Press Release

Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You
By Brant Secunda and Mark Allen with a Foreword by Stephen Covey

“This book could very well be its own habit in my bestselling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People…[Mark and Brant] are a living example of what it means to be fit from the inside out, from the depths of the inner spirit to the outer symbols of health and wellness.”
– Stephen Covey, bestselling author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

“Reading Fit Soul, Fit Body sent chills up my spine. This is it – the missing element in athletics and fitness – bringing the wisdom of the soul into our workouts and our lives. Fit Soul, Fit Body is a revelation.”
– Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and Mother-Daughter Wisdom

Few people think about training for, much less winning, a serious athletic competition. But virtually everyone wishes they could see inside the world of such greatness and glean ideas for their own benefit in everyday living. What are the secrets to success other than strength and dedication that work in a world where nothing seems to be going right?

Six-time Ironman World Champion Mark Allen points to renowned shaman and healer Brant Secunda. It was only after studying with Brant and learning his deep wisdom about the mind-body connection that he became unstoppable and was proclaimed “The World’s Fittest Man” by Outside magazine. Now, Brant and Mark share their secrets together in a new book: FIT SOUL, FIT BODY: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You (BenBella Books: January 2009; $24.95 hardcover) with a Foreword by Stephen R. Covey.

Brant and Mark shatter common theories about “fitness,” proving that it’s much more than having strong muscles – it’s about learning to think of fitness as pertaining to both body and soul, which entails as much emotional and spiritual wellbeing as physical. These are universal tenets for everyone – whether you want to jump-start your exercise routine, be a leader at work, boost your moods, or simply improve the overall quality of your life. And while traditional self-help or health books present solutions to pieces of the puzzle, FIT SOUL, FIT BODY offers an easy roadmap for getting both the mind and body in shape simultaneously. It can enhance everything about your life, professionally and personally.

The FIT SOUL, FIT BODY plan offers strategies and advice on how to:
Test your wellness without considering your vital signs or weight
Successfully manage the 6 worst kinds of stress
Overcome the top 3 emotional barriers
Beat boredom and find motivation in repetition
“Slow down to get faster” (in everything you do)
Choose the right eating and exercise plan for you
Employ the power of nature to find balance
Quiet your mind in just minutes without spending hours learning meditation or attending a yoga class
Set realistic goals and secure a fit vision for life
Chock full of step-by-step exercises and practical techniques anyone can use, the book also reveals engrossing and humorous tales: of Mark’s quest to be the top triathlete in the world, and Brant’s journey from New Jersey to Mexico, where he completed a 12-year apprenticeship with legendary Huichol Shaman Don José Matsuwa.

The world has never been hungrier for fresh ideas on managing stress and upping physical, mental, and emotional fitness as we watch the economic climate worsen, our woes deepen, and our waistlines thicken. Brant Secunda and Mark Allen offer a doable solution.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Brant Secunda is a world-renowned shaman, healer, and teacher in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico. He is the director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies in Santa Cruz, California; a founding member of the American Herbalist Guild; and the cofounder, alongside former President Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu, of the Peace University of Berlin. He lives in Soquel, California. Mark Allen is a six-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion and was named Greatest Triathlete of All Time by Triathlete Magazine. He lives in Santa Cruz, California.

Title: FIT SOUL, FIT BODY: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You
Authors: Brant Secunda and Mark Allen
Publisher: BenBella Books
Publication date: January 2009
ISBN: 1933771569
Price: $24.95 hardcover