On the one hoof, others tease him.

“Sam is slow.”

“Shaky”

“Stubborn.”

“Shy.”

On the other hoof, they don’t really know him.

Sam’s a secret yogi.

Join the barnyard menagerie on a yoga journey. Who knew a mule could be so cool? Sam doesn’t at first. Sometimes it just takes confidence and yoga practice to believe it.

“OOOOOHHHHHHMMMMMMM!”

Join in the fun with author, illustrator and publisher…

Author, Jenna Hammond, shares her New York City home with husband, Jack, and their sons, Brady and Chase. She has been practicing yoga for about 20 years and is a certified children’s instructor. A former magazine editor in Manhattan, she now devotes her writing talent to creating stories for kids. When she’s not joining classes in the studio or leading a group of youngsters, Jenna enjoys swimming, massage, cooking or dining out and reading. Occasionally she indulges in chocolate gelato, rose champagne and tropical vacations.

Jenna spoke with CO YOGA + Life™ writer, Sandy Ferguson Fuller, on the significance of yoga in her life and how she became a published children’s author …

Why did you decide to try yoga? 

Jenna Hammond: It thrills me to try new things, namely when activity is involved. Trying yoga offered a new form of exercise. Instinctively I became interested in practicing the various forms, such as vinyasa, Bikram and restorative.

How has yoga improved your life?

JH: Yoga has strengthened my mind-body connection and sense of balance, both mental and physical. It has also broadened my purpose as a writer, parent and person. I am in awe of yoga for its power to embolden, center, inspire, teach, heal, strengthen, relax and energize. What other activity can do all of those amazing things? Nothing I can think of!

Why did you get certified in children’s yoga?

JH: When I was a magazine editor, I penned an article about a toddler with neurological impairments that prevented her from walking. Medical intervention and physical therapy did little to help. Regular at-home yoga sessions, however, instilled in her the strength and confidence in allow her to ultimately walk. I was so inspired by this child, her mother and yoga’s power to heal that I became a certified children’s yoga instructor. Writing “Downward Mule,” which stars a downtrodden mule who empowers others and himself with yoga, has brought everything full circle.

Why is yoga so great for kids? 

JH: Yoga is magical for anyone receptive to it, especially kids. Children possess the imagination and willingness to be transported by yoga. Young yoginis relish pretending their mats are magic carpets as they embark on yoga journeys to exciting locales — all through poses and the imagination. Older kids delight in refining their practice and tackling difficult partner poses. At any age, kids have so much fun in class they often forget they’re working hard. Along the way, there’s no limit to what they gain, from focus and discipline to confidence, calmness and competence.

What is your favorite yoga pose?

JH: My favorite yoga pose is pigeon. However, my favorite to do with kids is tree pose. There are such wonderful variations in tree, such as holding others’ hands while in a partner pose and outstretching one’s limbs like tree branches.

Do you have a favorite character in “Downward Mule?”

JH: Sam Mule; he’s the ultimate unsung hero. When he finally submits and shares his yoga with the barnyard, his dissenters become friends and Sam saves the farm. The underlying message is that with self-confidence comes accomplishment.

What inspired you to write a children’s book? 

JH: My desire to write a children’s book was almost innate. For as long as I can remember, a life goal was to write a book. Getting published for poetry in adolescence upped the ante in terms of proving that with dedication I could find a book publisher when the time was right.

What is your favorite book from your childhood? 

JH: My favorite book from childhood that I cherish reading to my sons is “The Little Engine That Could.” “Truth & Beauty” stands in a category by itself as an exceptional adult book.

Just for fun, what’s your favorite color?

JH: I like white’s simplicity, yellow’s sunshine, silver’s energy and teal blue’s oceanic wonder.

And your daily mantra?

JH: My favorite mantra is to maintain a balance of love, work and play.

Illustrator, Steve Page, shares his home with his wife, their son and daughter, and lots of visiting wild critters! He lives in a small (some would say sleepy) town in the hills to the east of Melbourne, Australia, surrounded by national park forests and stunning bush land. When he’s not working hard at his drawing table, he “lets go with the flow,” whether taking a ball for a kick-around with the kids, or walking in the forest, listening to Coldplay or Hans Zimmer, or exploring local antique shops and secondhand bookstores. Steve indulges in “cold cross buns” (hot cross buns with ice cream!) … and yum … a nice glass of red wine.

Before illustrating “Downward Mule,” Steve was a stranger to yoga. Certainly that has changed! Steve spoke with Sandy about yoga, creating the book, and the inspiration for his work …

Do you practice yoga? 

Steve Page: No, I’ve never really done yoga, but I did try the poses in the book, as a reference for drawing the characters, with varying degree of success. No aches or pains afterwards, so I think that’s a win!

Are you curious to try it more?

SP: Maybe if I can find an instructor who is as good as Sam the Mule.

What is your favorite yoga pose? 

SP: I am sure there are many I don’t know about, but for the book, it has to be The Plow. It’s amazing to see how a body can get into that position. It looks cool, if a little weird!

Do you have a favorite character in Downward Mule?

SP: I enjoyed working on all the characters in the book, like the sassy cows and the crazy goats, and even the smug rooster. However, the hero of the story, Sam, would have to be my favorite, probably because it was such a challenge getting him into those yoga poses!

Why do you enjoy illustrating children’s books?

SP: I get to draw all day … how cool is that? What could be better than doing something you love, and bringing fun stories like “Downward Mule” to life for children?!

What is your favorite book from your childhood?

SP: I didn’t have one favorite book as a child, but I used to love annuals and comics, full of cartoon and television series characters and superheroes.

I would read them and draw some of the scenes. Now my son enjoys those same books from cover to cover. 

How did you create the illustrations for “Downward Mule?”

SP: To create the illustrations for any book, I start by reading the story and as I do, I sketch some ideas for the main characters. Once everyone is happy with the look of the characters, I work on roughing up the illustrations for the book, very loose pencil sketches to start with, then a detailed pencil drawing. This will form the foundation for the color work. I scan the drawing, adjust and clean it up in Photoshop. Then, using my drawing tablet, I add the color to the scanned pencils. I like working like this because it gives me the freedom to adjust and experiment with the image, more than I could by just painting alone. Although the final images are digital, I try to keep that original look to my illustrations.

Just for fun, your favorite color? 

SP: Hard question, considering what I do, but if had to answer I guess I would say blue … or green. Some reds are nice too, not to mention yellow and oranges … so I guess I don’t have one!

And your daily mantra? 

SP: Draw every day or it’s a day wasted.

And Tannya Derby, publisher of “Downward Mule,” describes her unique book company …

MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing is a children’s book publishing company based in Northern California. We create beautiful works that help children discover the amazing world of reading. Our books teach tolerance, show that diversity is a beautiful thing and create books that can teach and inspire at the same time. As with “Downward Mule,” a book that teaches yoga, friendship, and working together to help others succeed. It is a fun and unique way to introduce children about a healthy lifestyle.

“Downward Mule” is available in select bookstores and yoga studios. BUY HERE

“Next it’s DOWNWARD MULE.”

I reach out and down. Then I look around.

Everyone is doing barnyard yoga.

NAMASTE.

Sandy Ferguson Fuller began her children’s book career over 40 years ago as a student of Maurice Sendak at Yale University. Once introduced, the picture book genre captivated her imagination with its unique blend of story and illustration. She is an international literary agent, editorial consultant, bookseller, author and illustrator. Her life’s work has exposed her to a wealth of ideas and wonder. She hopes that her own books, as well as those she has helped others to publish, will touch many souls, young and old. www.alparts.com