My name is Fred, I am a Registered Nurse (RN) and have worked in the UK National Health Service – NHS since 1997. From a very young age, I have always been fascinated with the “Human Condition” and an interest, bordering upon near obsession with Health and Wellbeing. This is a family profession as I followed in the footsteps of my mother, maternal grandmother and one of my ancestors who served as a medic during World War 1.
I went straight into my Adult Nursing training in 1997 at the Southampton School of Nursing, following my school education. I was 18, and very naive to what attributes were required to fulfil this role. I was fortunate to have several inspirational Mentors who I worked alongside, and my dear tutor, Cindy Wise (she had her work cut out for her with me!) helped me navigate both the vocational and academic hurdles that I faced over these 3 years of nursing training.
I qualified as a Professional Registered Nurse in 2000 and began working as a Junior Staff Nurse on an acute medical ward in Southampton General Hospital. I worked in Respiratory Medicine for 4 years, then moved to Weymouth and began a 12-year stint in the Emergency Department at Dorset County Hospital. Here I undertook further studies and attained my Batchelor of Science Degree with First level Honours in Advanced Nursing Practice from Bournemouth University and went on to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) in 2012. This allowed me to work autonomously and manage patients; assessing, diagnosing and treating various conditions that they presented with in the Emergency Department and the Urgent Treatment Centre in Weymouth. Autonomous Practitioners tend to See, Treat and Discharge patients, or admit/refer them to Specialist Healthcare Services when required (without the need to see a doctor). Unfortunately, with the pressures of working in such a high-stress environment, dealing with seriously injured, sick and dying patients, coupled with shift work and my family commitments, led me to have a serious mental breakdown and major depressive episode. I had to walk away from a team of colleagues that I dearly loved working with.
When I began to come to terms with my breakdown and could begin to function again, I changed careers and moved into General Practice (family medicine) in 2017, where I continue to work for the NHS in the Weymouth Locality.
I have a specialist interest in disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Chronic/Persisting Pain conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety & Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
It was also in 2017 that I found a regular Yoga Practice, which I found had personal benefits, although I only dabbled at this stage with Mindful Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa. It was just after lockdown that I met with my Yoga teacher’s Yoga teacher, Āchārya Dr. Kaustubha Desikachar and was introduced to Viniyoga. This was a pivotal moment in my life. I understood that Yoga had so much more to offer than strengthening the body and mind. For me, it is also an authentic, spiritual practice under the guidance of an appropriately trained and experienced teacher. Looking back whilst writing this I feel blessed. I had already experienced first-hand the injuries, fatigue, and trying to push oneself hard, or into inappropriate postures. I realise how I completely neglected the Yama-s and Niyama-s and was not applying the principals of Yoga off the mat as well as on the mat. I had not appreciated that Yoga is a multidimensional, holistic approach (not just stretch and tone) and a Spiritual Practice enabling us to fulfil our Life’s Purpose.
I had missed the real point of Yoga, and its subtler nuances that come about in our day-to-day living. A real light bulb moment was when my Teacher was describing the benefits and necessity of a daily Practice. My experiences now from performing my own daily rituals are so much richer and have given me both the understanding and motivation and energy to go about fulfilling my life’s purpose.
This leads me to apply what I have learned and continue to learn from the Viniyoga tradition and sharing with my patients. Much of my recent Professional learning and development as an Advanced Nurse has focused me further on my journey as a Yoga practitioner. I am fortunate and grateful my employers and Line Manager have given me time and space to pursue my wish to advance my knowledge and skills as a Yoga teacher and therapist. I have completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course on-line with Himalaya Valley Yoga. I have also completed my 100-hour Prānāyāma Teacher Training Course with Dr. Desikachar at the beginning of 2024. I am due to complete my 1000-hour Viniyoga Therapy course in September 2025. The latter 2 courses have really opened my mind and my heart to the possibilities of Yoga to empower myself and allow my patients to empower themselves. The transformation I have experienced is indescribable and I am truly loving my journey through life again.
I continue studies on Patanjali’s Yogasūtras-s and Vedic Chanting with Sarah Ryan and have been studying of The Yogarahasya of Nāthamuni with Dr. Desikachar on-line, since January 2024. I am also coming to the end of a yearlong Samantraka-Āsana Practice, which involved daily Āsana practices and incorporating Mantra throughout the practice. The Practices changed every 2 weeks throughout the year which have enhanced my appreciation for this wonderful tradition and how each of the Mantra and Practices has influenced my thoughts and feelings and fundamentally my connection to myself and my Spirit.
I have a deep admiration and sense a subtle connection to this ancestral line of teachers. I am filled with awe, that this system of Health and Wellness, which is millennia old - is answering questions for me, that I have pondered on for long and hard - that are not answered by modern medicine. That some of the advanced technologies of modern medicine are only just understanding and evidencing that Meditation techniques and other facets of Yoga do affect the structures and energy centres of the body on such a delicate and sublime way, that promotes wellbeing and longevity. I am fascinated by the many tools of Yoga such as Chanting, Mantra, the use of Mudrā-s and Āsana-s, Gestures (Nyāsa), conscious and regulated breathing practices (Prāṇāyāma) and the therapeutic effect that they have; without the harmful side-effects of the chemicals, we use in Pharmacology and Medicine. I was long becoming disenfranchised with the paternalistic approach to Western medicine. The way it disempowers patients by letting them believe there is a Magic Pill for this, and an operation for that. Yes, medicine and surgery certainly have their place. However, from my experience I frequently see patients (who do not need such invasive therapies) fall into the trap of becoming the “Victim” and not take responsibility for their own health and happiness by eating and sleeping appropriately and taking care of their bodies, and their relationships. Working themselves into the ground and not listening to their hearts. Using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress or historical trauma and abuse. Not dealing with their issues, just hiding or trying to forget and deny.
The knowledge I am gaining from the Viniyoga teachings; particularly the Pañcamaya model, means I am beginning to understand how other systems within the body such as the energetic system and the spiritual dimension of the individual can have a profound effect on wellbeing and is all too often neglected by “us” as people and as health care professionals. I have a newfound motivation to incorporate both the Ancient Eastern approach to help people empower themselves with the Modern Western Modalities of care which still have a crucial role when people become unwell.
Early this year I approached the Medical Director for the Weymouth and Portland Primary Care Network to look at ways we could enable the community to access free sessions of Yoga to help connect with themselves and other individuals. I was overjoyed when we were given the green light to proceed with group-classes. Staff and Patients are currently able to access Viniyoga in the tradition of Srī T. Krishnamacharya which is subsidised by the NHS.
It is my deepest wish that this is just but the initial planting of a seed which I hope to nurture and grow, enabling other individuals to grow and gain wisdom from my teacher, and his lineage who have passed on these wonderful teachings and to develop their own personal daily practices (under the guide of an appropriate teacher) and experiences. I also use some of tools of Yoga I have learned through the Yoga therapy and Prānāyāma training on a one-to-one basis when I consult with individuals with health concerns. My colleagues and I find this especially useful for patients who have not benefitted from other treatment modalities such as medication or physiotherapy. I would love to start to research this fascinating area of care in the future.
Namaste - Fred Burnham R.N. ANP, BSc (Hons).
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