Sherri Baptiste & Megan Scott 
Yoga with Weights For Dummies 

An easy-to-follow guide to a hot new form of yoga

Yoga with Weights is the latest breakthrough in mind-body
exercise, integrating the mindfulness of yoga with the physical
culture of body-building. Building on the strengths of both
disciplines, this friendly guide shows readers how to safely
combine yoga postures while simultaneously working out with
lightweight hand-held free weights. It features customizable
exercises that target specific areas of the body, each illustrated
with multiple photos, and provides guidelines for combining healthy
eating with workouts.

Sherri Baptiste (Marin County, CA) is the founder of Baptiste
Power of Yoga, a nationally recognized method of yoga offered
throughout the United States. She teaches yoga classes throughout
the United States and hosts retreats around the world.

Table of Content

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started 7

Chapter 1: Introducing Yoga with Weights 9

Chapter 2: Gearing Up 29

Chapter 3: Preparing for Your First Workout 37

Part II: Mastering the Basics 51

Chapter 4: A Breath of Fresh Air: Yoga Breathing Techniques 53

Chapter 5: Making the Mind and Body Connection 65

Chapter 6: Warming Up and Cooling Down 73

Chapter 7: From Head to Toe: The Balanced Workout 101

Part III: Refining Your Technique 123

Chapter 8: Waking Up Your Mind and Body: The Energy Workout 125

Chapter 9: Taking It Easy: The Restorative Workout 141

Chapter 10: Pumping You Up: The Strengthening Workout 157

Chapter 11: Releasing Your Athlete Within: The Endurance Workout 171

Chapter 12: Iron Abs: The Belly-Burner Workout 191

Part IV: Personalizing Your Program 207

Chapter 13: Eating to Enhance Your Yoga-with-Weights Workout 209

Chapter 14: Addressing Body Aches and Pains 219

Chapter 15: Toning and Focusing on Different Body Areas 235

Part V: Addressing Special Situations 255

Chapter 16: Improving Your Game 257

Chapter 17: Girl Talk 287

Chapter 18: Exercises for Seniors 297

Part VI: The Part of Tens 317

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Stay Motivated 319

Chapter 20: Ten Myths about Yoga with Weights 325

Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Chart Your Progress 331

Appendix: Resources 337

Index 343

About the author

Sherri Baptiste is an inspirational teacher at the forefront
of yoga training in the United States. She was born into a rich
heritage and family of pioneering teachers; her parents,
Magaña and Walt Baptiste, established yoga on the West Coast
in the mid-1950s. Her brother, Baron Baptiste, authored the book
Journey into Power: How to Sculpt Your Ideal Body, Free Your
True Self, and Transform Your Life With Yoga (Fireside).
Sherri has been teaching yoga since her teens and is the founder of
‘Baptiste Power of Yoga, ‘ a nationally recognized yoga
method, as well as a yoga-with-weights teacher-training program and
a yoga teacher certification and advancing studies program
recognized by Yoga Alliance. Sherri presents classes and
workshops throughout the United States; she’s a presenter for
Western Athletics’ Bay Clubs, Gold’s Gym, Nautilus,
Equinox, IDEA World Fitness, Body Mind Spirit, ECA; and she offers
many yoga retreats, including retreats at Kripalu, Omega, Haramara,
Green Gulch Zen Center, Rancho La Puerta Spa, and Feathered Pipe
Ranch. A radio and television personality, she’s featured in
video, DVD, and CD ‘Power of Yoga’ and ‘Power of
Meditation’ programs. You can learn more about Sherri at the
following Web sites: www.powerofyoga.com and
www.yogawithweights.com.

Megan Scott, Ph D, is a doctor of integrative medicine,
sports rehabilitation, and clinical psychology specializing in
advanced healing techniques. She has 20 years of training and
practice in mind-body, self-regulation techniques. Dr. Scott
combines her knowledge of science and self-healing in her clinical
settings, highlighted by using the left/right brain neuro
rebalancing technique for self-healing. She teaches at California
Pacific Medical Center, the Institute for Health and Healing, and
the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. She’s also
a founder, director, and contributing researcher at the Chronic
Pain Institute. In her private practice, she teaches Anusara yoga
and yoga therapy classes, biofeedback training, and alternative
psychotherapy. Her mission is to assist her students in discovering
their own greatness and to awaken her students’ passion for
yoga and all its gifts.