Watts Charlotte - Yoga and Somatics for Immune and Respiratory Health

A deep read, rich with valuable information that will inform and transform the understanding of every yoga therapist. Rarely have I encountered such a generous offering of scientific information contextualised specifically for those in the field of yoga therapy. This book will definitely be a required read for my yoga therapy training programme going forward!

Robin Rothenberg, C-IAYT yoga therapist, author of Restoring Prana:
A Therapeutic Guide to Pranayama and Healing Through the Breath
for Yoga Therapists, Yoga Teachers and Healthcare Practitioners

Charlotte reviews a unique tapestry of concepts not found elsewhere, providing the reader with a broad overview of the self from the inside out. Weaving together a description of the mind, the immune system, fascia and the respiratory and nervous systems, she connects the dots in ways not done before and buttresses this with practical tools and tips for the profound development of wellbeing.

Heather Mason, Founder of The Minded Institute

This book is an enjoyable blend of scientific information and mindful practice. It is a resource for yoga teachers and serious practitioners who are ready to bring their curiosity to the inner world of movement and breath. Charlotte balances the complex subject matter with scholarly clarity while also encouraging the exploration of awareness. A welcome contribution to the study of yoga!

Dr Kristen MacPherson, DPhil (Oxon), MSc (Oxon), BA, E-RYT, YACEP

Charlottes knowledge is born out of deep, sustained curiosity to understand the interrelated systems of the human biome and our shared environment. This book is the result of Charlottes determination to truly understand the respiratory system spurred on by the COVID pandemic, and the desire to help others through it. It is the body owners manual we all need to understand how our vital systems work, and how to work with them.

Lisa Kaley-Isley, clinical psychologist, yoga teacher,
IAYT certified yoga therapist and yoga educator

A beautifully written book of heart that should be on every yoga teachers shelf. I have learnt loads from it. Moving forward from these post-pandemic times, if we wish to maintain good health its sensible to have a clear understanding of how the respiration and immune systems dance together. If you want to significantly improve both your own wellbeing and those of the people you work with, then this book is highly recommended.

Fiona Agombar, yoga therapist, rest activist and author of Yoga
Therapy for Stress, Burnout and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Charlotte speaks to the reader with informed and accessible language, addressing some of todays most widespread challenges to human health and longevity, while offering intelligent and effective solutions for every body. An essential and timely resource awakening our innate capacity for self-understanding, knowledge, self-healing and optimum wellbeing.

Simon Low, The Yoga Academy

Charlotte Wattss book is an absolute must for all movement and manual therapists. Knowing Charlotte in her early days as a practitioner at my centre, along with learning from our fascia and movement programmes over 20 years ago, I have seen that her understanding of health, nutrition and movement somatics have proven valuable for all that learn from her. She is a master of understanding the breath and fascial rhythms and how these relates to health in a way that no one has entertained; it is necessary reading.

Gary Carter, Director of Natural Bodies Myofascial Movement trainings,
yoga teacher and teacher trainer, KMI structural integrator and movement
educator, international fascial anatomy teacher, Brighton and London

by the same author

Yoga Therapy for Digestive Health

Charlotte Watts

ISBN 978 1 84819 354 3

eISBN 978 0 85701 312 5

of related interest

Yoga Therapy for Stress, Burnout and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Fiona Agombar

Foreword by Alex Howard

Contributions by Leah Barnett

ISBN 978 1 84819 277 5

eISBN 978 0 85701 223 4

Restoring Prana

A Therapeutic Guide to Pranayama and Healing Through the Breath for Yoga Therapists, Yoga Teachers, and Healthcare Practitioners

Robin L. Rothenberg

Illustrated by Kirsteen Wright

Foreword by Richard Miller

ISBN 978 1 84819 401 4

eISBN 978 0 85701 357 6

Yoga on Prescription

The Yoga4Health Social Prescribing Protocol

Paul Fox and Heather Mason

Foreword by Sat Bir Singh Khalsa

ISBN 978 1 78775 975 6

eISBN 978 1 78775 976 3

YOGA AND SOMATICS FOR IMMUNE AND RESPIRATORY HEALTH

CHARLOTTE WATTS with Leonie Taylor

Foreword by Joanne Avison

First published in Great Britain in 2023 by Singing Dragon, an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers

An imprint of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

An Hachette Company

Copyright Charlotte Watts with Leonie Taylor 2023

Foreword copyright Joanne Avison 2023

The right of Charlotte Watts to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The author and the publisher apologize for any omissions and would be grateful if notified of any acknowledgements that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.

Front cover image source: painting by Sam Hewitt The cover image is for illustrative purposes only.

Sketches (part opener pages) source: Sam Hewitt

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 without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library and the Library of Congress

ISBN 978 1 83997 087 0

eISBN 978 1 83997 088 7

Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ Books Ltd

Jessica Kingsley Publishers policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.

Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Carmelite House

50 Victoria Embankment

London EC4Y 0DZ

www.singingdragon.com

For lovely Maisie, Sam, Peter, Nancy, Sandy, Alan and Oscar
my constellation

Yoga and Somatics for Immune and Respiratory Health is for anyone studying or teaching the human body/being. The emphasis is on health, using the lens of yogic wisdom, to visualise and embody many deep and subtle practices that are described and beautifully illustrated throughout the text. Each practice is relevant to the topic and each topic is woven together to make sense of the person practising or teaching. Thats a feat and its a brave achievement.

Why brave? Because we are in the new era of a new age! So much has gone online, so much has shifted our normal, and so many of us are looking to make sense of what has changed and what longs to be the same. Beyond that, there is a deeper need to make sense of the impact we are navigating together upon ourselves as individuals and as a collective. Yoga stands the test of time, and with a work like this, students and teachers of its art and science are equipped with an updated, invaluable and relevant guide to traverse these new landscapes. Charlotte has managed to distinguish the fears and concerns that we have experienced (personally and professionally) around the globe over recent years, and to demonstrate how they can be managed and changed, and improved through knowledge and thoughtful practice and exploration. Whether you are a teacher, therapist or simply interested, you will find gold in this enquiry and the guidance threaded compassionately through it.