Back Care Basics: A Doctor’s Gentle Yoga Program for Back and Neck Pain Relief

264 Pages·1992·26.3 MB·English

by  Mary Pullig Schatz

Back Care Basics

Back Care Basics
A Doctor's Gentle Yoga Program
for Back and Neck Pain Relief
By Mary Pullig Schatz, M.D.
Foreword by William Connor, M.D.
Preface by B.K.S. Iyengar
RODMELL
P RE\ .'J
Rodmell Press
Berkeley,California
1992
Copyright©1992byMary PulligSchatz,M.D.
Illustrations copyright©1992byJ.WilliamMyers.
Allrights reserved.No partofthisbookmaybereproducedortransmitted
inanyform orbyanymeans, electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy
ing, recording, orbyanyinformationstorageand retrievalsystem,without
permissioninwritingfrom thepublisher. Forinformation,addressRodmell
Press,2147BlakeSt.,Berkekey,CA94704;510.841.3123;www.rodmellpress.com.
FirstEdition
PrintedinChina
08 20
LibraryofCongress CatalogCardNumber:91-78206
ISBN-IO: 0-9627138-2-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-9627138-2-8
AnneCushman
Editor
AndreaDuFlon
Designer
FredStimson
Cover Photographer
ClarkThomas/Nashville
Photographer
J.WilliamMyers
Illustrator
ArchetypeTypography
Typography
TextsetinSimonciniGaramond
DistributedbyPublishers GroupWest
This book is dedicated
Tomyfather, Richard Murphy Pullig, M.D., who gavemeathirst for knowledge,
an appreciation of the joyof learning, and his personal example of helping those in pain.
To myyoga teacher, the Honorable B.K.S. Iyengar, who has unselfishly shared
with me and his yoga students around the world the knowledge and experience he has
gained through fifty years of teaching back patients.
To myhusband, WaIter Frederick Schatz, whose steadfast love and patient
companionship have helped make this book a reality.

~,
ill'
Contents
acknowLedgments
ix
'Foreword by WiLLiam Connor, :M.'D.
xi
'Preface by 'B.X.S. lvenqar
xiii
13egin with Caution
xv
Chapter One
Yoga: The WayBack to Health
1
Cfiapter 'Two
Understanding Your Back
9
Chapter 'Three
Moving Again after Injury or Surgery
21
Cfiapter 'Four
Assessing Your Flexibility and Alignment
37
Chapter 'Five
Relaxation Techniques
63
Chapter Six
Home Base Poses
87
vii
Chapter Seven
Moving On Poses
111
Ciiaptn'~iglit
Sacroiliac Pain and Sciatica
133
Cluuner .Nine
Rounded Upper Back, Forward Head Posture, and Neck Pain
143
Chapter 'fen
Scoliosis
163
Chapter rtLeven
A Woman's Back
181
Chapter 'TweLve
The Yoga ofDaily Living
199
Chapter 'Thirteen
Exercising Safely
2U
'Epilogue
226
appendix
Back Goal Diary; Back Care Diary;
Assessing Your Flexibility and Alignment Worksheet
227
9lossary
235
'Resources
239
'Bibliography
243
Index
247
viii
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Acknowledgments
In addition to those mentioned in the dedication, I gratefully acknowledge the
following for their contributions to this work:
The dedicated men and women who were myteachers and mentors at Vander
bilt University School of Medicine and Louisiana State University School of Medicine, for
giving me the Western medical background through which I could understand and
appreciate the therapeutic efficacyof yoga;
My patients and students, for helping me learn to teach and to recognize the
importance of the therapeutic transformations that yoga can bring about;
Anne Cushman, for her editorial professionalism, her devotion to yoga, and
her gentle ways;
Carol Nelson and Francois Raoult for their enthusiasm and their tireless energy
during long photo shoots;
Clark Thomas for his photographic expertise, his commitment to excellence,
and his creative talent;
BillMyers for his beautiful and informative drawings;
Lynne Denny for her swift and accurate secretarial support;
Betty Larson for her well-educated knees;
Donna Gurchiek for her radiant pregnant presence;
Susan Underwood, P.T., for her positive suggestions about the manuscript;
Judith Lasater, Ph.D., R.P.T., for starting me on the road to postural
improvement;
Linda Cogozzo and Donald Moyer, mypublishers, for their vision and tenacity
in bringing this book to fruition.
ix