Louise

Louise has been a life-long asthmatic, suffering from chest and breathing problems since an infant. She was frequently hospitalized throughout her teens and younger life. After her children were born she became much worse and on more than one occasion ended up in intensive care.

Feeling her body was being taken over by the modern medical interventions available, Louise was looking for a less invasive method of living with her illness even though admitting the steroids and antibiotics saved her life during the asthma attacks. As well as following a macrobiotic diet and trying alternative medicines, she had even visited the most respected specialist in Harley Street, but he couldn’t provide any better relief than the local doctor had been.

Louise had heard about the Buteyko Breathing Method and seen a television programme explaining it on QED about fifteen years ago. (Attach YouTube) Immediately she sought out the clinic in London where Christopher Drake happened to be a Buteyko Practitioner at the time and attended a large workshop in Buteyko held over two consecutive weekends.

Her improvement was almost instantaneous. Within three days Louise could breathe through her nose for the first time in years and within three months was striding up one of the steepest known streets in Sussex near her home. Before starting the exercises she had been in a downward spiral of medications and illness and had barely been able to walk at times.

Over the next few years Louise attempted to continue with her breathing exercises once a day as instructed, but found it incredibly difficult to maintain her initial health gains. She tried other Buteyko Practitioners in the area, searching for support but was not satisfied with the care she received.

Then a good friend suggested attending a local introductory Buteyko lecture led by Martha Roe and Christopher Drake and Louise was energized into going with her. Martha’s style of training was different from previous practitioners. She starts with an intense workshop for a week and then followed-up with phone calls and encouragement twice a day. Louise now realised how serious her situation was. She said “At the beginning it was incredibly difficult to work at the exercises. Martha was stern but encouraging.” Martha even came to work with Louise at home when she was too ill to walk. Louise admitted “I knew what the benefits could be. There wasn’t a question about giving up again. I did not have a choice if I was to continue living.”

Since then, two years ago, Louise has gradually been able to cut back from exercising four times a day to twice a day and is still maintaining the benefits. Her children also have benefited from the care Martha has given. Louise’s two teenage daughters also practice the Buteyko Method with success. The elder has unfortunately inherited her mother’s asthma and has been practicing the Breathing Method since the age of six. The youngest has suffered from frequent migraines but finds daily breathing exercises keep reoccurrence to a minimum. Louise is glad to be able to pass on these life skills to her children but thanks Martha and Christopher most of all.

Louise says “It is hard work, but if you are in a situation of life or death, it is worth making that effort. I have got my life back.”