Who We Are

This is myself, Dermod Wood, my wife and partner Gail Kinsey and our two dogs, Belle and Cleveland.

 

In 2004 I was an IT software developer and project manager in the pharmaceutical industry and part-time professor of management in the University of Maryland.  I had been suffering from asthma for several years when I first came across the Buteyko Breathing Method.  My asthma started around 1989 when I suddenly developed allergies to cats, pollen etc. which soon turned into full-blown asthma.  This got steadily worse.  To control it I progressed through an albuterol inhaler, inhaled corticosteroids and finally settled on Advair, a combination anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic inhaled powder, which I used for around three years.  My symptoms were more-or-less under control as long as I avoided triggers such as pollen, animal dander and hard exercise! 

In early 2004 I came across a book on the Buteyko Method and thought it was worth a try.  There was no-one available to teach me so I went ahead by myself.  A year-and-a-half later, after a certain amount of reading, trial-and-error, I was finally symptom-free and off all medications. 

We were both were so impressed with the results that in late 2005 we decided to take a course to learn to teach the method, and we both qualified as Certified Buteyko Practitioners with Michael Clark of the Well Naturally Group in the UK.  Mike had been trained in Dr. Buteyko’s Moscow clinic. 

Returning home after the course I decided to develop an interactive web-site for teaching Buteyko breathing using the web. With the web technology of the time it proved to be impossible to overcome the need for direct contact between the practitioner and the client and I never finished the project, but one spin-off was the Flash-based exercise routine we use currently.  

My personal experience with Buteyko has been completely positive.  For some years I have been free of all symptoms of asthma and I use no medications.  Two years ago I started to develop blood pressure and cholesterol problems, but I’ve been able to control these successfully with a weight-loss and exercise program and now I generally jog 10 to 15 miles a week to keep in shape.  This would not have been possible without Buteyko, which has been the foundation of my continuing good health.   

Gail Kinsey took the Certified Buteyko Practitioner course in 2005.  She is the owner of the Massage Therapy Group of Whitehouse Station where she has been in practice since 1993, and she specializes in various massage techniques related to pain management.  She teaches functional kinesiology and neuromuscular massage at Warren County Community College.

Our two girls challenge our immune systems and get us outside for walks, whether we feel like it or not!

 

Star Wars, Buteyko Style

Introduction

Many North Americans who have discovered the Buteyko Method came across it in a 2009 New York Times article, one of its first acknowledgments in the mainstream press here.  This article describes the method and its benefits and also provides a link to the site of the Buteyko Center USA, which makes the following claim on its home page:

Officially representing the patent holders of the Buteyko Method with exclusive rights in the USA and all countries outside Russia to educate on the patented Buteyko(TM) Method, acting as the headquarters for all official Buteyko centers. 

This is an unfortunate misstatement because the actual situation is far less clear-cut.  There are many highly competent practitioners trained over the years by Professor Buteyko or with his authorization who are not affiliated with the Buteyko Center USA.  Many of these have grouped themselves in an alternative organization: the Buteyko Breathing Educators Association (BBEA).  

Using a "Star Wars" metaphor we will examine the relative positions of "the Empire" (Buteyko Center USA) and the "the Alliance" (the BBEA) and try to make sense out of it.  The opinions are my own alone, and hopefully if they cause offense it will be to both sides equally  :)     

The Empire

Like any good imperial force the Buteyko Center USA is attempting to extract tribute from its subjects in the form of substantial training and licensing fees.  Many long-established practitioners object to these, and to the claim to be the sole authority on Buteyko matters outside Russia, and have formed an alternative organization.

The claim of the Buteyko Center USA to hegemony is based on a license granted by Ludmilla Buteyko and Andrey Novozhilof (Prof. Buteyko's widow and stepson) who claim to be the owners of the Buteyko intellectual property.  This claim appears to be shaky at best.  For a reasoned review and critique of Buteyko patent and trademark claims and their applicability in North America see The Buteyko Breathing Clinic FAQs.       

I'm not an expert on intellectual property law but I have a basic understanding of the principles. One major principle is that to be awarded a patent on an invention it must be unique and unknown prior to the patent application.  Anything commonly known or published prior to the patent application (with one year grace period allowed in certain circumstances) is known as "prior art" and cannot be covered.

Since the Buteyko Method has been used in clinical practice for around 60 years and reported in a variety of journal and popular articles during this period its hard to know what could remain to be covered.  My opinion is that they are blowing smoke (legalese).      

Whatever the merits or otherwise of the intellectual property claims the implied threat of legal action with its associated  costs in legal fees and wasted time has had a chilling effect. At least one Buteyko practitioner and trainer to my knowledge has taken all reference to "Buteyko" out of his web site to avoid any possible legal entanglements.

The Alliance

Over the last 10-15 years sturdy Buteyko pioneers trained by Prof. Buteyko or by Dr. Alexander Stalmatski who brought the method to the West, have colonized the outer reaches of the galaxy, setting up outposts in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Canada and the USA.  They have in turn trained other practitioners and trainers.  There are now at least 50 trained practitioners in the USA alone.  

Largely I believe in response to the perceived threat from the Empire these practitioners have formed an "Alliance", the Buteko Breathing Education Association (BBEA) started in 2009.  The Alliance, like any other good alliance, should provide a measure of mutual support in the event of a legal attack on any of its members.  It is also developing training and certification standards equivalent to those of the Empire. 

Implications

Actually I think quite a lot of good is coming from these war games.  As the Buteyko Method has gained acceptance in the West there is a crying need for a measure of standardization of methods, and accreditation of practitioners. 

The Empire is a bit heavy-handed in the opinion of many practitioners but it does impose rigorous requirements for practice.  The Alliance would probably not have been formed without the external threat.  Colonists are traditionally independent-minded folk.  Now the BBEA is coming up with a parallel set of standards.

For asthma sufferers looking for reliable, well trained Buteyko practitioners all this is very good news indeed.  Practitioners affiliated with either group will do a good job.