Baron Baptiste

“Today in class, we're going to say what jobs our parents do each day.” Some children have parents who are gardeners, or builders, or even marine biologists. But one little child has a daddy who is sometimes a tree, sometimes a bridge, and sometimes a fish. He can even be a pretzel! My Daddy is a Pretzel is a wonderful book for teaching children about yoga, and gives instructions for nine different postures that they can try. Each is illustrated clearly and accompanied by a short text show more that explains the deeper lessons – such as believing in ourselves or being both strong and flexible – that underlie each pose. The illustrations of wide-eyed, smiling characters give a welcoming feel to the book and enhance its playful message, helping to encourage children to try some of the poses for themselves.

In these times of rising childhood obesity and increasingly sedentary lifestyles, it's more important than ever for fathers to model good habits of physical fitness and exercise for our children. It does little good to complain about modern trends that have decreased our daily physical activity, or to nostalgically insist that things were somehow better in “the good old days”. Over half the population of the planet lives in cities now, and forms of entertainment like television and the computer are here to stay. Our challenge now as fathers is to teach our children how to incorporate physical fitness into their daily lives, even if they grow up to drive to work and then sit at a desk all day like so many of us. Yoga can be great for both fitness and as a means of relieving the stress of our fast-paced lives, and teaching even basic yoga techniques to children can help them greatly both now and in their later lives, Unfortunately, our children have their own ideas of what they want to learn, and are often especially resistant to things that are “good for them.” My Daddy is a Pretzel, with its warm tone and child-friendly format, is a valuable resource for introducing yoga to children in a way that they will find both educational and fun. Review by Book Dads show less

My Daddy is A Pretzel was an adorable informational book about yoga. What I liked most was how the book discussed the different positions. The books setting was in a classroom on a day where the student's parents explained their careers. As each parent said their job, one student would explain that her dad is like some aspect of that job. For example, one parent was a vet and the student said sometimes her dad is a dog. After that, there was a page with the downward position and a small show more paragraph that explained the pose. The next page had it broken down into step-by-step directions for children. Another thing that was cool about this book was that the end pages were covered with different poses from the book in bright, fun colors. The main idea of this book was to introduce yoga to children and make it sounds fun and look exciting. show less

I read this with my daughter, who enjoys how yoga connects to work and play, like her music class. Teaching examples include families, their work, and playful illustrations. Even if there is a surplus of children’s yoga books out there, Baptiste captures the interest of the whole family.

In 40 Days to Personal Revolution, Baron Baptiste-one of the world's most beloved master yoga teachers-inspires us to transform more than body and mind: He gives us the tools we need to set ourselves free to live the healthful life we've always imagined. In the next 40 days you will create a whole new way of being and living.Tapping ancient wisdom and his own personal experience, Baron has created a relevant and completely practical program that will lead you to the clarity of mind, body, show more and spirt that waits on the other side of your revolution. Each week includes:

A yoga practice to do every morning.
Principles to cleanse your diet, along with an eating plan.
Instructions to begin and deepen a meditation practice.
Excavation questions to root out limiting beliefs and patterns.

'Baron's 40-day plan offers a friendly and genuine springboard into personal revolution of body and mind, showing us how to build strength, motivation, and discipline one day at a time. He connects how we practice and what we eat with how we feel-whether we're working, socializing, meditating, or playing with the kids and dogs. Just take the plunge!'-Beryl Bender Birch, author of Power Yoga

'The Bhagavad Gita tells us, in chapter six, that one of the best births, though difficult to attain, is to be reborn into a family of yogis. Baron has accomplished this difficult feat, and his reflections are worth listening to.'-Sharon Gannon, author of Jivamukti Yoga

'Baron creatively blends wisdom from the great masters of Western spirituality with Yogic insights into the process of transformation. The result is a refreshingly simple, yet surprisingly profound manual for personal transformation. What remains is for thr reader to actualize the processes he offers, and experience the Revolution.'-Gary Kraftsow, author of Yoga for Wellness and Yoga for Transformation

'Baron's fresh and synergistic approach to yoga has excited and turned on many people who previously thought yoga had nothing to offer them. He has contributed greatly to spreading the benefits of yoga in the United States.'-Ana T. Forrest, founder of Forrest Yoga and owner of the Forrest Yoga Circle in Santa Monica

Baron Baptiste is the son of two of america's yoga pioneers. He began to study yoga seriously at age twelve and trained extensively in all the major traditions before creating Baptist Power Vinyasa Yoga in the mid-eighties. Baptiste has trained both celebrities and athletes, including Helen Hunt, Randall Cunningham, Raquel Welch, and Elisabeth Shue, and for four years he was Peak Perfomance Specialist for the Philadelphia Eagles. He divdes his time between his yoga studio Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Park City, Utah.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part One The laws of transformation: The foundation of your revolution
Law 1: Seek the truth
Law 2: Be willing to come apart
Law 3: Step out of your comfort zone
Law 4: Commit to growth
Law 5: Shift your vision
Law 6: Drop what you know
Law 7: Relax with what is
Law 8 Remove the rocks
Law 9: Don't rush the process
Law 10: Be true to yourself
Law 11: Be still and know
Law 12: Understand that the whole is the goal
Part Two The transformative journey: 40 days to personal revolution
Week One: Presence
Week Two: Vitality
Week Three: Equanimity
Week Four: Restoration
Week Five: Centering
Week Six: Triumph
Part Three After the revolution: The daily practices for living an awakened life
After the revolution
The daily practices
Yoga practices show less