Better Breathing for Asthma, Sleep Apnea and COPD

Remedial and Buteyko Breathing- Adults Workshops

Facilitator - Rosalba Courtney N.D., D.O.
Naturopath, Osteopath Breathing, Therapist

Learn effective breathing techniques for managing respiratory ailments and sleep apnea.

Breathing Therapy, can it help you?

Many people with asthma, COPD and sleep apnea benefit from simply improving their breathing and using breathing techniques to control respiratory symptoms.

Asthmatics can experience improved asthma control, reduced medication needs, improved lung function and increased quality of life.

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic bronchitis can improve exercise tolerance, breathing function and learn to have better control of breathlessness.
Many people have also reported an improvement in snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea, after breathing training.

A series of research studies since the 1990’s on breathing therapies have shown positive results and resulted in a category B rating for effectiveness from the Asthma Council of Australia and the British Thoracic Society. This is the highest rating given to any non-drug or complementary therapy.

How does Breathing Therapy Work?

Breathing therapy can be used to correct dysfunctional breathing, improve well being and manage specific respiratory conditions.

Correcting Dysfunctional Breathing
If you have asthma, chronic bronchitis or sleep apnea you are more likely to have dysfunctional breathing. Dysfunctional breathing can aggravate your condition, increasing symptoms and decreasing your ability to manage your conditions. Dysfunctional breathing includes overbreathing, hyperventilation, abnormal perception of breathing symptoms, poor breathing control, unstable breathing, mouth breathing and poor condition of breathing muscles.

Dysfunctional Breathing can often be corrected with specific breathing exercises that are practiced daily to retrain breathing and also when you have symptoms or cough, wheeze or breathlessness or other types of discomfort and distress.

Reducing anxiety and giving you a sense of control
Breathing symptoms are made worse by anxiety, depression and by feeling out of control. This can lead to excessive medication use and poor quality of life. Breathing exercise gives you a series of breathing strategies to control symptoms, reduce anxiety and improve sense of wellbeing. This has been shown to reduce people’s reliance on medication and improve their physical and emotional wellbeing.

About the Better Breathing Program and Techniques

The Better Breathing Program includes a range of techniques and strategies for improving breathing. The current program is based on two decades of Rosalba Courtney’s work with ‘people with respiratory ailments’. It includes the main elements of the Buteyko Breathing Technique and other tried and tested remedial breathing strategies. The breathing exercises are adjusted according to individual’s needs and treatment response.

Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) -This unique breathing retraining program uses a combination of breath holding and breath control techniques. BBT teaches you how to correct overbreathing, a condition which aggravates respiratory disease. Originating in Russia, BBT is now found in 10 countries. It has been tested in over 6 clinical trials, and shown positive benefits for asthma and promising results for sleep apnea.

Remedial Breathing Techniques- The breathing techniques used in this program include techniques derived from yoga and from physical therapy. One technique, Resonant Frequency Breathing, has been proven to improve lung function and FEV1. Other techniques train proper diaphragm and respiratory muscle activity.

The Better Breathing for Asthma, Sleep Apnea and COPD Program includes 2 private sessions with Rosalba Courtney N.D, D.O. , ( initial evaluation and one month follow up) and 5 groups sessions of 90 minutes.

Rosalba Courtney N.D., D.O.is an Osteopath and Naturopath, writer, lecturer and researcher  and one of Australias most experienced and knowledgeable  practitioners of breathing therapy. She began teaching the Buteyko Method in 1993 to patients and subsequently trained practitioners in Australia, the UK and USA.  She has done extensive research in the last 8 years through RMIT University towards a PhD on Breathing Dysfunction and Breathing Therapy.  The  Better Breathing program is based on her extensive experience in the field of breathing therapy combined with over 30 years experience as an Osteopath and Naturopath. To read more about Rosalba’s  programs for adults and children see .www.breathingresources.com.au.

HBHC Program Structure: The program includes: Initial private consultation, 5 group sessions and a private follow up consultation.

Group sessions begin November 13/2009 – You will need to make an appointment for a initial private session with Rosalba before the workshop starts. Private sessions are available at Lotus Health on Saturday 7th November. To make appointment Call Lotus Health on 9953 5153.

If appointment times are not available you can also see Rosalba at her clinic in Avalon from 1-6pm Weekday, for appointments call 9918-3460.
Follow up appointments will be arranged towards the end of the group sessions.

Schedule: 5 sessions
Friday Nov 13 (6pm - 7.30pm)
Saturday Nov 14 (5pm - 6.30pm)
Friday Nov 20 (6pm - 7.30pm)
Saturday Nov 21 (5pm - 6.30pm)
Friday Nov 27 (6pm - 7.30pm)

Cost : $380 per person for this November HBHC program only. The individual session is claimable from private health fund if you are covered for Osteopathy, Chiropractic or Naturopathy. The group sessions may also be claimable depending on your health fund. (Other comparable workshops such as the Buteyko Method, the content of which is included in this workshop, cost around $600 these days for 4-5 group sessions and no individual sessions.)
Venue - Lotus Health, Suite 102, Level 1, 40 Yeo Street, Neutral Bay
Bookings: Lotus Health 9953 5153 or admin@lotushealth.com.au or Rosalba Courtney
on 99183460

or SECURE ONLINE BOOKING: