Executive #Bookshelf : Warrior Pose: How Yoga (Literally) Saved My Life - Brad Willis @Bhava_Ram
Synopsis
From covering the front lines of the Gulf War to investigating Colombian drug lords to living with freedom fighters in the mountains of Afghanistan, war correspondent Brad Willis was accustomed to risk. But when mortal danger came, it was from an unexpected direction.
At the pinnacle of his career, a broken back and failed surgery left Willis permanently disabled and condemned to life in a body brace. Then came a diagnosis of terminal, stage IV throat cancer.
At his 50th birthday party, friends gathered around Willis, who was crippled, almost mute, depressed, strung out on narcotic medications, and dying. Halfway through the celebration Willis realized the party’s true purpose—his friends were there to say goodbye.
Everyone knew Willis was on his way out...everyone except his 2-year-old son, who urged, “Get up, Daddy!”
His son’s words ringing in his ears, Willis chose to abandon Western medicine and embrace the most esoteric practices of Yoga to heal his body, mind, and soul—ridding himself of cancer and fully restoring his back. As a symbol of his journey, he took the spiritual name Bhava Ram, which stands for “Living from the Heart.”
Warrior Pose is an adventure chronicling some of the most momentous events of our time through a journalist’s eyes, an unforgettable story about the power of love between father and son, and a transformational journey of self-healing, inner peace, and wholeness.
Tom’s Take:
I had suffered with long standing back pain – like most business people, I spend hours on end at my desk, hunched over my computer, books and printed reports. I needed to find an outlet to make my physical form keep up with my work ethic. Yoga has been touted over and again in the news and social media as an incredible healer – physically, mentally and emotionally. I’ve come to find myself an avid practitioner of hot yoga and have never felt better. Willis’ journey and almost incredible transformation is a reminder that even a broken back can’t stop the most dedicated and persistent journey to healing. From sitting on death’s door to becoming a guru, this tale will hopefully inspire readers to at least give yoga a shot!