I always thought I had “mild” asthma. Sure, it affected me on a daily basis, whether I was trying to exercise or sitting too close to somebody with strong perfume, but I figured since I wasn’t confined to the house, my asthma was under control. Then a year ago I ended up in the hospital with a mild cold because my rescue inhaler wasn’t helping and I couldn’t get a full breath. My recovery took a long time and a year later, when I was “fully recovered” from the incident, I was still on the highest daily dose of Symbicort and using my rescue inhaler daily. I was at my wits’ end with the side effects and frustrated with this looming future: I was 25 years old and didn’t see myself getting off the medications anytime soon, if ever.
My dad e-mailed me a New York Times article about breathing exercises relieving asthma symptoms, which led us to the Breathing Center, recently relocated to Boulder, CO where I live. It felt like the Universe was telling me: go see these people. I am so glad I did. I was able to work personally in Boulder with Thomas Drakon Fredricksen, Director of Education. Less than a month after my first appointment, I am down to the lowest dose of the Symbicort and I haven’t used my rescue inhaler once. Buteyko BREATHING NORMALIZATION isn’t a miracle cure, it’s a lifestyle change, but it’s such an easy one to implement that I believe everybody should do it. It has changed my life and I am so thankful for my renewed health and energy, and the reduction of asthma-related fear. I used to plan everything I did with contingency plans for my asthma acting up. Now I know if I’m careful and keep “behaving,” someday soon I can do anything I want. And that freedom is worth every penny of the Buteyko Breathing Normalization Training Course (and secondary Breathing in Motion Course I also chose) and every minute I spend doing Buteyko breathing exercises.
Anja Hose, Boulder, Colorado
