Journey Into Power

The Baptiste family is synonymous with Western Yoga, Baron's book was great aid in my pursuit of a good practice as well as my journey to becoming a yoga teacher. The book is filled with all kinds of tools to create a great practice and to teach it properly.

He doesn't really acknowledge the sources of his "enlightenment" and he uses little information to back his claims. Baptiste may be great at doing yoga, and his oversimplified method has made yoga for a beautiful body a little more accessible to the mainstream. The problem is he has a lot to learn about overcoming his ego! His diet program is a bit of a joke.

I purchased this book as part of my yoga instructor training and I am really enjoying Baptiste's perspective and insight into what yoga can do not only for instructors but for their students. Great book for anyone who wants to deepen their yoga practice.

We were assigned this book as part of our teacher training. My takeaways were that this dude is kinda full of himself & talks down to the reader. Decidedly un-yogi. The pose descriptions are decent.

If you have any trouble with back and neck proceed cautiously with yoga..
Wished I had read his book before taking yoga.
Had to discontinue the yoga even though I had taken
yoga in previous years.

I've long loved power yoga. The reason is simple. I appreciate the philosophy and power derived from eastern thought but I need the energy and strength building of western athleticism. That's brought together in power yoga.

Now, I don't really know who founded "power yoga." I know Bryan Kest and Baron Baptiste are two of the greats and the ones I love the most.

Two American yoga teachers are most often credited with the near simultaneous invention of power yoga: Beryl Bender Birch, based in New York, and Bryan Kest, based in Los Angeles.

Baptiste has his own method, which is only taught by teachers he certifies.

Baptiste has written what I consider an excellent book. It's not just a book of poses. It's not just a book of eastern thought. It's not just a book of healthy eating. It is, in fact, all three and more.

This is a book you can, and perhaps should, re-read many times. I know I do. I bought the book when it first came out and am still reading it and learning new things each time I read it.

The book is divided as follows:

Part 1 - Rewiring your mind
Part 2 - Daily power yoga practice
Part 3 - The cleansing diet
Part 4 - Meditation for truthful living
Part 5 - Journeying into real life

Baron also offers a section of resources.

Let's examine a few of the wonderful things you'll learn.

He starts the book telling about his background, his family and his training. You'll learn why Baptiste is qualified to write the book and teach yoga.

"We soak up life like a sponge, holding tensions, fears, and anxieties in our system," he says. He goes on, "In yoga practice you reach down into all the nooks and crannies and hidden pockets of tissue, excavating all this clogging, unwanted stuff. Through the challenges on your mat, you step up to what I call your edge and pull up whatever is inside you that needs to be healed and released. You also discover how strong you really are, physically and mentally."

This is no sissy stuff. This is power-giving practice. That's why with power yoga you can clean out your mind, heal your hurts, get strong mentally and get strong, toned and powerful physically. To me, this is such a beautiful thing! It's like discovering the atom and using it for the good of mankind.

In the second part, Baron explains his type of yoga. Yes, I said "his" because there are many forms of power yoga. For example, Bryan Kest's form of power yoga is Asthanga yoga. Baron's is a form of Vinyasa Yoga.

"I combined what I thought was the best of the best from the East and West and left everything else out. I wove it all together into one powerful, all-inclusive practice," he says in the book.

"My style of yoga is called Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga, 'power yoga' for short. It is just what the name implies: vigorous and powerful. Strength is the pillar of my style."

He adds, "The word 'vinyasa' means 'flow,' or the linking of one movement into the next, one breath into the next, the presence of mind from one moment to the next, and that is another pillar."

I love the flow of power yoga. Moreover, I love how it builds strength and uses all your muscles to tone and strengthen. It is strenuous and takes practice. But it's a beautiful thing to do and even to watch. It also develops flexibility, something many of us in the west lack.

This is a very comprehensive book. It is a book that can be a precious gift if you allow it to be. Baptiste speaks to your inner being. He touches your hurts and inner most thoughts. And he helps you develop your own path. He helps you find what will work for you --- a plan that will give you power and strength and a way to empower yourself and arm yourself against the unpleasant things we all face in life.

I highly recommend this book to you.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

hippy bla, bla. he knows his yoga poses though.

Also, in the back of the book there is a chapter on nutrition. The 7 day cleanse really does make you feel better. If only to try the cleanse, buy this book.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. For some reason, I have overlooked Baron as a teacher until now, perhaps because I had heard his name linked with celebrities and unfairly assumed he was Hollywood's answer to Yoga. I see now that I misjudged him, and I urge others to pick up his book and give him the chance I didn't for so long.

He is very heartfelt as he tells you about his personal journey into Yoga and comes across as a sincere friend instead of a know-it-all guru (those of you who have met such people know what I'm talking about). His honesty and humility caught me off guard as he strongly suggests that we must listen to ourselves as we move through the poses, just as we must honor ourselves as we move through every day life. He can only *do* just that ~ make suggestions. Instinctively, we each know what we need to take from Yoga and what to pass up. In other words, the practice of Hatha Yoga is for everybody, not just the lean, flexible vegetarians of the world. Believe it or not, many think Yoga belongs to a certain subset of people or to a particular religion when really, it belongs to anyone...anyone can make the practice of Hatha Yoga their own. Anyone can benefit, and benefit greatly.

The section of the book dedicated to the asanas (poses) is very well written with detailed descriptions of alignment, including a list of "Don'ts" (as in, "Don't hyperextend your knees here..."). I love that. If a person cannot get to a class and benefit from the help of a real live teacher, he will need all the detail he can get in regards to foot placement, the tucking of the tailbone, etc. Baron does a wonderful job of breaking down each pose so that a person can check himself and learn proper alignment rather than fall into a pose having no clue where the body should be, risking injury. Ideally, this book should be read in conjunction with taking a class, but if this and a good Yoga DVD is all you have, you're in pretty good shape. I take classes and still enjoyed reading Baron's suggestions for alignment (like pretending one is opening a pickle jar with each hand in Downward Facing Dog, gently rotating the hands outward ~ this helps flatten the palms down to the floor and ends up rotating the shoulder, just what you need). I've noticed a few books by other well known Yoga practitioners sorely lack this kind of attention to detail.

His section on eating is, like the rest of the book, a gentle suggestion to cut down on the junk in your diet and reach for more nutrient dense foods. It's basic but refreshingly to the point about how our body cannot function at its best unless we give it the proper fuel. He offers a guideline for introducing healthier eating habits into your diet, but really...I can make it even simpler. Try eating fruit for breakfast and a salad with plenty of veggies for lunch, leaving dinner the meal where you can eat anything your heart desires. Over time, you will see and feel the benefits of your first 2 meals of the day while still enjoying your favorite comfort foods like pizza or a hamburger at dinnertime. Whether you continue eating exactly this way for the rest of your life, or actually find yourself making even better choices at dinner, you'll be doing yourself and your body good in a very natural, non-dogmatic kind of way (right up Baron's alley ~ he has no use for dogmatic behavior).

The end of the book is about meditation. Again, he offers great ideas, but I find meditation to be a very personal thing. You may or may not like his approach, but that doesn't mean meditation won't work for you. Sometimes you need to explore this option and see what else is out there before you actually find something that works well for you (kind of like your Hatha Yoga practice). Maybe you just need to work on living better, practicing the poses and/or eating better, leaving meditation for another time. Whatever the case, while I like Baron's approach to meditating, I find Kathy Freston's meditation CDs to be much more helpful.

Whether you apply all of the book to your life or just sample a few ideas, it will be well worth it. One teacher of mine says, "Take what you need, and leave the rest behind." Approach Baron's book with this in mind, and you'll start your own journey towards balance in both body and life.

Baron Baptiste is an amazing yoga teacher. While I've only done one of his yoga videos, his technique is superior to all others.
Journey into Power offers a condensed version of Baron Baptiste's weeklong "Bootcamp" and gives readers the tools for complete physical, mental, and spiritual transformation, including:
*Rewiring your thinking, because all change begins in the mind.
*Daily power Vinyasa Yoga practice, the heart of the program.
*Cleansing diet habits, which includes "water-rich" foods and how to live to be 100 by breathing more and eating less.
*Meditations for truthful living.
*10-minute tune-ups that help you boost energy, get centered, de-stress, and much more!
For anyone who is interested in yoga or improving their health and wellbeing, this is a book for you.

This book is predominantly about yoga with small chapters on diet and meditation. The yoga section of the book is excellent. The book covers power yoga, which is a very vigorous, dynamic form of yoga that is quite demanding on the body. All the poses are illustrated using colour photographs. These are accompanied by very detailed descriptions. Each pose has a section on proper body alignment, risk factors, suggested modifications and a "spiritual focus". The text gives a description of how to connect the poses together and overall I was very impressed with this part of the book.
The nutrition section of the book is also very sound on the whole. Baptiste doesn't prescribe a diet as such but provides sound guidelines on how to improve your eating habits. However he talks a lot about going through a "detox" which involves eating only fruit. I find this questionable and I don't believe it is backed up by any logic or research.
The section on meditation is good reading especially if you haven't done any sort of meditation before. It offers some very practical advice that will help you get through the hectic pace of modern day lifestyle.
As a yoga book I was very happy with my purchase. Almost all of the information is very valuable, and aside from a few minor points in the nutrition section this book is thoroughly and wholeheartedly recommended for anyone interested in vigorous yoga.

"Power Yoga" is nothing new. Yoga, as a discipline, has been around for a few thousand years. "Power Yoga" is simply a modern, and arguably very Western, way of practice. It is also not a bad marketing idea - and at first glance, this book, with it's slick, glossy production and carefully styled photographic art, appears like many of the books currently in print which have made self-help a multi-billion dollar industry, hawking this or that new way to be smarter, better-adjusted, more beautiful, and/or more healthy.

Having said that: don't judge this book by its cover. It is not all about glamour, and neither is Baptiste. Can yoga make you healthier, stronger, and more beautiful? Sure it can - but so can just about any other physical activity, if practiced diligently. What Baptiste is offering - in a way that even a person who is perhaps not so "spiritually" inclined can understand and apply - is a chance to change the way you think, act, and live - and yoga is a wonderful vehicle for this.

Some of Baptiste's "Ten Principles" for practicing Power Yoga might sound a little goofy or new-agey (e.g., "You are either now here, or nowhere") - but they are also catchy and easy to remember, and the discussions of each principle are clear and straight-forward, not to mention quite helpful. As for the actual postures, Baptiste gives clear and detailed instructions on how to prepare for and execute each form, and the photographs are quite well-done and helpful.

Overall, this is one of the most straight-forward and user-friendly books on yoga I have yet come across. Some of the poses will be difficult for beginners, but as Baptiste gently reminds us, everyone starts out as a beginner - expertise and confidence come only with work and patience.

Good luck on your own journey into power!

Baptiste Power Yoga is an amazing practice for yogi's.

And yet, Baron is one of the few authors who can easily combine Western and Eastern philosophy and religious traditions into the practice. While I haven't read ALL the yoga books in the world, this is the one that I have read tha combines Biblical references with yoga instruction. He is an amazing person and and amazing teacher.

LOVE IT!

Baron Baptiste isn't making himself out to be the enlightened, do-it-my-way-and-no-other-way type of teacher. He encourages you to look within and see if what he has to say resonates with truth. He teaches self trust as the primary essence of a yoga practice that will transform you.
There are so many yoga books out there. I should know. I've read most of them. Many of them are good but no other book explains as deftly how a handful of asanas (yoga postures) can transform your mental and spiritual sides or how a relationship with yourself begins, as with all good relationships, with listening.
Baron Baptiste's program for life transformation demands a commitment to yourself not to some fly-by-night program that is cut out exactly the same way for everyone.
Baron Baptiste is like the Stephen R. Covey of Yoga. What he has to share will resonate with anyone courageous enough to look at themselves, their bodies, their habits, their lives with honest and compassionate eyes. I know I will read and reference this book over and over.

Byron writes exceptionally well. I don't know if I'll reap all the rewards of this program, but it has really changed my life so far. Byron makes you believe that even you can transform your life. The poses are well described, with pictures for each, there are modified poses as well, for the beginner. He takes you through all the steps, meditation, diet, poses and yogic living off the mat to help you transform your life. He has a wonderful be where you are/ less than perfect is o.k approach that makes you want to continue and become better day by day while enjoying the journey. I recomend the DVDs as well so that you can get the hang of the full flow of the program.(it's hard to flow when reading from a book!) This book is not just about doing the poses, but truly about changing your whole self to become the best you were meant to be. The chapters on diet and meditation are excellent, with easy to follow direction. This is truly a must for all yoga lovers and for people who want to really change their life for the better.

This is a great book. Anybody that may be curious about yoga this is a great place to start. Anybody that is an experienced with yoga read this book.

Baron does a great job at explaining the yoga concepts simply. He take the intimidation out for those of us that do not know the sanskrit words for poses. Baron also has a very human side that you don't always get to see in yoga gurus. He has a great sense of humor which just adds to the appeal of the book.

Also, if you are looking for a physical workout as well as a spiritual one, look no further.

I've read countless books on yoga, nutrition, and exercise. I believe this one is my favorite to date. It covers yoga in a very clear and concrete manner, with beautiful photos of each pose. Baptiste also has a great style to his writing, and really provides the reader with inspiration, courage, and motivation to change their lives with a healthy lifestyle.

Baron's use of Iyengar Yoga and Ashtanga are accessible and a good starting point for Asana practice (postural Yoga). There is little insight that can be gained by reading his stories. His philosophy is at best very basic. This should be called a beginners guide to yoga. Once you have read this you will be ready to do poses. Where you will go from there is up to you. Eventually you will want to shed the Ego and develop a yoga practice. Good luck on your journey. If this works for you great. I didn't like his classes, teacher training and I found him to be angry, cruel and self centered.

PROS: I found the book very helpful and inspiring for beginners and yoga teachers at the gym. Baptiste makes great detailed explanation to each pose and tells a few illuminative parables. The structure of the book is great. I absolutely agree that book is nice compilation of beginners yoga poses for fitness purposes, but Baptiste have not created anything but great book, what is a lot. Thank you Mr. Baptiste!
CONS: What is bothering me that the book is written the way, that many people think that Baptiste have created his unique Yoga system, Baptiste Style)) oooops. What kind of style??? Yoga is more than 2000 old system of exercises.
Also It would be appropriate for a good yoga student (as Mr. Baptiste) to insert direct citations of such GURUS as Iyengar, Delai Lama, or Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Upanishadas, Hayha Yoga Pradipika. Instead Baptiste proclamete himself as a new guru who driving spiritual revolution.
SUGGESTIONS FOR ADVANCEMENT: Try "Jivamukta Yoga" by Sharon Gannon and David Life - people totally dedicated to yoga, recognize themselves as only students of REAL spiritual teachers like Shri K. Pattabhi, Swami Nirmalananda, etc.