The Pure Heart of Yoga: Ten Essential Steps for Personal Transformation

by Robert Butera

Inner stillness. Perfect awareness. True beauty. Yoga is much more than just a physical activity. It is a conscious lifestyle that brings about a profound spiritual and personal transformation. This book on yoga invites you to experience yoga as the ancient masters intended it--a holistic way of life that unites the body, mind, and spirit for complete health and well-being.

With clear instruction, Dr. Robert Butera guides you through ten steps on the path of yoga that are based on traditional yogic principles and practices, yet designed to fit seamlessly into your life. Yoga enthusiasts of all kinds will discover effective tools for creating a life of healthful beauty and inner peace.

Understand the role of physical poses within the larger, holistic system of yoga Practice breathing techniques (pranayama), work with your energy centers (chakras), and develop your concentration Overcome psychological blocks, balance your emotions, and grow emotionally and spiritually Visit www . pureheartofyoga . com for free video clips of demonstrated yoga postures.

Praise:

"The Pure Heart of Yoga will bring increased depth to your yoga practice...It is an excellent book: thoughtful, reflective, deep, and accessible."--Eleanor Criswell, EdD, author of How Yoga Works

"That he's able to instruct and inspire with a warm heart and skillful direction, without judgment or prejudice about the "style" or your yoga of choice, is good reason to believe this book will bring life to your practice."--Yoga Journal

Genres: Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Robert Butera, MDiv, PhD (Devon, PA), founded YogaLife Institute in Pennsylvania, where he trains yoga teachers and Comprehensive Yoga Therapists. Robert's PhD at CA Institute of Integral Studies focused on Yoga Therapy.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book provides some basic insight into core concepts of yoga including the eight-fold path of yoga practice according to the yoga sutras, meaning of poses, and energy centers (chakras). However, the author frequently makes references to body weight, body image and thinness. It is inappropriate and disturbing given it contradicts the entire premise of yoga.

His case studies illustrate his fat-phobic views:

"Case Study - Mary's Self-Image
Having gained weight during her second pregnancy, Mary was comparing herself to a certain animal that may seem derogatory -- the pig. Mary understood that it was essential to be honest about this negative association...Many of us can relate to negative feelings about weight gain...If Mary feels like a pig at the subconscious level, she will tend to behave like one..." p 104

This is just one of many of the author's ridiculous viewpoints and positions. Brutal. The book is not worth considering.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read so far, perfect for each beginner. Not only for the 'how and why' of poses but most of all because it learns you more about the yoga lifestyle, which is so much more than just stretching your muscles and meditation. Intention, attitude, breathing exercises and more, this book learned me why I want to practice yoga in my daily life.

[Simply LauraLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been practicing yoga on and off for several years. I would like to take my practice to the next level. This was a great source of information for more than just the poses. I will be keeping it close to refer back to as I start to make my practice more regular and productive.

[Laura Woodyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thoughtful and informative

[Raelene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started me on my path to yoga over a decade ago.

[Tinea · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's funny that life changes meant I read this in a three-week period where I wasn't able to go to my yoga studio, where busy-ness and energy sucks meant I didn't do any physical yoga poses for the longest time in a few years. The yoga membership on which I gambled a significant portion of my minimum wage barista income more than paid for itself in happiness, athleticism, productive filler for the lonely hours while my partner was away for three separate six month chunks, supportive relationships with teachers, therapy for my back and my PTSD and anxiety, and surprising personal growth. I moved on to a salaried job since then, and soon will be leaving the US for a city where yoga will likely be on my own, or with friends, or if I'm lucky, taught by a teacher but in a foreign language. So I am in a yoga transition, about to take the grounding and learning of a steady 3-5x/week yoga practice with teachers into a more personal journey. This book is an accessible guide for someone in my shoes-- some grounding in pose work, some experience with the emotional and somatic benefits of yoga, and curious about how to pursue deeper, more holistic, spiritual, and transformative aspects of yoga practice.

Butera's guide is a wide-angle overview of what a holistic, spiritual but balanced yoga practice can look like. He explains how poses, breathing, and meditation are tools to influence physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of our bodies and lives. These practices give students access to the connections between these different parts of ourselves. Perhaps a simple way to describe the main theme of the book is how to approach actions like poses, breathwork, and meditation to both investigate and cultivate different physical, emotional, and philosophical/spiritual outcomes in yourself. Butera introduces yoga philosophy, but emphasizing that yoga principles are universal, and can be applied within any belief system; they are also personal and open to adaptation and experimentation. I noticed that the philsophy Butera taught reminded be of the cognitive behavioral therapy I've participated in for anxiety symptoms of PTSD.

Nothing is too thorough or complex here. Butera introduces concepts and gives examples of how to apply the ideas, providing enough information to dabble and experiment to gain the curiosity for further study. Yet, he offers enough to work with that it will be some time before I can exhaust the lessons and applications provided. It's a very good beginner reference. I have a lot to reflect on as I adopt a deeper yoga practice in the coming months and years.

[linds j]

Picked this up when I first started yoga and was curious to learn more. Really liked it and come back to it now and again throughout different phases of my practice. It is great for understanding the limbs and philosophies of yoga that we often hear reference of in classes. I also loved the opportunities to reflect on my own personal practice, relating it to discussions in the book.

[Chiara Van den berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book about yoga! You can start anywhere in the book, read a page and you have enough the think about, but also to do your daily yoga in a total diffrent view. You can use this book as a beginner, but also when you are a teacher, and keep learning about yourself and the world of body, mind and soul.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is written by the man who runs YogaLife Institute where I am in teacher training - and I found out he's a first cousin of our good friends. Very enlightening if you want to delve deeper into yoga.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I first started practicing yoga. It helped me to understand the language that was used in class, and a great deal that goes beyond the asana. The only drawback is the life examples, although helpful, some are a bit corny.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book, a good place for beginners to learn various yogic concepts and practices, beyond the postures. Good also for long-time practitioners who want to cultivate "beginner's mind."

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book to learn general principles of yoga and practical aspects of the practice. Also, gives helpful insight on the poses.

[Duygu Ak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader-friendly book

[Paula M. Youmell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, easy read and good addition to my Yoga library. Butera has great insights into the spirituality of yoga. Would love to do teacher training with Butera!

[Lynne Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite book about yoga, chakras and emotions.