NEW hope for asthma sufferers in Okehampton comes next month with a visit by specialist practitioners of a revolutionary Russian breathing technique. The free introductory seminar at Okehampton Community College on Monday, January 10, will offer a unique opportunity for people to be trained in how to breathe correctly using a method which can dramatically reduce asthma symptoms. Plymouth-based practitioners Nikki Jewell and Simon Paddon are two of only sixty-five specialists throughout the world who are qualified to teach the Buteyko Institute Method (BIM). In October, Nikki and Simon were featured on BBC1 South West?s ?Inside Out? programme helping asthma sufferers in the Isles of Scilly, with great success. Nikki and Simon have experienced the devastating effects of asthma first hand. Ms Jewell, a former chronic asthmatic herself, learned the Buteyko Institute Method three years ago and has not had any asthma since, neither has she needed to use any asthma medication. ?I?m so glad to have my life without asthma and it?s all due to correcting my breathing using the Buteyko Institute Method,? she said. Now the couple travel throughout the Westcountry helping asthma sufferers of varying severity. The Buteyko Institute Method of breathing retraining can be taught to children from the age of three with no upper age limit. ?The oldest person we have taught was a gentleman of 92 who at the start of our course was taking six puffs of Ventolin per day and by the fourth day wasn?t taking any Ventolin at all,? said Mr Paddon. The Buteyko Institute Method is a proven breathing retraining technique based on the clinical findings of the Russian Professor Konstantin Buteyko. The method has had many clinical trials throughout the world with highly supportive results, the most recent of which was conducted in the UK. The results of the UK trial have shown that people using the Buteyko Institute Method were able to reduce their reliever medications by 98% and preventer medications by 92%, while enjoying 98% less asthma symptoms! The method which was developed in the 1950s has been the first line of asthma management in the Russian health system since 1983 and is having a growing impact around the world. The UK has the highest incidence of childhood asthma in the world and GPs are currently seeing 20,000 new cases of asthma each week. The free introductory seminar will be followed by a breathing retraining course. The seminar takes place at Okehampton Community College at 7pm, Monday, January 10. The evening will cover the history of Buteyko, personal successes with the method, details of clinical trials, the science behind the method, asthma medications, an overview of the teaching course and the typical benefits a person can expect by simply changing the way they breathe. The method is also very effective for many other forms of dysfunctional breathing including COPD, emphysema, sinus problems, rhinitis, panic attacks, persistent coughing, snoring, sleep apnoea, chronic fatigue and has also been used to enhance sports performance in athletes. In order to ensure a placement, early booking is advised. To book in for the free introductory seminar or for further information please call Buteyko Breathing & Health Practice on 0845 456 4533 or visit http://www.asthma999.com">www.asthma999.com