Martha Roe

Martha profile croptMartha Roe has been practising the Buteyko Method since summer 2007. And she has been teaching/training as an associate practitioner for 2 years. For over 20 years, she suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome until becoming highly skilled in the Method returned her to a state of good health.

Martha lives in Lewes, England, where she runs workshops with Christopher Drake and teaches the method to individual students. Here is her story in her own words.

How Buteyko practice has transformed my health

After 15 years with CFS/ME my health was deteriorating. I had tried many mind and body management methods to ease the symptoms. I was still searching for the cause and the route that would make a big difference.

In the winter of 2006 my brain fog, anxiety/hyper-vigilance and low energy needed a lot of management.  The lack of energy, painful and inflamed muscles and joints were compounded when I put on a lot of weight. At 5ft 5 I was heading for a size 18.

Whenever I had to walk uphill I inched along, stopping to recover my breath on the way up and at the top. Early evening I crawled upstairs on my hands and knees. And I woke at 4am  feeling like I hadn’t slept.  I kept thinking “This is not OK, at the age of 50.”

My sense was that I had a biochemical problem. This question kept coming up: ‘What do I have to do to sort this imbalance out?’ I had had various illnesses, traumas, disappointments as one does in life. But many people have worse and can readjust over time. Whereas my system was so out of kilter that it could not return to a healthy balance.

Singing and breathing exercises helped a bit

The only activity I had found that helped my symptoms was singing and the associated exercises; extensive practice of breath and sound exercises helped the symptoms in the short term. This activity had helped me maintain my daily obligations and improve my mood.

I had been running some voice workshops at a family events week end at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery and was talking to the facilitating monk about the deterioration of my symptoms, since my singing teacher had gone on a 3-year retreat . He told me matter of factly to do the Buteyko method – that I would get better.

The Buteyko practitioner Christopher Drake had visited the monastery and helped people with emphysema, bi-polar, ME/CFS, and more. The results described were significant; this had been witnessed by someone I could trust with my life.

Starting the Method with Chris

I rang Christopher on Skype and signed up for instruction.  I commited to practice day after day for 15-20 minutes, 4 times a day before meals. And I got excellent results. It was mind blowing what a difference it made to my symptoms:

  • Can organise my household jobs and make clear decisions.
  • Active all day, everyday with 6 hours sleep.
  • Happy and at ease with life. Can address problems.
  • My muscles were no longer inflamed and the joints  no longer hurt.
  • I could use my hands to open jam jar lids.
  • I slept like a baby and woke up rested.
  • Gradually my nervous system stopped flinching in shock from sudden changes.
  • Gradually my muscles became stronger and flexible so I could do yoga postures and ski.
  • Gradually I lost 2 stone in weight.

Now I can safely say I no longer have chronic fatigue syndrome. My friends and family observed the changes in me and this has lead me to supporting them to improve their own health. And so it is continuing.

With Best Wishes
Martha Roe