Christine Burke - The Yoga Healer: Remedies for the body, mind, and spirit, from easing back pain and headaches to managing anxiety and finding joy and peace within

THE YOGA HEALER

This book is dedicated to my family and my family of students, who have inspired and encouraged me always; And to my mother for her embodiment of courage and love, to my father for challenging me to find a deeper strength, to my husband for his wisdom, kindness and patience; And to my Clementinemy angel, my guru.

THE YOGA HEALER

REMEDIES FOR THE BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT

FROM EASING BACK PAIN AND HEADACHES TO MANAGING
ANXIETY AND FINDING JOY AND PEACE WITHIN

CHRISTINE BURKE

Published in 2017 by CICO Books

An imprint of Ryland Peters & Small Ltd

2021 Jockeys Fields 341 E 116th St

London WC1R 4BW New York, NY 10029

www.rylandpeters.com

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Text Christine Burke 2017

Design, illustration, and photography CICO Books 2017

The authors moral rights have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress and the British Library.

eISBN: 978-1-78249-595-6

ISBN: 978-1-78249-375-4

Editor: Marion Paull

Designer: Geoff Borin

Photographer: Erika Flores

Commissioning editor: Kristine Pidkameny

Senior editor: Carmel Edmonds

In-house design assistant: Kerry Lewis

Art director: Sally Powell

Production manager: Gordana Simakovic

Publishing manager: Penny Craig

Publisher: Cindy Richards

Important health note

Please be aware that the information contained in this book and the opinions of the author are not a substitute for medical attention from a qualified health professional. If you are suffering from any medical complaint or are worried about any aspect of your health, or if you are pregnant, please ask your doctors advice before proceeding. The publisher and author can take no responsibility for any injury or illness resulting from the advice given or the postures demonstrated within this volume.

Contents

HEALER: A PERSON WHO HEALS; ESPECIALLY THROUGH FAITH

Yoga is OLDvery old, roughly 6,000 years oldyet it is gaining popularity faster than you can say Namaste. This is because the themes and the practice of yoga are universal and timeless. Despite all the changes that have taken place over the centuries, whether magnificent or frightening, humanity has remained fundamentally the same. We long for connection and love, health and prosperity, peace and joy.

Yoga has a long list of benefits both physical and psychological. A yoga practice can improve posture, strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, lower blood pressure, decrease the likelihood of injury, improve lung capacity, relieve anxiety, lower stress levels, increase energy levels, and enhance mental clarity. The list goes on! Although the physical poses of yoga have gained the most attention in the West, they are but a rung on the ladder that leads to the ultimate and original goal of yoga, which is moksha or liberation. The definition of liberation is subject to many interpretations. For the purposes of this book, please consider what liberation means to you at this moment, and how it would positively affect your life to feel liberated.

We all have difficult moments, experience stress and loss, suffer temporary or chronic physical pain, and struggle with less than graceful moods at times. Wouldnt it be wonderful to carry around a tool belt filled with everything you need to address the various conditions that arise in your body, mind, and spirit in the course of a regular day? And wouldnt it be terrific if the remedy didnt come with a list of side effects and wasnt costly or time-consuming? And wouldnt it be really fantastic if you could turn this day around in 15 minutes or less? If you say yes, this is where this book enters your life and makes it better. It is your companion and your guide.

Imagine that you could stop the momentum that has landed you with an aching back or stress headache, or has left you feeling disheartened and disappointed. Imagine that you could take your healing into your own hands right here and now. You can recover your equilibrium and start your energy moving toward wellness in a few moments. You can allow yourself to acknowledge your feelings and not become overwhelmed by them, creating more discord and conflict. This is the beauty of yoga. You can literally practice a breathing technique or short series of poses and get moving in the direction of feeling better right awayand I will show you how in this book.

Hatha yoga is often defined as an art and a science. The science is that we practice certain poses (asanas), breath practices (pranayama), and the quietening of the chatter of the mind (meditation) in a way that produces proven benefits. The art is our personal expression, the way we use the tools that yoga provides. Many painters use a brush and yet no two paintings are identical.

The yoga in this book is hatha yoga as I practice and teach it. It is a simmering stew of all things yoga, based in tradition, and prepared for you with experience, love, humor, and passion. I have been blessed to share yoga with thousands of students and I have been fortunate to witness transformation and evolution every day. Feel free to pick up this book and flip to the condition that ails you or calls to you. You may also enjoy reading it all the way through. Whether you are a newcomer to yoga or a seasoned yogi, my prayer is that you will become more deeply acquainted with the healer in you, and that this relationship will infuse your life with wellbeing and many days of being well.

A regular practice of yoga can be a life-changing and life-enhancing experience. While a traditional practice of one- or two-hour sessions is certainly something to consider and incorporate into your schedule if you can, there is much to be gained from brevity and consistency as well. Never underestimate how the power of a few focused minutes can transform your health and your outlook.

Getting the best out of the book

This book can be used for on-the-spot remedies by simply flipping to the desired section and following the practice.

You can expand any of the practice remedies by adding a warm-up sequence (pages ). This is particularly important if the remedy provided includes deeper or stronger poses, and I have noted where this is the case.

Use the cool-down sequence (pages ) after the remedial poses for further relief of muscle tension and deep relaxation, or to prepare for a good nights sleep.