Asthma and hiking 2,650 miles

Allison and I finished the Pacific Crest Trail (The PCT is 2,650 miles) on Sept 25th. We made it all the way to Canada 🙂 We had a few days off here and there (about 12 for the summer). Some days were less than 15 miles, but most days we walked between 20 and 25 miles per day.
For me, completing the trail was only part of the goal (I had already hiked the PCT in 2012, though my asthma was terrible at the end!). The main goal during this year’s hike was to put into practice nose breathing, Buteyko methodology and ideas that I learned from Patrick’s writing and Felix’s coaching to make for a successful hike.
My health was at its peak during the hike, better than it has been in years. I used the Symbicort Inhaler from a few weeks before the hike through the middle of June and then discontinued use as I felt that I no longer needed it. I was not wheezing and generally didn’t feel close to wheezing, except for some days coming out of town.
Also, I have not had a sinus infection since April. This is the longest stretch of time without an infection in several years (usually 1 every 6 weeks). Medicine, nor surgery had helped with that. This makes me so happy, as sinus infections have impacted my life greatly.
I was able to breathe through my nose the entire time. It became second nature quickly, and I was able to do it even while making difficult climbs up and over mountain passes. Most of the summer was also spent at high elevation, with nearly the whole summer above 6000 feet…and a significant amount over 8000 and 10,000 feet. I felt normal at high altitude (13000+ feet). No issues whatsoever.
I used the shoulder relaxation (and full body relaxation) techniques that we worked on April. I would notice that while walking in the cold, it was very easy for my shoulders to raise and tense up (I could see this in other hikers as well). The general idea of shoulder relaxing for me is so good, and tries to practice it all the time. Stress or tension goes straight to my shoulders.
All in all, I do feel like my health has improved greatly and significantly since reading Patrick’s books “Asthma Free Naturally” as well as “The Oxygen Advantage” and working one on one with Felix and I thank you both for your efforts!
We do have a website where we chronicle all of our journeys: www.longdistancehiker.com. This page lists all of the journal entries as well as an introduction to the hike that was written before we began: http://longdistancehiker.com/pacific-crest-trail-2016-posts/

Brian Ristola

Extracts from letters to Felix Laevsky and Patrick McKeown, October, 2016

Anxiety and Hyperventilation

Background: I had suffered with anxiety my whole adult life but had always refused to resort to medication. In my mid-twenties I found that exercise alleviated the symptoms and ever since I have maintained a strict fitness regime. I was able to cope with any periods of stress with an increase in activity but I had no understanding of why this was so effective. However about 6 months ago I felt the constant need to yawn or take a deep breath. I felt starved of oxygen. Research told me I was hyperventilating and in the search for a solution I came across the Buteyko breathing method.

Expectations: I read a book and watched a DVD, learning about the physiological aspects of breathing, control pause and reduced breathing. I expected immediate results and my symptoms to disappear quickly.

Experience: I found the media a little difficult to understand and practicing the reduced breathing was frustrating and difficult. I was very tense and getting nowhere. So I decided to look up my nearest Buteyko instructor and I found Felix Laevsky. Felix told me that I needed to relax more before I could effectively practice the method and that I had to slow down my lifestyle otherwise I would be undoing any potential progress. He also told me not to set a numerical target i.e. CP but rather focus on how I felt and how I was breathing throughout the day. By doing so I would become aware of when I was experiencing my basic “fight or flight” instinct and learn how to slow my breathing and change my reaction to any stressful situation. With the proper instruction from Felix I was able to better understand myself and the correct way to employ reduced breathing. Slowly but surely progress was made. I felt less anxious, was aware of my breathing and my CP began to rise.

Above all else I have learned that Buteyko is just one way to increase CO2 and slow our breathing. It is VERY important to be aware of physical exercise, our pace of life, how we sleep, how we breathe, how we eat and our reactions to events. These are the important ones but there are others. Only by observing all these things do we stand a chance to improve our overall health. We are all different and we all need to focus on different elements in our life. This is why it is so important to have an instructor like Felix to guide us individually through the process so we can maximize the benefits we see from Buteyko.

Male

COPD and Anxiety

My name is Karen and I would like to share my experience with the Buteyko Method for my COPD.

I was hospitalized 3 years ago and diagnosed with severe COPD. I had not smoked in almost 20 years so I was very surprised. I am a vegetarian, exercise and am not over weight.

During these past three years, I have tried many alternative methods with some success. However, I was still quite breathless and anxiety attacks were beginning. I was determined to find a way to live a better life. I discovered the Buteyko Method online. This led me to Felix Laevsky, a Buteyko educator. My COPD was so difficult for me I knew I needed guidance.

My goal was to make my every day chores easier. I had quite a bit of difficulty walking in and out of stores, going up stairs, carrying my groceries in. Knowing I was going to have difficulty doing these activities, I began to have anxiety attacks.

I experienced a difference after my first session. The following four weeks, which included exercises determined by Felix, I continued to improve. The improvement varied by day. My anxiety lessened because I gained confidence with my increased breathing ability.

I have reached my original goal. I am about 75% better than when I started. However, I have set new goals. I believe I can improve even more.

I have the patience, persistence and consistency to live a more fulfilling life. I am grateful for Felix’s guidance and will continue my sessions. His guidance continues to liberate me.

There is no cure for COPD but you can heal and enjoy life more. I searched for a long time looking for help. I strongly recommend the Buteyko Method and, if you live in the Illinois area, you will be blessed to have Felix to guide you. It works!

Karen

Anxiety, joints pain, migraine headaches, sleep problems

For three years I was having several unexplained neurological symptoms such as numbness and tingling in my extremities, weakness in my limbs and difficulty swallowing. MRI scans of my brain and spine showed no abnormalities and I had no answers. Anxiety, joint pain and migraine headaches all began increasing. In the past year I began having difficulty staying asleep. I would grind my teeth and bite my tongue in my sleep. I would snore even with my mouth closed. I had a sleep study done but while there were times of apnea, the doctor did not consider it severe enough to require specific treatment. I was taking medications to help stay asleep but the teeth grinding and biting continued. I am convinced that, if the lack of good sleep wasn’t the cause of my other problems, it most certainly was making them worse. I decided to take action on my own behalf after not having any satisfactory solutions from my doctors.

Working with Felix, I learned how to reduce the amount of stress in my body and activate my own ability to relieve my pain and other symptoms. I now can recognize triggers for these and address them myself before the anxiety, headaches and joint pain can escalate. I now have a toolkit that includes breathing techniques, imagery techniques and relaxation skills. I no longer have sleep problems and regularly wake feeling well rested, which has not happened for at least a year. The neurological symptoms are nearly gone. The episodes of tingling and joint pain that remain are growing less frequent and I know I am capable of eliminating them when they arise. With continued practice I know that they will disappear.

The training was simple to follow. Felix worked with me to make a plan for what I wanted to accomplish through our sessions. Even though I did not always see immediately how the technique would address my issues, I trusted Felix’s expertise and did the exercises regularly. The biofeedback measurements Felix collected during our sessions were valuable to give me an objective way to see the physiological affects I was able to create by using the skills I was being taught. Felix is extremely knowledgeable and he truly took an interest in seeing me improve. He explains things well and it was easy to ask questions in those cases where I needed more clarification. Learning to apply the techniques Felix taught me has been one of the best things I have done for myself. I look forward to the quiet time I now have regularly incorporated into my day to focus on my health and wellbeing.

Lauren

Asthma and fear

Dear Felix,
I just wanted to let you know that the Buteyko technique has made a significant difference in my peak flow during the heavy allergy season and I have experienced a decrease in the need of my rescue inhaler. Overall, my peak flow does not fluctuate as much and people have noticed a decrease in my wheezing during conversations over the telephone. I wanted to just let you know I have recommended that others consider Buteyko as part of their asthma treatment program.
It works!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for showing me how to do the Emotional Freedom techniques. It has helped me overcome fear issues that have plagued me for years. It enables me to end the anxiety right away whenever it comes up again. I have also benefited from using the Emotional Freedom techniques with Buteyko during a severe bout of asthma that occurred when I was exposed to several triggers simultaneously. I am so glad you showed me how to use Emotional Freedom techniques to help me relax in during a major coughing attack. It made all the difference in the world. I was able to sleep through the night without coughing and stop the nebulizer treatments. I just continued the Emotional Freedom technique with each coughing spell and followed it with the Buteyko breathing exercises. The Buteyko technique and Emotional Freedom techniques are definitely a dynamic duo that worked wonders with a major asthma attack.
Sincerely,

Katie

Anxiety and fear

Dear Felix,
Thank you for helping me with my anxiety attacks. Before I started using the Buteyko breathing technique, I was not able to sleep at night without a light on. I was using pills to help me get to sleep. These anxiety attacks started after I lost my job and were getting progressively worse until I started working with you. Currently, I can go to sleep in a dark room and no longer use any pills to help me get to sleep.
I also have a fear of small places. I usually can control these types of anxiety while I am awake. I have had one attack of this anxiety when I awoke from a dream. I was sweating and my heart was beating very fast. I immediately started the EFT tapping sequence, which calmed me down so I could go right back to sleep. In the past when this would happen to me I was awake all night.
By using the Buteyko breathing exercises daily and the EFT tapping sequences I now have a better life. I know I have control of my anxieties and can overcome them with these two methods.

Pat

Asthma, allergies, sore throat

Felix,
The Buteyko Method Breathing Workshop was life altering for me. Since taking the workshop year ago I have not had a single cold or sore throat! I have not used any inhalers, Singular steroids, Benadryl or other cold medication.
Before the workshop, I would get frequent sore throats, cold and coughs which would hang on for months and develop into bronchial asthma. To try to control these conditions I would take Benadryl and other cold pills regularly. I would also go through lots of cold remedy.
I continue to practice breathing exercises every morning right after getting up. This also promotes regularity as constipation was also a major problem for me.
I’m so thankful that I took the workshop, read the books on the method and developed the method so I could practice it daily. All of this together has restored my once very fragile respiratory health.
I wish more people would grasp the value of Buteyko Method and take advantage of the opportunity.

Sincerely, Barbra K.

Asthma

I was diagnosed with asthma last summer. This Fall I found myself suing my inhaler more and more to the point that when I had a bad attack mid October, my inhaler was not enough, I needed a nebulizer in the doctor’s office. After a short spell, I started again to the point that I was using my inhaler four times at night because of wheezing. I was having very disturbed nights and keeping my husband up. When a colleague of mine suggested Buteyko breathing technique to me, I quickly jumped at the chance to help myself. Five days after I started the breathing technique, stopped using my inhaler. Since mid February I can count on one hand how often I’ve needed it. In addition, I can also play singles tennis without my inhaler before playing.

Jo

My friend highly recommended the course to me and explained how much it had helped her. I am always interested in ways that asthma can be helped along and kept at a minimum of discomfort.
Along with the other medication I have been taking for a long time, this additional way of controlling my asthma has been one more helpful way of keeping my feeling as well as I do under the circumstances. When a coughing spell is developing, I can breathe a better way that helps it from growing in magnitude and becoming a spasm; or when I become breathless I have learned to breathe in a way that calms down my need for air more quickly.
The method Buteyko has been proven to be very logical way of having a comfortable and ‘easy to do’ way to find one more way to work on this health problem.

Frances

Panic attacks

I have been suffering from Asthma and Panic Attacks for many years. I began to notice how effective the Technique is after just the second session. I was driving to class on the high way and I began to feel the start of a panic attack. When this kind of situations happened in the past, I was forced to pull over on the high way and breathe into a paper bag in order to barely deal with the attack. This time, however, I decided to try a technique from the Buteyko method that I just learned from Felix. I was very pleasantly surprised that the method helped very quickly, and I was not even forced to slow down the car. I was able to make it to class on time.

Vicky