Nick Reiner’s Childhood Tantrums Were Depicted in an Illustrated Book About Yoga

A personal yoga instructor to Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner once wrote a children’s book inspired by their son Nick Reiner, arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents Sunday at their Brentwood home.

Published in 2005, A Chair in the Air was an attempt by yoga instructor Alanna Zabel at processing her experiences working for the family in the early 2000s, when Nick would regularly interrupt the private classes with screaming outbursts that could last 20 minutes or longer, according to the Daily Mail.

“Nicky is full of big feelings and even bigger energy — so big, in fact, that one day his excitement accidentally sends a vase flying across the room!” reads the Amazon book synopsis. “Overwhelmed and unsure how to fix his mistake, Nicky meets a magical guide: Mahini Yogini, a wise and whimsical yogi who floats in with a calming breeze and a very special lesson.”

The yogi offers gentle guidance to Nicky, helping him channel his wild energy via yoga poses. “He also discovers the power of stillness, focus and the courage to make things right,” the synopsis reads. “By the end of the story, Nicky doesn’t just master a few new poses — he also finds the strength within himself to apologize to his mom with a full and honest heart.”

Nick, 32, has cycled in and out of rehab centers since his teens. He has been living in a guest house on his parents’ property, according to the LA Times, and in recent weeks his mother had grown increasingly concerned about his mental health.

A holiday party at Conan O’Brien’s house the night before the murders drew concern from A-list guests after Nick demonstrated erratic behavior, reportedly getting into a loud argument with his famous father.

Nick has retained high-profile defense attorney Alan Jackson, who successfully defended Karen Read in another sensational murder case.