bathing in tubs.
Jenefer Angell
Managing Editor/Art Director
After earning her MA in Children's Literature, internships at the legendary children's book review magazine The Horn Book, Jenefer moved to New York, to work for Atheneum Books for Young Readers, a highly respected imprint of Simon & Schuster's children's division.
Since moving back to her hometown, Portland, OR, in 2001, she has worn many hats for many for small publishers of print and digital content. She is excited to be part of Luradel Press, particularly the debut book, which is near and dear to her heart as a long-time yoga practitioner and erstwhile teacher.
Jenefer Angell
Managing Editor/Art Director
After earning her MA in Children's Literature, internships at the legendary children's book review magazine The Horn Book, Jenefer moved to New York, to work for Atheneum Books for Young Readers, a highly respected imprint of Simon & Schuster's children's division.
Since moving back to her hometown, Portland, OR, in 2001, she has worn many hats for many for small publishers of print and digital content. She is excited to be part of Luradel Press, particularly the debut book, which is near and dear to her heart as a long-time yoga practitioner and erstwhile teacher.
Book Designer
Kira Rafuse
Sanscrit and Yoga Content Adviser
Kira Rafuse, Yoga Therapist, RYT-500, YACEP, RPYT, and Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (CAP), has been studying, practicing, and teaching yoga for over 20 years. Her journey began in 2004 during a year spent living in India, where she deepened her understanding of Yoga and developed a lifelong love of Āyurveda and Sanskrit.
During her studies at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she studied under Dr. Vasant Lad, she was immersed in the ancient language of Sanskrit and began her path as a dedicated Sanskrit student under Swami Ma Bhāskarānanda, who continues to be a guiding light in her Sanskrit studies.
Honoring the roots of Yoga and the Vedic sciences of India remains at the forefront of all of Kira’s offerings. She is currently pursuing a nursing degree, where she hopes to integrate the wisdom of Vedic sciences into modern healthcare.
Kira Rafuse
Sanscrit and Yoga Content Adviser
Kira Rafuse, Yoga Therapist, RYT-500, YACEP, RPYT, and Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (CAP), has been studying, practicing, and teaching yoga for over 20 years. Her journey began in 2004 during a year spent living in India, where she deepened her understanding of Yoga and developed a lifelong love of Āyurveda and Sanskrit.
During her studies at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she studied under Dr. Vasant Lad, she was immersed in the ancient language of Sanskrit and began her path as a dedicated Sanskrit student under Swami Ma Bhāskarānanda, who continues to be a guiding light in her Sanskrit studies.
Honoring the roots of Yoga and the Vedic sciences of India remains at the forefront of all of Kira’s offerings. She is currently pursuing a nursing degree, where she hopes to integrate the wisdom of Vedic sciences into modern healthcare.
Amelia Levine
Nico
Adopted from the Humane Society in 2015, Nico has been training in the art of ninja yoga his entire life, becoming a master of stealth and tranquility as well as advanced capture techniques.
Although subject to the confines of an indoor life, Nico likes to spend time in his catio, especially at night, to practice his outdoor survival skills. He enjoys refining his surprise and capture practice with mice, moles, moths and the occasional bird.
As a seasoned northwest yoga master, these activities are strictly catch-and-release, in which he collects his catio visitors and releases them into the rest of the house where they can find warmth and areas where they cannot be disturbed. Floor to ceiling netting has been added to dissuade all but the most persistent and creative visitors from entering this sacred space and disturbing the serenity of the entire household.
Nico’s asana practice includes downward and upward dog, spins, twists and supine poses. On sunny days, one can often find him meditating on a sofa by a window. On winter days, he prefers savasana under a blanket.
Nico
Adopted from the Humane Society in 2015, Nico has been training in the art of ninja yoga his entire life, becoming a master of stealth and tranquility as well as advanced capture techniques.
Although subject to the confines of an indoor life, Nico likes to spend time in his catio, especially at night, to practice his outdoor survival skills. He enjoys refining his surprise and capture practice with mice, moles, moths and the occasional bird.
As a seasoned northwest yoga master, these activities are strictly catch-and-release, in which he collects his catio visitors and releases them into the rest of the house where they can find warmth and areas where they cannot be disturbed. Floor to ceiling netting has been added to dissuade all but the most persistent and creative visitors from entering this sacred space and disturbing the serenity of the entire household.
Nico’s asana practice includes downward and upward dog, spins, twists and supine poses. On sunny days, one can often find him meditating on a sofa by a window. On winter days, he prefers savasana under a blanket.
