November, 2009

I have been suffering from Parkinson's Disease for the past 25 years. The medications that I take are very powerful, resulting in adverse side effects, i.e. drowsiness, dry mouth and anxiety. In addition to Parkinson's Disease, I also suffer from hypertension and a thyroid condition. 
    
I learned of the Buteyko Breathing Method from my brother in law, who for decades was suffering from a very severe case of asthma. He explained that the Buteyko Breathing Method has allowed him to eliminate the use of his inhalers and medications. He encouraged me to contact Thomas Yakovlev-Fredricksen, I felt at peace and at ease while he reassured me that the Buteyko Breathing Method would alleviate the symptoms from Parkinson's Disease and eliminate my hypertension, anxiety and thyroid condition.
    
After enrolling in the Buteyko Method and Lifestyle Course based on the Buteyko Breathing Method, I followed the instructions to the letter and I am happy to say that the lump in my throat (thyroid) has gotten smaller. My anxiety has gone down and my Parkinson symptoms have subsided, somewhat. Another benefit is my ability to sleep more soundly without the horrible nightmares that plagued me before. In fact, with my medical doctor's approval, I am reducing one of my medications as my tremors are subsiding.  All of these results were achieved after applying the Method just for a few weeks!   
    
I sincerely believe that the Buteyko Breathing Method will give me an opportunity to live a healthy life free of medications. I am very grateful to Buteyko Center USA for sharing the "Buteyko" gift with me. It has already helped me tremendously!  

October, 2009

Three years ago, I attended my first "Buteyko" workshop (with an unlicensed practitioner). Here I discovered the concept of "reduced breathing" as a natural asthma cure. In the following weeks and months, I learned to breathe less, and in doing so, significantly reduced my asthma symptoms. Having suffered asthma throughout my life, this was a remarkable experience. This fall, I decided to take a refresher course. To my surprise and delight, I found that the only officially sanctioned practitioners of the Buteyko Breathing Method in the US are located at the Buteyko Center USA in Woodstock, NY. In order to go directly to the source, I signed up for the Natural Breathing Cure Weekend Workshop.

The workshop took place in the Center’s recently constructed beautiful, sunny third-story studio. Over the course of two days, Thomas and Sasha gave us a comprehensive overview of the Buteyko Breathing Method. They taught the basic theory, breathing exercises lifestyle. The workshop was a delightful experience. Thomas and Sasha are dynamic and giving teachers. Their passion and depth of understanding of the Buteyko Breathing Method is impressive. My previous experience paled in comparison. In retrospect, it had been very incomplete, and at times inaccurate.

The Buteyko Breathing Cure Workshop was only a week ago. Yet, I have already improved dramatically. With careful daily practice of the relaxation and "reduced breathing" exercises, my breathing is significantly gentler, and I have not used my rescue inhaler since. Additionally, I find myself calmer, with greater mental clarity and more sustained physical energy. At various times throughout my life, I have been a prisoner of my asthma. With proper application of the Buteyko Breathing Method, I am confident that I will never suffer from asthma again. Moreover, I have found that as I breathe better, my hereditary gastro-intestinal disorder has also improved, as has my hypoglycemia, as have my stress levels, as has my mental clarity, and my physical energy, and my posture, and my mood.

It is a rare gift that Thomas and Sasha bestow. They have given me the tools to take my healing into my own hands, and to dramatically improve my health on all fronts. Perhaps most importantly, they have empowered me to see myself as a vibrant, healthy young man, rather than a sickly person trapped by illness. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I will soon begin the process of becoming a licensed Buteyko Practitioner. I hope to be ready for the professional trainings with Dr. Novozhilov when he comes to the Buteyko Center USA in June 2010. Buteyko has vastly improved the quality of my life, and I wish to share it with everyone I can.

October, 2009

For as long as I can remember I have been searching for an explanation and a possible treatment for my lifelong condition of asthma and chronic bronchitis.  Four months ago, by pure luck, I came across an article about the Buteyko Method. The initial simple explanation "asthma can be triggered by breathing too much" immediately caught my attention like nothing else before.

The next days and weeks I read as much as I could about the method and tried to apply it on myself. I soon realized that I needed professional help and by another strike of luck I found the Buteyko Center USA and the possibility to connect with them via Skype.  Sasha and Thomas has been good teachers and I am impressed by their abilities to tune in to my specific needs and issues. I am extremely glad that I decided to invest in my education with them. We work through a live web-cam which works extremely well.

The benefits so far have been many:
• I need less sleep and feel more energetic.
• I feel calmer and have less anxiety.
• The aches in joints and muscles have disappeared and I am more flexible.
• My breathing has improved, and most important, I have by several occasions been able to reverse an aggravating of my condition by doing breathing excersices. When I could only hope and pray before, I now know how to improve the situation.

I have been sick for 45 years, of course I am by no means cured. But the results so far have convinced me that this is the way to go.

September, 2009

I found the Woodstock Buteyko Center when I was looking for an alternative way to treat my asthma. I had been taking medication for 45 years to control my symptoms and started to have serious health difficulties. Problems such as cold urticaria, an auto-immune disease, large kidney stones and finally a cancer scare had plagued my life.

Sasha and Thomas have guided me through the process of becoming medication free. Their patience and shared knowledge have encouraged me to be successful. I have been a student for two months and already see a difference in my breathing and recovery after a challenge. My hives and kidney stones seem to have diminished and I feel rested when I get up in the morning. My favorite things to do: gardening, running agility and volunteering for a dog rescue have all been major triggers for my asthma and caused me to struggle to breathe. Now, if I take a moment and do a few breath holds, I quickly recover. These exercises have given me the control and confidence that I have been looking for.

I am very thankful for this method and the professionals that have been so supportive to me during my journey. It is nice to know that there are alternatives that can improve the quality of life.

September, 2009

It all started when I was ten years old and came down with pneumonia. After my recovery, I started getting asthma attacks whenever I went out to play with the other kids. The doctors said I developed severe allergies, needed allergy shots and an awful tasting liquid medication. The treatment helped but did not stop it. I would still get severe attacks, just less frequently. As the years went by the doctors said that I would grow out of it as I got older. It eased up slightly until 1985 when I ended up in the hospital with a life threatening asthma attack. I spent three days there, was given more medication and told that an attack this severe could happen again at anytime. I continued on using the medication and staying away from the triggers. In 2006 I came down with pneumonia again, but this time it was worse. I spent one month on steroid inhalers and prednesone. I was told I needed to stay on steroids the rest of my life. With this treatment I started to develop stomach problems which meant I needed another medication.

After three more years of frustration I decided to look into alternative medicine. I found the Buteyko Center USA on the Internet and read the entire website. I could not believe that I have been hyperventilating all these years. I called Thomas and after talking with him, I knew he could help me. The theory made sense.

I met him in person and had my first session at Woodstock. It was fantastic. Since then my sessions have been on SKYPE which works great. Within four days of doing the formal exercises and monitoring my breathing I reduced my medication by 75%. Now I'm at day 32 and on NO medication at all! I still can't believe it's true and cannot remember when I have felt this good. I still have a way to go and I'm staying focused. The best part is I have the control over asthma which has controlled me for 40 years.

Thomas, Thank you for this wonderful education. You have become a true friend for life.

September, 2009       

September, 2009

I am extremely impressed with the benefits of the Buteyko Breathing Method as I have only been practicing for one month. I am much more perceptive and aware of my breathing and needless tension and stress. I have been able to shift my mouth breathing to nose breathing quicker than I thought as well as lengthen the pause after the exhale. I have not used my rescue inhaler or nebulizer since I started. I look forward to deepening the magnificent calm I am experiencing. The breath is the only mechanism we have to consciously access the unconscious nervous system at a profound level and I feel it. The support and attention I have received from Buteyko Center USA is excellent and I highly recommend this practice. 

September 2009

Recently, my life took an unforeseen turn - my body weakened, my lungs heaved and I felt like I was continuously out of breath.  This provoked a state of emergency in me, as my breathing difficulties prompted panic and loss of integrity of mind.  I was unable to accept this disintegration, for as a previously healthy twenty-six year old, it did not fit my self-vision.  Doctors came and went, deviated setum surgery was completed, allergy tests conducted, and still, my hyperventilation and overwhelming sense of anxiety continued.  Eventually, I took matters into my own hands and through research, came upon an article by the Buteyko Center.  I immediately identified with the descriptions of the condition, and therein, understood the predicament I was facing.  The very next day, I called Thomas Yakovlev-Fredricksen to whom I described every detail of my breathing and emotional troubles.  His response was a booming: "I am 100% sure I can help you!" 

Soon, through breathing exercises, psychological investigation, probing into the structure of my daily life and pace - Thomas was able to calm my breathing and help me unearth the circumstances of my life which were the root of my negativity.  He has aided me in regaining my sense of equilibrium and in understanding the proper role of "breath" in terms of my thinking and movement.  Through the Buteyko Method, I have learned to properly connect with my breath, even in moments of unrest and stress.  Interestingly, through my shifts, all members of my family have benefited from the balance I am striving for, with the calmness and sensitivity that the Buteyko Method espouses.  It is a blessing to have met Thomas and Sasha, as the work they do extends beyond the issue of physical health, but enables one to shift mentally, spiritually into a more conscious and realized form of oneself.

September 2009
 

The Buteyko Method of breathing is revolutionary in many ways primarily because 99% of us don't breathe properly the way were meant to breathe. For me, it was an eye-opening experience that is confirmed with practice and results which continues today. It is a lifestyle...this way of breathing...but it can only be taught and learned with practice and the results are remarkable. The practices eventually transform into good habits and the benefits that come from it are well worth the effort.