Baron Baptiste - Journey Into Power How to Sculpt Your Ideal Body, Free Your True Self, and Transform Your Life with Yoga

Copyright 2002 by Baptiste Power Yoga Institute, Inc.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

This Touchstone Edition 2003

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Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5

The Library of Congress has cataloged the Fireside
hardcover edition as follows:
Baptiste, Baron.

Journey into power : how to sculpt your ideal body,
free your true self, and transform your life with yoga /
Baron Baptiste ; photographs by Richard Corman.
p. cm.

1. YogaPopular works. I. Title.

RA781.7.B365 2002

613.7046dc21 2002017557

ISBN 978-0-7432-2659-2
ISBN 978-0-7432-2782-7 (pbk)
ISBN 978-0-7432-2977-7 (ebook)

This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subjects addressed in the publication. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering medical, health, or any other kind of professional services in the book. The reader should consult his or her medical, health, or other competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it.

The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

Acknowledgments

This book was a journey traveled by an incredible team made up of people who never accepted that something was impossible.

I am deeply grateful for their efforts through many late days and long hours. We have all grown and become more in the process.

Thanks to my parents for everything youve given me, and to my two sisters, Sherri and Devi, for always standing by me. Thanks to Dana Baptiste for instilling love and meaningful values into the boys. I thank God for giving me the ability to spend generous amounts of time with my children. My favorite place to be is with my three boys, who bring a depth and joy to my life that soars way beyond words.

A huge thank you to my literary agent, Ling Lucas, who has maintained a protective and loving eye over the creation of this book. I am deeply grateful for your vision, tenacity, and true belief in this work.

I thank Debra Goldstein, my gifted wordsmith who faithfully followed me around the world. To me, you are a great sculptor who skillfully and patiently helped me to shape the lifetime of information that is found within the pages of this book.

To my incredible editor, Caroline Sutton: Your vision, passion, commitment, and constant encouragement brought all of the components of this book together in a really wonderful way. Thank you for being so present.

A big thank you to Kate Churchill, who helped bring this book to completion. Your contribution was enormous, and your vision combined with follow-through makes it clear to me that the completion of this book is not the end of anything; it is just the beginning.

To Coeli Marsh for sharing her beautiful yoga practice in the pictures of this book. Thank you for your commitment, support, and hard physical work during a long and adventurous photo shoot that took place during a tropical hurricane.

A heartfelt thanks to Richard Corman and his trusted assistant Peter Chin, who faithfully ventured to meet me on a tropical island paradise and shoot the photos in this book. Your pictures are a testimony to your skill and unending composure.

Thank you to Mark Gompertz, Trish Todd, Chris Lloreda, Debbie Model, Cherlynne Li, Marcia Burch, Laurie Cotumaccio, Nicole Diamond, and the other members of the Fireside team who supported me and worked crazy hours behind the scenes day and night to bring this book into the world.

To my entire teaching team at the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute in Cambridge, Boston, and Philadelphia, who diligently carry forth this powerful work and maintain the integrity of the vision. The significance of your contribution is proven in the gratitude that shines back to you from the eyes of the thousands of people who come through our studios each week. I bow to you.

A hundred salutations to the hundreds of students who have graduated from my teacher training Bootcamps and are spreading this work around the world like wildfire, and especially to Bill Raup and Rhea Schlicter for your work in keeping Baptiste yoga ablaze in your bustling studios in the Philadelphia area.

Rolf and Mariam Gates, I bow to you guys and your burning enthusiasm that keeps the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute in Boston and Cambridge spirited and thriving.

To Mark Aronchik for your unending guidance, support, and friendship, I thank you.

Thank you to the Kennedy clan, who have supported this work, and specifically to Max and Vicki Kennedy, who were influential in moving my family from Philadelphia to Boston. I will always cherish the days spent at Hyannis Port with our families and sailing together in Cape Cod.

To Jeffrey and Christina Lurie for bringing my family and me from Beverly Hills to Philadelphia. The years I spent as a part of the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff were a monumental life experience for me that I will always hold as valuable. To you, I am eternally grateful.

A huge thank you to some of the most outstanding NFL coaches and athletes in the world: Ray Rhodes, John Gruden, Bill Romanowski, Randall Cunningham, Irving Fryar, Hershel Walker, Mike Mamula, Gary Anderson, Tommy Hutton, Rodney Peete, Jay Fiedler, The Refrigerator Perry, Charlie Garner, and Ricky Watters. The years I spent working with you guys taught me about character, discipline, and determination. Also, my Peak Performance Program with the Philadelphia Eagles was a success because of the enormous support and effort of my trusted assistant Bill Mancini.

Thanks to Helen Hunt, Elisabeth Shue, Chynna Phillips, Lolita Davidovich, Holly Robinson Peete, and Raquel Welch, all of whom have supported this work now and/or in the past. Your contributions have impacted the quality of peoples lives.

Thank you to my friend and spiritual brother Jesse Peterson whose constant love, rugged honesty, and inner knowledge have taught me a lot about the true meaning of the word friend. The constant commitment and selfless contribution you and your nonprofit organization B.O.N.D. are producing is truly making a difference.

Thank you to my best friend, David Masters, and your father, Roy. You guys are giants whose shoulders I stand upon. I salute you.

I am so grateful to my loyal and steadfast managers at BPYI offices and studios, who faithfully work day in and day out to bring me into workshops, Bootcamps, and classrooms across the continent that are overflowing with enthusiastic students. Hugh Folkerth and Jeanne Coffey are two dynamic dynamos who always stay committed to the vision that what we are doing does make a difference and that by helping our students grow to new levels, we grow as people.