What our clients say about us
Buteyko is about self-care. It enables you to take an active role in managing your condition. Buteyko has no negative side effects and it does not require ever-increasing doses of medication to stay in control. It removes almost entirely the symptoms of asthma and allows you to take charge of your life. The control you experience means you -
Can eliminate Hyperventilation Syndrome. "I think this breathing course has been a real investment, something I can use for the rest of my life- thank you!" Mel D. Cadiz, Spain September 2004
Reduce asthma medication "Since doing the Buteyko training I have reduced and then stopped using any asthma medication. I sleep soundly every night, no longer suffer from headaches and my appetite has stabilised. I am 29, this is the only way my asthma has been controlled." Sarah Daniel, Redditch (27.7.02)
Eliminate symptoms of asthma "This course has proved what I've always known instinctively - that we are capable of curing our asthma." Alexandra Turner, Shurdington (9.8.02)
Normalise the body's functions "I am able to reduce medication and am no longer dependant on oral steroids. I have lost a stone in weight and am now sleeping through the night, in my bed, instead of sitting in a chair. I can taste my food and my appetite is normalising. The condition of my hair and skin are beginning to restore. Buteyko has shown me there is life after asthma." June Cook, Hengoed, South Wales (12.7.02)
Can get the benefit at any age "Approaching 65 I was truly amazed at the positive results in a matter of 6 weeks. I could do without my reliever and medication and coughed a lot less, in fact I have just looked through my stock of medication to see what I can throw away." Peter Wood, Kidderminster (8.5.02)
Gives value for money! "As a child and young adult, I was keen on sports and used to carry my Ventolin inhaler tucked down my sock or tied to my wrist - it became part of my body! The Ventolin was often required several times during a match. As an adult, I taught PE at secondary school level and still took both Becotide (a corticosteroid "preventer") and Ventolin ("opens the tiny airways in the lungs"). A couple of times it was necessary to pay a visit to hospital to use a nebuliser, a special machine which gives you both oxygen and Ventolin together. There are side-effects to using traditional asthma medication and I had experimented with Chinese alternative medication but with no success. When Buteyko was introduced to me, I felt the course was quite expensive but, having chatted to Linda Meads, recognised that it could become helpful. Immediately I felt comfortable with Linda's teaching style. Even from day one of the course, I was helped to relax, focus on a different style of breathing and after two weeks I was able to get by without the Ventolin inhaler for most of the time. I can't tell you how big a change it was. I now use the Buteyko Method daily, especially when I feel a wheeze coming on as it actually prevents it developing. Although I use a steroid inhaler once a day or every 2 days, there has been a remarkable change since adopting Buteyko breathing techniques. I now reckon that the Buteyko Course was "worth every penny" " Sheelagh Maloney, self-employed, Director The Inclusion Consultancy
Help with sports performance Con Barrell Age 3I New Zealand 'All Black', with Chronic Asthma and severe 'Exercise Induced Asthma' (EIA)
Rugby player Con Barrell suffered from chronic asthma and Exercise Induced Asthma. During a game Con carried an inhaler in the top of his sock, and would often use it in breaks of play. Even when having a match relatively free of asthma he would use the inhaler at least once every four minutes.
Con found the constant use of an inhaler annoying, however, the real problem was the effect of other minor illnesses on his condition. Whilst on high doses of preventer medication, a cold would be very hard for Con to get over, dramatically effecting his ability to train. Periodically, he would also suffer from very poor control over his asthma, making his training even harder.
Asthma has been Con's long-time, unwelcome companion. His rugby successes are a tribute to his outstanding dedication and determination. Con discovered Buteyko days before he was due to play in South Africa in May 1997. Con's family saw Buteyko on the television, and suggested to Con that he talk to the local practitioner. As a result Con spent four days learning the technique prior to his trip to South Africa.
Con was able to master the method well enough to make an enormous difference to his game in South Africa. Even whilst playing at altitude opposite the formidable South African prop Os du Randt, he used ventolin once only, and felt incredibly well. He was able to play the full game, something that he had struggled to do previously on the high veldt. With control over his asthma, Con was able to achieve the consistency in his play that had often eluded him. This earned Con a place on the subsequent 'All Blacks' 1997 tour of South Africa, fulfilling a dream that looked likely to only remain a dream before he learned the Buteyko method.
Con's comment six months after learning the Buteyko Technique:
"I still take a preventer regularly but simply do not need so much reliever. I have not had prednisone since learning Buteyko. I sleep better, my pulse rate has dropped 10-12 beats on a regular basis, and I feel well. Buteyko has made a huge difference to my rugby. I can prepare and play without worrying that asthma will prevent me from playing to my full potential".
- Can help your children learn to be healthy
"John has suffered almost from birth from occasional bouts of coughing. These always start with a cold or chest infection. He then becomes 'wheezy'. For the last 5 years he has had several stretches of steroid inhalers and Salbutamol. Each time I wean him off. John has only ever had the reliever inhaler prescribed in a given dose. For example, the last bout of coughing resulted in being prescribed 4 puffs, 4 times per day. He was not improving. I was overwrought with anxiety. Enter Buteyko and Linda. At last I was given the tools to help my son help himself. That is essentially how I see Buteyko".
- Self help
"At 11 years old John was able to understand and follow through with the allotted exercise regime. He also learnt how to monitor and assess his level of health. From the day he began his Buteyko course he has not needed a single puff of his reliever. John has had 3 colds since he began Buteyko in July 2003. We have come through without a visit to the Doctor".
Buteyko has given me the way to help my son regain his health. "I am also now able to be confident about his condition and our ability to understand and deal with it. Needless to say, my stress levels are no longer going off the scale." " John Finnerty, aged 11, by mother Anita Finnerty
- Can stop you hiding behind your inhalers
"Hi Linda.... I remember you got in touch with me MONTHS ago now, to ask if i'd been back to the jungle (it was always my fear of travelling and having a huge asthma attack that has prevented me from travelling the world!) Well, just to let you know that I have just returned from travelling across Rajasthan in India for two weeks. We were backpacking around, stopping in different places every night, pretty stressful as it was a complete culture change. I was really worried about going beforehand (can I get to a hospital in the desert?! Everyone says don't go to Delhi as it's so polluted and asthmatics must wear a mask at all times...etc etc etc!) .... I got through the whole adventure without using my inhaler!!!"
- Can you believe it?! (well, one quick puff just for reassurance!)
"The highlights were riding beautiful Malawi horses across the desert in 100 degrees heat, never thought i'd been able to do that!! and 2 days on a hairy camel near the Pakistan border with Mig fighter planes zooming overhead. The breathing exercises really helped on long bus and taxi journeys as well...It was so wonderful and has made me realise I've been hiding behind my inhalers for so long, preventing me from doing so many things. THANK YOU!!!!! Speak soon...." love, Mel xx
Medical trial results show that use of bronchodilator medication over the long term or in heavy doses does not help the asthmatic condition and may even make it worse!
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