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Perfectly Imperfect: The Art and Soul of Yoga Practice
NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER
“This book will shine new light on your journey, ignite your practice with new power, inspire new possibilities for growth, and infuse your life with the grace and confidence you seek.” —Baron Baptiste
A little over a decade ago, Baron Baptiste published his seminal book, Journey into Power . The first of its kind, it introduced the world to Baptiste Yoga, his signature method that marries a lifetime of studying with some of the world’s most renowned yoga masters with his uniquely powerful approach to inner and outer transformation. Since then, yoga has steadily moved into the mainstream in our culture, and Baron’s unique contribution has played a key role. As millions of participants incorporate yoga into their daily lives, Baron’s teachings have evolved to bring them even deeper into their own transformative possibilities.
Perfectly The Art and Soul of Yoga Practice takes readers beyond the foundations of the practice by speaking to everything that happens in their bodies and minds after they get into a yoga pose. That is where the true transformation occurs, and where much rich spiritual and emotional growth is available. Readers will learn how to move through their lives with grace and flow, begin again when a situation becomes difficult, “be a yes” for their innermost desires, give up what they must, follow their intuition, and find their truth north.
With his signature blend of boldness, insightfulness, humor, and warmth, Baron offers what is destined to be an instant classic in the yoga and meditation world. With Perfectly Imperfect, he proves once again to be a true yoga master for the modern world.
“This book will shine new light on your journey, ignite your practice with new power, inspire new possibilities for growth, and infuse your life with the grace and confidence you seek.” —Baron Baptiste
A little over a decade ago, Baron Baptiste published his seminal book, Journey into Power . The first of its kind, it introduced the world to Baptiste Yoga, his signature method that marries a lifetime of studying with some of the world’s most renowned yoga masters with his uniquely powerful approach to inner and outer transformation. Since then, yoga has steadily moved into the mainstream in our culture, and Baron’s unique contribution has played a key role. As millions of participants incorporate yoga into their daily lives, Baron’s teachings have evolved to bring them even deeper into their own transformative possibilities.
Perfectly The Art and Soul of Yoga Practice takes readers beyond the foundations of the practice by speaking to everything that happens in their bodies and minds after they get into a yoga pose. That is where the true transformation occurs, and where much rich spiritual and emotional growth is available. Readers will learn how to move through their lives with grace and flow, begin again when a situation becomes difficult, “be a yes” for their innermost desires, give up what they must, follow their intuition, and find their truth north.
With his signature blend of boldness, insightfulness, humor, and warmth, Baron offers what is destined to be an instant classic in the yoga and meditation world. With Perfectly Imperfect, he proves once again to be a true yoga master for the modern world.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
399 people are currently reading
2622 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
April 16, 2017
This small book takes time to inhale like a deep in-breath. Like the inhale it fills me with insights for yoga and life. Now that I've read it cover to cover, It becomes a day book to open for inspiration, grounding and letting go. Gratitude fills my heart for this strengthening book. Baptiste joins Nhat Hahn and the I Ching in my contemplation corner to be picked up and daily opened for life wisdom.
August 14, 2018
“Back then, I had an almost superstitious belief that yoga was the ultimate fixer ... I reached a surprising and important personal relegation: no one needs yoga. Including me. When I went beyond the physical emphasis of the practice, it became about those exceptional and rare times in life when I had the experience of being absolutely whole, complete, and at perfect peace with myself and my surroundings… I am speaking to the experience of being absolutely aligned in oneself, with nothing being “wrong” about what is exactly as it is, and nothing lacking. that is true north alignment."
Perfectly Imperfect is a slim volume of excellent wisdom for yogis and yoginis who have hit a plateau in their practice. Baron Baptiste has the warmth and comfort of your favourite yoga teacher as he shares his teachings on what is happening to your mind and your body when you are in asana, sharing truly unique insights about the physical action of yoga.
Baptiste offers a framework of themes that are at the heart of Baptiste Yoga:
1. Be a Yes
2. Give up what you must
3. You are ready now
It seems most yoga teachers use books to plug their products and services, and while I have never heard of Baptiste nor knowingly attended a class because of a Baptiste-trained instructor, Perfectly Imperfect stands up quite well, even if you don't plan to learn more about his organization.
The latter chapters are particularly illuminating as Baptiste shares his perspective on what's wrong with today's yogi. For anyone who follows yogis on IG, you know the drill. Baptiste makes clear arguments against the need to teach advanced poses in classes that are more to show off a teacher's skill than they are about the practitioners. Many new yogis are bitten by the ambition to strive to arrive, and they pursue this relentlessly, becoming contortionists in their aim to master form that, in the end, may not lead to lasting progress. Baptiste's chapter on the myth of the real yogi was inspiring and encouraging to me as a yogini scratching the surface of my practice.
This book is one I suspect I'll reread to motivate and teach me something new about my practice. I have already used his teachings during class today and found myself pushing through known plateaus, and most importantly, pushing away the instinctive voice that dances yes or no when it comes to deepening my practice or staying within my comfort zone. Baptiste's advice on the experience of flow is sure to get yoga practitioners out of their rut.
Perfectly Imperfect is a slim volume of excellent wisdom for yogis and yoginis who have hit a plateau in their practice. Baron Baptiste has the warmth and comfort of your favourite yoga teacher as he shares his teachings on what is happening to your mind and your body when you are in asana, sharing truly unique insights about the physical action of yoga.
Baptiste offers a framework of themes that are at the heart of Baptiste Yoga:
1. Be a Yes
2. Give up what you must
3. You are ready now
It seems most yoga teachers use books to plug their products and services, and while I have never heard of Baptiste nor knowingly attended a class because of a Baptiste-trained instructor, Perfectly Imperfect stands up quite well, even if you don't plan to learn more about his organization.
The latter chapters are particularly illuminating as Baptiste shares his perspective on what's wrong with today's yogi. For anyone who follows yogis on IG, you know the drill. Baptiste makes clear arguments against the need to teach advanced poses in classes that are more to show off a teacher's skill than they are about the practitioners. Many new yogis are bitten by the ambition to strive to arrive, and they pursue this relentlessly, becoming contortionists in their aim to master form that, in the end, may not lead to lasting progress. Baptiste's chapter on the myth of the real yogi was inspiring and encouraging to me as a yogini scratching the surface of my practice.
This book is one I suspect I'll reread to motivate and teach me something new about my practice. I have already used his teachings during class today and found myself pushing through known plateaus, and most importantly, pushing away the instinctive voice that dances yes or no when it comes to deepening my practice or staying within my comfort zone. Baptiste's advice on the experience of flow is sure to get yoga practitioners out of their rut.
July 27, 2024
Loved. Will probably read again/buy. Lots of good little quotes/mantras to carry into my life, practice, and when I teach. A few that stood out to me:
“Acknowledgment is the acceptance of truth and allows something to be whole and complete as it is.”
“Savasana is the completing pose of a yoga practice. It is an opportunity to come home to yourself-where you can see that there really is no “home” unless you find it within yourself.”
“The ability to be where you are in your body begins with your ability to respect your body. That means, accepting, loving, and deeply appreciating your body’s, complexity and magnificence, and being grateful for all it does for you.”
“Acknowledgment is the acceptance of truth and allows something to be whole and complete as it is.”
“Savasana is the completing pose of a yoga practice. It is an opportunity to come home to yourself-where you can see that there really is no “home” unless you find it within yourself.”
“The ability to be where you are in your body begins with your ability to respect your body. That means, accepting, loving, and deeply appreciating your body’s, complexity and magnificence, and being grateful for all it does for you.”
September 1, 2018
In its title, Perfectly Imperfect reflects a duality that is embodied in its text: on first glance it seems to be a small, simple book on some basic points of yoga, but it doesn't take long before you realize that through that simplicity, it presents some of the most profound, perplexing, and personally challenging questions. I'd been practicing yoga for several years before being introduced to this book, always very consciously approaching yoga primarily as a physical practice. I've never been much of a spiritual seeker, and while I believe in the mind-body connection, I never went much beyond the surface of yoga practice. I'd never even really considered reading a book about yoga until I started taking part in the virtual book club of an online yoga community. As it turned out, I don't know if I could have picked a better first yoga book than Perfectly Imperfect. This little book spoke to me far beyond my expectations, and has already helped me start taking my yoga practice to another level.
I read the book on my Kindle and have never used its highlight function more, continually returning to mark lines that I connected with. There were so many examples and considerations that opened up new perspectives for me in how I approach the practice. For example, early on in the book there is a chapter that focuses on "no poses" -- those poses that every yoga practitioner has that they find difficult, confounding, or even impossible for whatever reason. The chapter guides you ion how to "be a yes" for those poses, which doesn't mean that you will suddenly be able to do them perfectly, but rather gives you the space to explore and embody them in whatever way you are able to. That, along with other sections that encourage you to embrace beginner-ness and to commit fully to whatever you're able to do (if you can only do a pose at 20%, then do that 20% wholeheartedly, rather than falling out altogether), gave me insights that I was able to bring into my practice right away.
Many of the insights also apply "beyond the mat", as they say -- for example, in the chapter "The Dance of Yes and No", discussing the power of "being a yes", author Baron Baptiste writes: "Our dignity is found in our ability to say no to the things we don’t want — to disobey the urge to say yes when we really want to say no — and open the door to saying yes to pursing our true desires." That line could serve as a daily affirmation for anyone trying to live a life more in line with they value most. Elsewhere, the book focuses on how our own attitudes in effect act as a choice about not just how we move through the yoga poses, but also how we move through the world. Baptiste illustrates this point with a simple anecdote:
In the context of yoga, that story encourages us to remain open to every possibility of the practice, steering ourselves away from preconceived mental notions that create actual physical resistance, making poses more challenging and less productive. But it's clear that this holds true beyond the yoga mat, with an awareness of being the umpire in our own lives, with the power to choose what we call things and how we react to them.
It's not an exaggeration to say that reading this book transformed my practice in a million little ways. I engage with the poses, the breath, and the mental work far more consciously than I had before, I enjoy yoga even more than before, and I'm constantly excited about the prospect of continuing to improve. I know it's a book I'll recommend to other yoga practitioners, and one I'll be returning to again and again.
I read the book on my Kindle and have never used its highlight function more, continually returning to mark lines that I connected with. There were so many examples and considerations that opened up new perspectives for me in how I approach the practice. For example, early on in the book there is a chapter that focuses on "no poses" -- those poses that every yoga practitioner has that they find difficult, confounding, or even impossible for whatever reason. The chapter guides you ion how to "be a yes" for those poses, which doesn't mean that you will suddenly be able to do them perfectly, but rather gives you the space to explore and embody them in whatever way you are able to. That, along with other sections that encourage you to embrace beginner-ness and to commit fully to whatever you're able to do (if you can only do a pose at 20%, then do that 20% wholeheartedly, rather than falling out altogether), gave me insights that I was able to bring into my practice right away.
Many of the insights also apply "beyond the mat", as they say -- for example, in the chapter "The Dance of Yes and No", discussing the power of "being a yes", author Baron Baptiste writes: "Our dignity is found in our ability to say no to the things we don’t want — to disobey the urge to say yes when we really want to say no — and open the door to saying yes to pursing our true desires." That line could serve as a daily affirmation for anyone trying to live a life more in line with they value most. Elsewhere, the book focuses on how our own attitudes in effect act as a choice about not just how we move through the yoga poses, but also how we move through the world. Baptiste illustrates this point with a simple anecdote:
There's a story about two baseball umpires talking about a more seasoned umpire. One of the umpires says to the other, "Old Bill is a master. There are balls and there are strikes, and he calls them like they are." The other umpire responds, "Yes, Bill is a master umpire . . . there's balls and there are strikes, and he calls them like he sees them." In that moment, Bill walks up to them and says, "You are both wrong. There are balls and there are strikes, but they ain't nothing until I call them." The umpire speaks something into being, creating it to be what it is.
In the context of yoga, that story encourages us to remain open to every possibility of the practice, steering ourselves away from preconceived mental notions that create actual physical resistance, making poses more challenging and less productive. But it's clear that this holds true beyond the yoga mat, with an awareness of being the umpire in our own lives, with the power to choose what we call things and how we react to them.
It's not an exaggeration to say that reading this book transformed my practice in a million little ways. I engage with the poses, the breath, and the mental work far more consciously than I had before, I enjoy yoga even more than before, and I'm constantly excited about the prospect of continuing to improve. I know it's a book I'll recommend to other yoga practitioners, and one I'll be returning to again and again.
June 13, 2018
"Saying yes to the practice of saying no to the habits and thoughts that no longer serve you becomes a great source of strength and confidence."
I'm at a place in life where I'm calling bs on all the things society tells us: how to be, how to look, what to buy. I'm turning into a kind of searcher while I discover the things that truly make me happy. It's fun. But it's also pretty freaking exhausting. Reading Perfectly Imperfect has caused realizations that I'm looking externally for more than I'm willing to take in. I'm asking all the wrong questions that inevitably leave me in the same boat.
No more, good sir.
More than my own experience, I feel no matter where you're at and what you're dealing with in your own life, anyone can find inspiration and guidance from this read.
I'm at a place in life where I'm calling bs on all the things society tells us: how to be, how to look, what to buy. I'm turning into a kind of searcher while I discover the things that truly make me happy. It's fun. But it's also pretty freaking exhausting. Reading Perfectly Imperfect has caused realizations that I'm looking externally for more than I'm willing to take in. I'm asking all the wrong questions that inevitably leave me in the same boat.
No more, good sir.
More than my own experience, I feel no matter where you're at and what you're dealing with in your own life, anyone can find inspiration and guidance from this read.
December 2, 2019
3.5/5
BOOKSTAGRAM
There is not much that I have to say about this book. In some areas it was really good and very insightful. In other areas it was just boring. The book gave off a very monotone voice and it was hard to get through the pages - especially since there are only 156 pages to actually read.
I really did like the personal stories and found them insightful. I also really liked that the lessons he gives on the mat are a reflection of real life and that these lessons can be brought into a real life setting.
BOOKSTAGRAM
There is not much that I have to say about this book. In some areas it was really good and very insightful. In other areas it was just boring. The book gave off a very monotone voice and it was hard to get through the pages - especially since there are only 156 pages to actually read.
I really did like the personal stories and found them insightful. I also really liked that the lessons he gives on the mat are a reflection of real life and that these lessons can be brought into a real life setting.
Read
July 27, 2020An outstanding yoga book, whatever your particular flavor of practice is. It's empowering and encouraging and a deep reminder how easy it is to incorporate all the limbs into a single practice and more, into a single pose.
I listened to this on audio and while Baptiste was great to listen to, the recording itself was riddled with flaws. Repeated lines happened a few times and at one point, Baptiste coughs to clear his throat and it was not edited out (BIZARRE).
That said, I loved the book enough to want to pick it up in print to notate it because there's so much in here, whether you're a yoga teacher or a student.
The framework is simple and powerful:
1. Be a Yes
2. Give up what you must
3. You are ready now
I loved the Baptiste classes I've taken and have had many of the principles of his methodology baked into my education and my own teaching. These tools will only further that.
I listened to this on audio and while Baptiste was great to listen to, the recording itself was riddled with flaws. Repeated lines happened a few times and at one point, Baptiste coughs to clear his throat and it was not edited out (BIZARRE).
That said, I loved the book enough to want to pick it up in print to notate it because there's so much in here, whether you're a yoga teacher or a student.
The framework is simple and powerful:
1. Be a Yes
2. Give up what you must
3. You are ready now
I loved the Baptiste classes I've taken and have had many of the principles of his methodology baked into my education and my own teaching. These tools will only further that.
Read
May 16, 2018DNF'd - I can't really get into yoga books where the author touts their own business/horn.
April 9, 2018
There are a multitude of books being written about yoga, especially the modern versions of this ancient practice. Yoga has come a long way from its roots and some of what often passes as yoga today seems to be far more fitness oriented than the practice was originally intended. Baron Baptiste admits to going through this phase himself, being overly focused on form and physical ability, but thankfully, as his practice has developed over the years, it has deepened into something far more authentic and meaningful, and a richly rewarding path to personal awareness, emotional healing and spiritual growth. As a long term practitioner myself, I’ve seen this similar trajectory in my own 50 years of doing yoga. Perfectly Imperfect describes this process so well, and too the unexpected benefits that “mastery” can bring and indeed, that the definition of mastery itself can change in the process.
February 6, 2017
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book that my older brother gifted me for Christmas. At first glance you might assume it is about yoga and deepening your practice but it is just as much about life as it is about yoga. I love books that are very easy to pick up at any moment and each chapter can stand alone. There are many profound lessons in this book, ones that I will continue to carry with me. I've been intently practicing yoga on and off for two years and habitually for the past 6 months. This book speaks to me on many different levels both in my practice on the mat and off of it. Definitely worth the easy read!!
June 22, 2017
Full disclosure: this isn't a book I would normally choose for myself. But, someone suggested a book club (which never actually came into the picture) that was reading this book. So, because I've come to love yoga I gave the book a go. And, honestly, it's good. It has some of the same issues I find in most books of a similar genre. In particular, there's a lot of repetition... and not the good kind. Despite that I found the lessons or messages of each chapter applicable to my yoga practice and to my life. I'll probably need to re-read and re-practice these things to find full appreciation, but for now... I'm still pleasantly surprised and satisfied.
September 10, 2016
Even though I practice yoga from time to time I read this book not so much with the mindset of yoga but rather life. And the book makes many references to this way of thinking. The chapter that caught my attention the most is about breath. And this sentence in that chapter was intriguing to me: "The yogis say that in the gap between exhalation and inhalation - the place of "no breath" - you will find the secret of life".
January 30, 2017
Really enjoyed this and the validation it gave me as a teacher that hasn't ever fit the traditional "yogi" mold. Not a lot of new revelations, more basic truths than you forget along the way and through the busyness of life. You are perfect as you. Accept your flaws so you can move forward. Enjoy the journey, and flexibility and pose perfection isn't the point of having a disciplined practice. So good.
September 24, 2017
Very similar to all of the other books by Baron Baptiste that I’ve read. Good insight the first time, and a good reminder and emphasis for me at the same time.
March 19, 2018
Amazing book about having patience with yourself - its message can be applied to all areas of life, not just yoga. Would recommend to anyone who struggles with trying to be perfect all the time.
April 25, 2019
3.5 stars. A little book full of good reminders about yoga practice and mediation. Lots of things to remember to help you enhance your own practice and get to the next level - your “True North”. Slightly repetitive, and not a book to binge on the weekend. I found it best to read a chapter at a time, let it soak in and try to apply the techniques/mindsets to my own practice. Would not recommend to complete yoga beginners - lots of yoga terms used, and I found it helpful to compare the situations he talks about to my own practice to get a better understanding of what he was trying to explain as a takeaway from the stories.
Rounded up to 4 stars because look how pretty the cover is :)
Rounded up to 4 stars because look how pretty the cover is :)
September 9, 2019
Meh. I liked Journey Into Power and 40 Days to Personal Revolution considerably better. Though this is a short book, he seems to repeat himself a lot. Also, his writing—and effectiveness—is at its best when he uses personal (himself or others) stories to explain a concept, and I just don’t feel like he did that nearly enough in this book, which left some of the concepts remaining too lofty and/or theoretical instead of driving them home. I’m a fan of Baron’s work, but this book could’ve been better.
January 17, 2024
Quick two or so hour read (spread out through breaks at work). Could get a little repetitive and I feel like most the people the author references aren’t real or are very exaggerated. Also could feel a little like an ad at times.
BUT the ideas he presented about really being present and getting into the mind of “yes!” And approaching each time on the mat as being in the here and now were super thought provoking. Definitely took photos of a few pages for future reference.
BUT the ideas he presented about really being present and getting into the mind of “yes!” And approaching each time on the mat as being in the here and now were super thought provoking. Definitely took photos of a few pages for future reference.
March 24, 2023
I have been practicing yoga for about 13 years and I thought this book was special. Favorite takeaways:
“Yoga is a dance of control and surrender, of dealing with what is and allowing yourself to fully experience whatever you’re experiencing right here in the moment. In life, we so often resist what we don’t like or don’t want to do. Here on your mat, is a safe opportunity to see what’s on the other side of that.”
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them, that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally in whatever way they like. “
“The moment you decide you want to get out of the pose is the moment when the pose actually begins. Sit in the discomfort and see what’s on the other side.”
“Yoga is a dance of control and surrender, of dealing with what is and allowing yourself to fully experience whatever you’re experiencing right here in the moment. In life, we so often resist what we don’t like or don’t want to do. Here on your mat, is a safe opportunity to see what’s on the other side of that.”
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them, that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally in whatever way they like. “
“The moment you decide you want to get out of the pose is the moment when the pose actually begins. Sit in the discomfort and see what’s on the other side.”
April 19, 2024
This book left me with the understanding that the tools to deepen a yoga practice are quite literally at your finger tips. Inspiring knowledge of letting go beginning again. This will 100% inspire you to immediately step onto your mat and then live that practice out once you’re off.
September 13, 2020
I can’t wait to recommend this book to literally everyone.
This isn’t a book just for yoga people, it’s got life advice for everyone. Now, if you also practice yoga the messages might hit home even deeper. Life advice galore. I loved it. I bookmarked so many pages that I’m excited for the next time I read this to see what I caught and what I might’ve missed.
This isn’t a book just for yoga people, it’s got life advice for everyone. Now, if you also practice yoga the messages might hit home even deeper. Life advice galore. I loved it. I bookmarked so many pages that I’m excited for the next time I read this to see what I caught and what I might’ve missed.
September 30, 2022
A definite gem! My yoga practice is more than a little spotty, but this book definitely helped me chill about that and want to do more. At the same time, Baptiste makes it clear that yoga is just a path, and his explanation of its point and purpose makes clear that it is not necessary in order to live a better life. In fact, everything he says about yoga can be applied directly to our desires and challenges in life, but it's a lot easier to start with yoga. A great read, whether you consider yourself a yogi or not.
August 22, 2024
The book that helped me want to practice everyday and understand that the transition is more important than each asana
April 25, 2024
“All the work you’ve done up until now has been to lead you to this precise moment, to face precisely what you’re facing.”
February 17, 2017
A wonderful life / yoga book
Love the daily approach to practice , every time you step on your mat is an opportunity for a new perspective . I paraphrase - yesterday's breakthroughs are today's ego. I often find myself expecting my yoga practice to be stagnate , or at least, the same expression of a pose. But like life everyday is a new journey!
Love the daily approach to practice , every time you step on your mat is an opportunity for a new perspective . I paraphrase - yesterday's breakthroughs are today's ego. I often find myself expecting my yoga practice to be stagnate , or at least, the same expression of a pose. But like life everyday is a new journey!
September 17, 2019
This book took me some time to read because I would read a bit before yoga. I marked up a lot of the pages snd know I will revisit it. Need to apply the yoga words of wisdom to the daily grind.
March 10, 2020
Loved it but...
Actually, the whole book was a positive experience and surprisingly good. Even for those who are not Yoga Practitioners, on and off the mat, it's a simple, refreshing and challenging reading. For those who are curious about the issue, for those who are curious and caring about themselves and are open-hearted for learning something special I guess this book is a excellent reading option. The only thing that is disappointing is that on the Kindle version on the book, in the end, there's a bunch of text that essentially is focusing on marketing of his Yoga Institute and his teaching method... Honestly, that was so unnecessary and that's why I'm not rating the book with five stars.
Actually, the whole book was a positive experience and surprisingly good. Even for those who are not Yoga Practitioners, on and off the mat, it's a simple, refreshing and challenging reading. For those who are curious about the issue, for those who are curious and caring about themselves and are open-hearted for learning something special I guess this book is a excellent reading option. The only thing that is disappointing is that on the Kindle version on the book, in the end, there's a bunch of text that essentially is focusing on marketing of his Yoga Institute and his teaching method... Honestly, that was so unnecessary and that's why I'm not rating the book with five stars.
Read
January 24, 2024Simple self-help, be positive, yes you can kind of book with a yoga theme rolling along in the background. Fine at that level.
Curious who Baron Baptiste is, I googled the name when I finished reading the book and learned a lot of unsavory things about what goes by the name of Baptiste yoga. There are lots of allegations, lots of lawsuits, just lots of things that make me cringe associated with this individual. Apple has a podcast dedicated to "journey into yoga cults" and you'll find lots of examples of things you might prefer to avoid by giving these stories a listen.
If you feel like a nice workout or exercise class, cool, you might try one of his videos on youtube. I would encourage anyone interested in yoga, though, to stay alert and stay open and seek out more because yoga has much much more to offer than an aerobic workout.
But back to the book. Yeah, lots of affirmative statements you can highlight and repeat to yourself; lots of encouragement and positivity. So I wouldn't avoid this book but I think I might be tempted to avoid this branch of yoga . . . or at least go in with your eyes wide open.
Curious who Baron Baptiste is, I googled the name when I finished reading the book and learned a lot of unsavory things about what goes by the name of Baptiste yoga. There are lots of allegations, lots of lawsuits, just lots of things that make me cringe associated with this individual. Apple has a podcast dedicated to "journey into yoga cults" and you'll find lots of examples of things you might prefer to avoid by giving these stories a listen.
If you feel like a nice workout or exercise class, cool, you might try one of his videos on youtube. I would encourage anyone interested in yoga, though, to stay alert and stay open and seek out more because yoga has much much more to offer than an aerobic workout.
But back to the book. Yeah, lots of affirmative statements you can highlight and repeat to yourself; lots of encouragement and positivity. So I wouldn't avoid this book but I think I might be tempted to avoid this branch of yoga . . . or at least go in with your eyes wide open.
August 31, 2016
Ok so there's parts of this book I liked. Baptiste had good insights. I just feel like he's missing a step. He talks about how he did yoga as a youth but it was rote. Then he goes into explaining things in more depth. It's quite fascinating actually. He briefly touches on mindfulness but mostly sticks to yoga practice. Still I think where he misses the mark is that much of what he says can be looked at in a broader context of life. Perhaps he's expecting his readers to make that leap, but there's a lot of possible discussion not occurring in the book that could be.
October 13, 2017
Full disclosure: I did not finish this book. Rather than deliver on its title and be an encouraging, enthusiastic exploration of the benefits of a yoga practice (and how we would all do better to allow ourselves the time and space to learn and explore fully each moment of practice and indeed life) it was a thinly veiled advert for the author's own particular brand (perhaps patented) of yoga. Disappointing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews