Yoga, Football and Finding Your Flow: A Q&A with Dawn Price, Author of YB and the Yogi Boys

In YB and the Yogi Boys, Dawn Price brings mindfulness, movement and football together in a fresh and uplifting story about confidence, mindset and the power of pausing.

When Gemion has a difficult first half on the pitch, he feels stuck in frustration and self-doubt. With help from his friend Sagir, and a secret glimpse of Yogi Baby's pre-game yoga practice, he begins to discover that resetting the mind can be just as important as training the body.

Blending football, yoga poses, breathwork and child-friendly philosophy, this story gently introduces young readers to ideas such as letting go, contentment and keeping an open heart… both on and off the field.

YB and the Yogi Boys brings together football, yoga and mindset in such a fun way. What inspired this particular story?

What inspired me to write this story was the desire to invite boys into the world of yoga and help them see its value just as much as many young girls do. Interestingly, history shows that the earliest yogis were men, yet many boys and men today may shy away from the practice.

When I shared my previous Yogi Baby books with families, some parents mentioned that their sons might not connect with a story centered primarily around girls. I already had a sporty boy character from Yogi Baby Forever, so I brought Gemion back as the narrator as well as one of the main characters in YB and the Yogi Boys.

Since soccer is such a universally popular sport for grade-schoolers, and so many professional athletes now use yoga to enhance their performance, it felt like the perfect bridge. I wanted to show young readers – especially boys – that yoga is a powerful tool for mindset and focus and that it offers so much more than just physical postures.

Gemion begins the book feeling frustrated and disappointed after a difficult first half. Why was it important to show children that even "bad moments" can be reset?

Yoga, in its fullest practice, teaches mindfulness, presence, and non-reactivity. It encourages us to step back into the "seat of the witness", observing our feelings without being swept away by them, so we can make purposeful choices in how we respond. That is an incredibly powerful life skill for children and adults alike.

Life is naturally full of frustrating moments, but those moments don't define a whole day—not even an entire game. When we can quiet our minds, tap into our inner resources, and become mindful of our reactions, we realize that a negative mindset is always temporary and can even be limited to a few brief moments.

Showing Gemion's frustration at halftime allows young readers to see that it's completely okay to have a tough start. What matters is having the internal tools to hit the reset button. In fact, yoga teaches us that obstacles are intentionally placed in our path to help our character grow as we overcome them. How incredible is it for a child to learn at a young age that they have the power to choose their own response?

Yogi Baby's practice includes movement, breathing and affirmations before her game. How did you choose which yoga poses and ideas to include?

I decided on a heart-centric, fourth-chakra theme for this book. The fourth chakra is the energy center located in the heart region, which is deeply connected to the lungs, arms, and hands. Because of this, conscious breathing mixed with fluid arm movements was a natural choice. I included backbends to physically open the heart space, balanced by forward bends to compress and ground that area.

I also included mantras to give Yogi Baby a literal and symbolic voice. While she practices in a quiet wooded area, the boys are watching and listening from the edge. What Sagir already

understands—but Gemion hasn't caught onto yet—is that Yogi Baby isn't just doing this pregame ritual for herself; she is doing it for their benefit, too.

Because the fourth chakra is tied to the element of air and the color green, it ties perfectly into the breathing exercises, the book's illustrations, and the final scene. When YB hands each boy a heart-shaped leaf from her favorite tree, it serves as a beautiful, tangible gesture of encouragement to always keep their hearts in the game.

The phrase "Why be?" appears again in this story and feels central to Yogi Baby's outlook. What does that question mean to you?

The phrase "Why be?" appears in all three of my books and serves as a simple two-word touchstone for Yogi Baby's entire philosophy—and my own. On one hand, it's a thought-provoking yet playful question. Yogi Baby might ask a friend, "Why be sad when you can choose to be content?" It reminds us that in this beautiful life, we have the power to choose our mindset rather than carry around negativity.

On a deeper level, it is a grand philosophical question: Why are we here on this Earth, in this universe, at this exact time? Yogi Baby's ultimate answer to "Why be?" is Samadhi, the eighth and final limb of classical yoga. While Samadhi has many deep layers, it ultimately means realizing that we are completely interconnected with every part of the universe. Experiencing that oneness grounds us in the natural rhythms of life and spirit and empowers us to shape our own path with that wisdom. Perhaps our purpose in being is to understand just that.

And I do enjoy the sweet little play on words hidden right in plain sight—"YB" isn't just her favorite question; it's also Yogi Baby's initials!

This book introduces ideas such as aparigraha, santosha and samadhi in a child-friendly way. How do you approach making yogic philosophy accessible for young readers?

Making these big concepts accessible means grounding them in everyday, relatable human moments. Whether we are children or adults, we all struggle with these philosophies in real life.

• Aparigraha (Yama of Non-attachment): This is about letting go of control, rigid expectations, or the need for perfection or possessions. When we loosen our grip on how we think things should go or what others should do, we free ourselves from a box we have closed.

• Santosha (Niyama of Contentment): This means finding peace with things exactly as they are in the present moment, free from self-criticism. It doesn't mean giving up; it just means dropping the judgment so we can move forward with a joyful heart.

• Samadhi (Oneness/Peace): This is that ultimate quiet space where the mind chatter calms, allowing us to feel a deep appreciation for the wondrousness of life, right here and now.

  
  

In the story, Gemion is guided by his friend Sagir to practice all three during halftime. By moving, breathing, and settling his mind, he practices aparigraha when he is able to let go of his expectation that the game was already ruined. He finds santosha by deciding to just enjoy playing the sport he loves, win or lose. His mind quiets into a moment of samadhi, his attitude shifts, and he is ready to get back in the game.

Sagir plays an important role in gently encouraging Gemion to try something new. What did you want to explore through their friendship?

Through Sagir, we learn that he has already practiced with Yogi Baby, and he is eager to share those benefits with Gemion to help him break out of his rut. This highlights the power of true friendship; it shows children how important it is to listen, care, and gently nudge one another toward positive growth.

I also wanted to illustrate a beautiful "domino effect" of support. Yogi Baby acts as the quiet guide in the background, modeling how to hold space for others. She has inspired Sagir, and then Sagir, in turn, holds that same space for Gemion. It is a story of friends helping friends, and I hope readers see how gentle encouragement between friends can create a ripple effect that helps everyone get back in the "game."

The story challenges the idea that yoga is only about flexibility, showing how it can support confidence, calm and focus. Why was that message important to include?

So often I hear people—especially men, for whatever reason—say, "Yoga? I can't do that. I'm not flexible." I actually wanted to poke a little fun at that in the story, which is why Gemion says that exact line with his arms crossed and a pouty face!

But as the story goes on, Sagir shows him that the physical poses (asanas) are only one part of the journey. While the physical movement helps stimulate circulation and rouses Gemion from his slump, the real shift happens when they move into what Sagir calls the "hard part": the mental practice.

By utilizing a grounding visualization and conscious breathing, Gemion calms his "monkey mind" and even experiences a brief, meditative moment. That mental reset is what truly transforms his mindset and gets him ready to step back onto the field. I wanted to show readers that yoga isn't about touching your toes (although that's nice)—it's about training your mind, finding your focus, and discovering your inner confidence.

There's a lovely connection between sport, breath and emotional resilience throughout the book. What do you hope young readers take into their own games, hobbies or everyday challenges?

Exploring a consistent yoga practice is the perfect tool for navigating the ups and downs of everyday life, whether you are on a sports field, pursuing a hobby, or building friendships.

The beauty of the eight limbs of yoga is that they care for the whole person. The ethical guidelines (yama and niyama) teach us how to relate to others and grow as individuals. The physical poses (asanas) keep our bodies strong and resilient, while breathwork (pranayama) regulates the nervous system. Finally, the inward focus (pratyahara) and meditation practices train the brain to focus (dharana) and concentrate (dhyana), collectively bringing our mind, body, and spirit into alignment (samadhi).

Becoming proficient in even one part of this practice can transform one's confidence and open doors into the mastery of life. My deepest hope is that young readers will find just one aspect of yoga that resonates with them—whether it's a deep breath, a positive mantra, or a physical stretch—and use it as a stepping stone to keep growing.

When you're not writing or exploring yoga, what helps you feel grounded and joyful?

As an imaginative, creative type, I am always in my element when I'm designing or drawing. I love the practice of Zentangle—using a fine black pen and a graphite pencil to create patterns and a 3-D effect on elegant paper tiles. Through the repetition, I get into a wonderful, meditative state where I create without worrying about any specific outcome. That creative spark also led me to open my YogiBabyForever Etsy shop, where I design yoga-inspired wall art, shirts, and journals rooted in the mindset of the Yoga Sutras and the chakras.

Aside from creating, my family and pets bring me immense joy. I love spending time with my two daughters and my granddaughter, who actually inspired my first book, Yogi Baby Forever. My home is also filled with love from my feline princess and my two farm dogs, including my English Shepherd and my Border Collie, Yin, who inspired my second book, Yogi Baby and Yin.

Finally, I feel deeply grounded and blessed to be teaching my weekly "Lunar Yoga" class. It's a Yin-based practice that I've developed to include just a touch of Yang energy, and my dedicated students have become dear friends over the years. I'm also incredibly excited to be currently working with Partnership Publishing to bring the Lunar Yoga method into print soon!

Where can readers follow your work and keep up to date with Yogi Baby's journey?

You can find all of my work, explore the origins of Yogi Baby, and learn more about Zentangle and Lunar Yoga on my website at yogibaby.co.

I would also love for you to visit my creative space for inspirational products and yoga apparel in my shop on Etsy at yogibabyforever.etsy.com.

To stay up to date with my latest book news, products, and future journeys, let's connect on social media! New friends are always welcome:

• Facebook: Dawn Price - Author

• Instagram: @price.dawn