Back Care Basics: A Doctor's Gentle Yoga Program for Back and Neck Pain Relief (Paperback)

by Mary Pullig Schatz (Author), B.K.S. Iyengar (Preface), William Connor (Foreword) "This book outlines a safe, effective, low-cost approach to back rehabilitation without drugs or surgery..." (more)
Key Phrases: triangle pose, warrior pose, relaxation techniques, Mountain Pose, Wall Push, Child's Pose (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Back Care Basics: A Doctor's Gentle Yoga Program For Back And Neck Pain Relief offers a gentle and effective approach to back rehabilitation without drugs or surgery. Using the therapeutic techniques of Iyengar style yoga, Dr. Mary Schatz's program encourages both positive health practices and a positive outlook. Readers will learn simple and practical ways to heal their back, restructure their bodies, and cope with stress. Readers will become more sensitive to early warning signs of an impending "back attack" and learn what to do to ward it off. Readers will learn how their daily activities may be hurting their back and how to modify them to prevent pain and injury. Back Care Basics is "must" reading for anyone with chronic back pain, and an invaluable (and popular) addition to any community library collection. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Description
Back Care Basics offers the low-cost solution for back care in the new millenium: therapeutic yoga. Dr. Schatz's approach to back rehabilitation is gentle, effective, and without drugs or surgery. Her program encourages both positive health practices and a positive outlook; the important tools needed for prevention and healing. Dr. Schatz has designed this program to help those with pain from chronic musculoskeletal back and neck strain, spinal arthritis, osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, and scoliosis. Simple and practical ways to heal the back, restructure the body, and cope with stress are taught so that one becomes more sensitive to early warning signs of an impending "back attack" and what to do to ward it off.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Rodmell Press; 1 edition (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962713821
• ISBN-13: 978-0962713828
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,198 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #7 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Aging > Backache
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

232 of 243 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lifesaver for people with back and neck pain!, July 5, 1999

By	Suza Francina "Yoga Teacher, Author, Animal... (Ojai, California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Suza Francina, author, The New Yoga for People Over 50, Mayor Pro-Tem from Ojai, California, writes:

"I have been teaching yoga to people of all ages for over 25 years. One of the most common reasons people begin a yoga class is to get rid of their aches and pains. I can say with complete confidence that of all the books I've read on therapeutic exercise for back and neck pain relief, Dr. Schatz book offers by far the most effective, individualized approach to a healthy back.

Back Care Basics goes beyond generic exercises and takes into account each person's special circumstances. It is a lifesaver for people caught in the viscious cycle of pain and fear. I have referred to it countless times creating yoga based exercise programs for people in chronic pain. In fact, almost my entire copy is highlighted or underlined!

If you or someone you love is suffering from back or neck pain, I encourage you to educate yourself by reading this book. I also hope that other health professionals working with people with back problems--chiropractors, massage and physical therapists, acupuncturists,etc., will read this book and leave it in their waiting room. Chiropractors tell me that patients who are practicing yoga rarely have acute back pain and their adjustments hold longer. People with back and neck problems benefit more from other therapies if they practice the gentle yoga program taught in Back Care Basics.

145 of 151 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Immediate Results, December 16, 2000

By A Customer

I had heard lots of wonderful things about this book for the last few years. Then I bought a copy. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Dr. Schatz has compiled a book which is a must for anyone with back pain or neck pain.

Her diagnostic tests allow you to immediately identify your problem areas. The recommended exercises are clearly illustrated. You get exercises that are custom-made for your body.

Of course, the magic happens when you actually do the exercises. I saw remarkable results in my posture the very first day I started doing the exercises. The neck and shoulder tightness has also improved.

Dr. Schatz is an expert in this area, and this is not designed as "quick fix." This is a sound program to be followed over time. However, I must admit I was astounded at the speed at which I saw improvement.

If you have any back or neck pain, or poor posture, you absolutely must get this book. It will improve your health dramatically. Thank you, Dr. Schatz for this magnificent book.

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review by former physiology instructor and past back pain sufferer!, June 6, 2006

By	Patrick D. Goonan "www.meaningful-life.us" (Pleasanton, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is my favorite book for addressing back pain issues. It presents a great foundation in the basic anatomy of the back and then uses this information to develop the concepts that help people understand why back and neck pain occur and how to correct it.

The book contains progressive exercises and workouts of various lengths that use Iyengar yoga to address back pain. Each exercise is carefully explained and includes good tips on how to perform each correctly. I also like that it provides the rationale for each exercise and important points to focus on while performing each movement.

There are also chapters on specific problems. This is definitely a comprehensive reference and it has helped me a lot with my own back problems. In addition, it is an excellent overall introduction to yoga.

The author is a physician who had back problems herself. She is highly credible and treated her own back problems with the methods described. I recommend this book to anyone interested in an introduction to yoga or wanting to learn more about rehabilitating back and neck problems using yoga.

Finally, if you are looking for another book on this topic "The Pilates Back Book" by Tia Stanmore is also very good. It also starts out more gently and is somewhat more accessible. However, it's not nearly as comprehensive or as detailed in describing the exercises. I own and use both and recommend owning both to people who are serious about understanding and working with back issues. (

Personally, I also found Tai Chi helpful before I was ready to do yoga. However, I don't have a book I would recommend that would be a good standalone resource. If you go this route, it's probably best to find a good teacher who is also a physical therapist or at least has some knowledge of dealing with back and neck related issues.