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

I've been doing Yoga daily for over 7 years and have a library full of books and videos pertaining to yoga. "Journey Into Power" is perhaps the most useful of all of my books because it is real-life practical. It is written in a way that gets to the heart of Yoga so that folks like myself (with real life jobs and families) can actually incorporate and benefit from his approach. This is not a book that is just a bunch of philosophical theory, but rather an approach to Yoga and life that is easy to practice daily. I'm 45 years old and I'm in the best shape of my life thanks to Yoga in general and Baron's work in particular. A MAJOR key to this is the approach to nutrition that Baron clearly lays out (it is NOT a diet, just a common sense approach to nutrition which is very easy to follow). I now have incredible amounts of energy. Before I started to eat in the way he recommends, I could only do a Power/Vinyasa practice a few times a week and alternated with a more gentle practice. Since incorporating his dietary principles I've been able to have the energy to do some form of Power Vinyasa Yoga almost EVERY day and my more gentle practices are quite rare. Just for the record, I generally do between 30 minutes to hour or so of Power Vinyasa Yoga 7 days a week, it's rare that I can do the 90 minutes Baron says is the ideal amount, but he also stresses that it's better to do "a little yoga a lot rather than a lot of yoga once in a while". Trust me, if you do even 20 minutes every day you'll have life changing results. Anyway, The increase of energy that I now have has been an earth shattering breakthrough for me. I had attributed my previous energy level to my age but now I can see just how much impact upgrading my eating has had on my health and energy level (and I was already eating a pretty clean vegetarian diet for close to 17 years). As far as the physical side of the practice this book is laid out in a very user friendly way. There are alignment tips highlighted in blue print at the end of each more detailed explanation. This "summary" of alignment details is such a great idea that I wish all Yoga books would do this. As wonderful as this book is, I don't know if I would use this (or any book) as my sole guide to yoga. I would suggest getting one of his videos/DVDs so that you can be led thru the sequence (of course "live" classes would be ideal, but hard to do on a daily basis, perhaps you can suppliment with classes. Home practice is the heart of developing a significant practice and it's hard to find an excuse not to practice if you can roll out your mat at home :) ). I don't have his "Journey Into Power" Videos in particular, but I do have "Soul Of Strength" which follows the sequence of the book quite closely. I also love His "Unlocking Athletic Power" and "Core Power" which are shorter practices (under 30 minutes) which are very easy to fit in on any morning. Who can't get out of bed 30 minutes earlier to give y

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.

This book is of immeasurable value to both novices and master practioners of yoga. Baptiste is a gifted teacher with great heart and caring for his students, which shows in his text and also the photos of him modifying the postures so that even the newest beginner can benefit from the practice.This book is extremely accessible and is full of good, clear color photos of the postures, many of which are shown in a series of photos representing views from various angles. An empowering and thoughtful "spiritual focus" is given with each pose.In addition, the book is broken into 5 clearly written sections for easy learning and reference. Sections include a recommended series of postures for time limits and different physical conditions and fitness levels, food/diet and detoxification to cleanse, heal and lose excess baggage, a non-complex section on meditation that is wonderfully simple, but not simplistic. Baptiste demystifies yoga without being unmystical.Baptiste's style of yoga uses proper form and modifications to help students get deeper into postures and glean the greatest results and there is a very good illustrated section with each pose on how to use these simple physical and spiritual principles - something that's been missing from any other yoga book I've ever seen.By far this is the best and most useful book on yoga I have ever seen, and I've seen more than a few. This is Mr. Baptiste's first book which has been well worth the wait!!!

Baron rocks! This book has lived near my bed since it arrived a few days ago. I am reading through it slowly, while picking out chunks from here there and everywhere. His writing is expressive and straightforward, his philosphy is simple but deep, his "diet" chapter is inspiring, and the instructions for the poses are clear and concise, as are the photos. The whole programme is laid out, broken down into chunks, and at the end Baron suggests short programmes for people who cannot manage more than 20 minutes. I have to admit, I love Eric Schiffman's book, but it can be a little TOO wordy. This is not. HIGHLY recommended. (as are his videos - Soul of Strength and Power and Precision are both incredible workouts, and I have only bee practising yoga for a few months - go for it!)