“Return to Nature: The Five Pillars of Healing" (book)

Life's too short to miss this!

I just stayed up until 1:30 am to finish this illuminating book, and have already ordered another one for a friend.

Sometimes you come across a book that changes your life; this is one of those. It is written with warmth and humanity, and contains some groundbreaking, but easy to implement strategies to heal and nurture both body and mind.

I think if you are struggling with a serious crisis and are desperate to make seismic changes, or simply wishing to live a healthier more fulfilling existence, you will find this book holds many gifts. The author opens the door to some new ways of thinking, and then guides you through towards a life of freedom and ease.

I have a shelf of self-help/ health books, and it is a relief to find one that is so well researched, practical, logical and easy to read.

It all makes blindingly perfect sense.

Why has no one written this before?"

– Jane –

I started bodywork and an exercise program and saw some improvement. A few years ago a friend recommended me to Jon, and the results are just short of a miracle. I have no symptoms of the condition. I do still have a curve to my spine but Jon's work has improved the curve and totally eliminated the pain.

I see Jon on a regular basis and have seen dramatic improvement to other parts of my body and general health as well. I would, and do, recommend Jon to anyone who would like to improve their physical condition."

– Paul –

I have been working with Jon for some time now. When I first came to Jon I had just finished chemotherapy and surgery to remove several lymph glands in my right armpit. I had been diagnosed with breast cancer several months before. After the surgery I could not move my right arm above my shoulder. There was a significant amount of scar tissue that prevented this from happening.

After a couple of sessions with Jon I was not only able to move my arm above my head but I had full range of motion in the arm and shoulder again. In fact, my arm was much more open than before the surgery. I am very grateful to have found Jon. He has helped me not only with my arm but with other areas of my body as well. I wish my whole family would go see Jon.

 – Janet –

– Calvin –

My name is Tracy Morse and I have been seeing Jon Burras since July 2003. When I first started seeing him I was in constant pain and discomfort from my head, neck, shoulders, back, lower back and hips. I had constant headaches, starting from the minute I woke up in the morning. I was taking 6-8 extra strength aspirin a day, every day.

My neck and shoulders and back were tight and locked up from years of stress and numerous accidents. I was in a plane crash in 1991 where I received significant burns throughout much of my body. My right arm was grafted all the way up to my right shoulder. Consequently. Every time I reached up or out for anything the scar tissue in the arm and shoulder pulled very badly on my back and shoulder muscles and I had severe spasming problems. If I reached too far for something my whole upper back would spasm so badly I couldn't move and sometimes I even couldn't breathe.

I have also had numerous feet surgeries on both feet as well as my left knee. My left foot has been fused and because it was in casts and boots etc. for so long the left leg has atrophied to almost half the size of my right leg. The left leg is also much weaker than the right and this has caused a lot of stress on my lower back and especially my left hip and sacrum area. My left hip and sacrum area started hurting very badly about a year ago whenever I would sleep on it. Within minutes my left hip would be burning and aching.

Since seeing Jon my pain and discomfort has been cut by 75%. He has given me more relief than I ever thought possible. His kindness, caring, compassion and dedication to his clients is nothing less than extraordinary. I have been to a few different massage therapists and they didn't come close to Jon's incredible knowledge and experience.

Every morning I wake up headache-free and every night when I am able to sleep good, I thank my lucky stars that I was fortunate enough to be referred to Jon. He has brought me more relief than all of the doctors and therapists that I have seen in the last few years. Thanks to Jon I am able to continue working and supporting myself and have a social life rather than going back on Disability.

– Tracy –

"My work with Jon has enabled me to learn and grow on many levels. I appreciate the way he artfully weaves and integrates physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual concepts in our time together. My work with Jon compliments my other healing and growth activities. Jon makes "suggestions" and I can choose to take advantage of them or not. He mirrors where I am, then gives me the opportunity to take a step that feels right for me on my path of self-discovery. He supports me in seeing if my perception of reality actually matches my reality. When we first started working together, I had very stiff joints and virtually life long back pain. Jon's explanation of pain as a messenger has helped me to listen to my body and give it what it needs. Even though I am past the age of fifty, my flexibility continues to increase. I treasure the gifts of Jon's work. Jon has taught me to breathe in ways that help me practice staying present in my body."

– Michelle –

Hi Jon,

I just wanted to send you a note regarding the affects that your recent emotional yoga class is continuing to have on me. My reason for coming to your class was because I've been in a "funk" for the past few (maybe 10) years. I believe this funk is probably mostly due to my career. I've never been interested in what I do for a living...therefore I lack motivation, which makes me not work as hard as I should...which is leading to a serious lack of self confidence and self worth.

I was raised to be tough, and to not show certain emotions. In my family anger seemed to be ok, but not sadness. This has all been made clear to me in the past week and a half.

Anyway, I have been crying a lot (almost everyday) since attending your class. A couple nights ago I sobbed for what seemed like hours. I would describe it as convulsing sobs. I cried this morning before I left my house for work. I wrote a letter of resignation to my boss, which was actually therapeutic. I managed to reason that, until I have a backup plan, submitting the letter now would be a bad idea.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, as a result of your class, I've been analyzing every aspect of my life. I don't want to just "go through the motions" anymore. I am desperately seeking some happiness. I realize that I can be a better/happier person than I am right now. I think your class opened my eyes to the fact that I need to figure things out...need to get myself on a new path. I really need to like myself again.

Although it is scary to put myself out there and possibly fail, I am so ready for a change. That feels refreshing.

Thank you.

– B –

I'd been doing the McKenzie Method since I saw you last spring and it had been doing a good job of managing my back pain. However, I especially noticed after surfing my pain level would go way up. I put your CD on several weeks ago and relearned the hip clock and dancing hips that you had gone through with me.

I've been putting a blanket down on the floor every night and doing yours and McKenzie's system. The surf has been up a bunch the last few weeks and I've been out there a lot. I have to tell you that I'm totally amazed at how much my pain has been reduced since incorporating your moves into my routine. Usually when I surf several days in a row my back is destroyed and I'm hobbling around. Not the case now. Many days my pain is down around a 2 or less, and sometimes I have almost no pain at all. That's a huge change from my usual experience the past two years. I especially notice the difference when I'm in the water on
my board and I'm paddling and snapping up to my feet with very little pain. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M STOKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I think my wife is sick of hearing me say how I can't believe how much my pain has gone down..........well maybe not, that's a good thing to hear from a loved one.

So anyway just wanted to give you a huge thank you for sharing your back healing method with me. I'm a true believer now. I won't let a day go by without my hip clocks and dancing hips! I'm actually having hope now that I'll be able to continue surfing till I'm an old surf dude.........I was having my doubts the last couple of years.

hope all is well with you,

all the best,

– M –

Jon,

I have had this ache around my shoulder blades for a long time. After today's Micro Yoga class with the focused work on shoulders, my ache and pain has magically disappeared! Going forward, I plan to practice this movement on a regular basis.

Up to this point in my practice, my heels never touched the floor when I did the downward facing dog. Today after the Micro Yoga-hamstrings practice, I am now able to flatten my heels to the floor.

I would like to attend Micro Yoga class on a regular basis. It helps me to be more flexible and relieves some of the stiffness.

– N –