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

Without boring our fine audience with details, let’s just say that events in my life from Thursday of last week ‘till now have tested my spirituality and sanity at times like never before. As I slowly emerge from the ‘battle armour’ we all put on during tough periods, I realize that my Yoga practice may have been missing something…a perspective or ‘different view.’ On a whim, I picked up a used copy of The Pure Heart of Yoga and retreated to the closest thing I have to a cave – a six by six foot tent – to have some much needed away time.

Shell-shocked

It occurred to me as a sat reading in the dim light of the electric lantern that despite having survived the latest crisis, I felt internally scarred in some way. A small piece of me was missing, perhaps lost in the rollercoaster ride of emotions and mental activity the last ten days had triggered. The Pure Heart of Yoga gave me no answers; Robert doesn’t like to do that. What it did give me was guidance and direction, which I desperately needed. I had survived the last while…barely. I was still experiencing a mixture of emotions and thoughts running the gamut from “it’s not worth it anymore,” to “I guess you are not as centered as I thought you were.” The latter carried a definite hint of self-blaming sarcasm every time it entered my mind. What I needed was to lick my wounds at the feet of my teacher – Robert reminded me I was the teacher I sought.

Calm waters

You may have learned how to do yoga, but do you deeply truly understand why to do yoga? In The Pure Heart of Yoga, understanding the less obvious benefits of yoga is like finding the calm beneath the stormy sea. Robert Butera describes the emotional, spiritual and physical processes that are experienced through performing asanas and how they contribute toward a more balanced and healthy life. The Pure Heart of Yoga offers ten universal steps towards a more balanced well-being that are adaptable to any level practitioner. Through simple language, personal stories and journal guidance designed to encourage a deeper understanding of your practice; Robert compels readers to learn more about themselves and realize the tremendous impact that yoga will have on their health physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

True beauty

Yoga is so much more than a physical activity. It is a conscious lifestyle that ushers in profound spiritual and personal transformation. The Pure Heart of Yoga invites you to experience yoga as the ancient masters intended it: not as a sport or physical activity, but as an encompassing holistic way of life. Inner stillness, true beauty and perfect awareness are not subjective forms we aspire towards; they are part of our true selves. Based on twenty years of experience; Robert’s ten perspectives to help deepen your experience of yoga include intention, the history and archetype of the pose, breathing, form, concentration, chakras, involvement of the five senses, experiencing energy flow and meditation. A summary and illustration of twenty-three yoga poses are included in the book that help the reader realize the ten steps in their lives. The twenty-three asanas are chosen specifically as ones to help speed you on your path to self awareness and universal awareness.

Dr. Robert Butera is the founder of the Yoga Life Institute in Devon, Pennsylvania, and publishes Yoga Living magazine. Robert graduated from Earlham School of Religion, earned a PhD in yoga from California Institute of Integral Studies, and in 1989 was certified by The Yoga Institute in Bombay, India.

The Pure Heart of Yoga deserves – especially for reminding me of what I truly am and where true guidance and knowledge reside…