The Practitioner

Having been a trained nurse/midwife for many years, I was always convinced that much of the power and responsibility for healing lay within the patient.  I also felt that we, in the caring professions, did not give enough credit and respect for that ability and power that  lay untapped while we tried chemical based drugs and various therapies.  While there was always a measure of success, there remained the fear that symptoms would return and more treatment would be necessary in the future.  Most of all, the patient was left hopeful that all would be well but powerless to influence the outcome.  In an effort to tap into the healing ability of the individual, I became a reflexologist and massage therapist and while they are invaluable therapies the patient is still dependent on someone else.

When I was 24 years old, I was involved in a very serious road traffic accident and sustained life threatening injuries. I am and will always be grateful and appreciative of the fact that modern medical techniques and very skilled surgeons, not only saved my life but, enabled me to return to my busy life schedule and have little ill effects.  When I showed signs of illness a few years later, disturbed sleep pattern, lack of energy, digestive upset, it was a different story.  The medical practitioners I consulted diagnosed depression and anxiety and prescribed anti-depressant and sedative drugs.  Realising that now my theory was being tested I kept going from doctor to doctor until a kind doctor really listened to what I was saying and how I was feeling and after a few consultations correctly diagnosed a food intolerance.  We started by cutting out caffeine from my diet and within a few days I felt so much better.  I cannot tell you the relief that I had an explanation for the feeling of dis-ease in my body.  To stay feeling well, I had to be very careful about my diet and food cravings were still a problem.  It never occurred to me that my breathing might be at fault.

When I heard of the Buteyko Breathing Retraining Method it sounded just right.  This man, Professor Buteyko, had identified a cause for many of the illnesses we see today and had devised a therapy which everyone could learn and practise, thereby giving them direct influence on their own level of wellbeing.  The therapy, not only, sounded good but had been subjected to clinical trials and was verified as a safe and effective therapy, particularly for people with asthma and breathing problems. I was to learn how effective it would be with my dietary problems.

I learned the breathing technique myself and was amazed at how much better I felt.  My sleep pattern improved immediately, my food cravings lessened, I had more energy and felt more alert.  I was so impressed I decided to become a practitioner and trained with Jill McGowan in Glasgow and Paul O’Connell from Australia.  Since my initial training I have undertaken further training with Masha Kotousova in Holland.  I have now taught the techniques and strategies to over 100 people and am comfortable with the fact that these people now have the knowledge and strategies to manage their symptoms of disease and can look forward to a healthier and happier future.

My husband and I run a guesthouse in Perth, Scotland, leaving me time to teach Breathing Retraining using  The Buteyko  Method.  I have had people combine a short holiday with a Buteyko course from, as far away as, Shetland and Orkney.  I offer preferential rates at the guesthouse to people who are taking a Buteyko course.  It works well, in that, people have the opportunity to do some sight seeing in beautiful Perthshire while learning to retrain their breathing.