By Janet Bell......
I started with a sudden onset of vertigo on Christmas Eve 2019. It was initially quite bad but then settled and was only triggered by certain movements, particularly bending forwards or backwards . This made doing my usual yoga classes very difficult.
Following that, 6 months later I had 3 episodes of quite bad atrial fibrillation over the course of 3 months, requiring hospital visits and a cardioversion where they shock your heart into a normal rhythm.
I had always been a fit and healthy person and I got quite down and anxious about my problems. I was very scared of having another episode requiring hospital admission whilst there was a Covid crisis.
Due to the Covid situation, Sharada had started some online yoga classes that she felt would benefit everybody but particularly people with certain conditions. The classes were based on the Buteyko method but included some of Sharadas own techniques gathered over many years teaching yoga.
It has been a gradual process, but a year on from when the vertigo started, I am completely clear of that. It has been more than a year now since I had an episode of atrial fibrillation. I am sleeping better and am generally less anxious.
I was recently seen by the consultant cardiologist who decided I had progressed so well, I did not require any medication.
I would recommend Sharada’s Art of Breathing sessions to anybody. Everybody will gain something from attending them but especially people with conditions such as asthma, breathlessness, anxiety or in my case atrial fibrillation. The programme can be done on zoom with no physical contact.
Janet Bell.
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PNEUMONIA AND ASSOCIATED BREATHING PROBLEMS
From Dr Gowri Bardhan
It is now just over one and a half years since I did the 5 week Art of Breathing course with my yoga teacher Sharada. We were introduced to the Buteyko method. Being a doctor, I was a bit sceptical as the techniques are rather different to the ones we have been used to. But I also trusted Sharada knowing that she always aimed to improve the health of her students in the best way possible.
I had suffered from pneumonia a few years ago and this had left me with residual breathing problems greatly helped with the sessions at Breathing Space.
During lockdown, Sharada had started Pranayama - yoga breathing - classes on Zoom for all her students and this was most helpful.
I decided to do the Art of Breathing course to see if I could improve my lung capacity which has always been on the low side.
At the end of the 12 weeks of practice I am pleasantly surprised to find that lung capacity has definitely improved; my resting breath rate is below 10 per minute; I am sleeping better and no longer snoring.
At the end of 12 weeks, we had a follow- up session with many of the students attending
It was good to find that many of them reported sleeping better; feeling generally more energetic and less stressed. Some had been able to reduce their use of inhalers too. It was very encouraging to know that there are techniques to help more people with breathing problems.
I must stress that this practice needs to be regular and adhered to, in order to see these promising results.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------BRONCHIECTASIS, ANXIETY, LOWER BACK PROBLEMS
Julie Williamson
I found Yoga Sanctuary late 2018 and embarked on the 12-week ‘Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs’ for a long-standing lower back problem. The positive results were very encouraging. After years of thinking I’d never be able to improve my physical wellbeing! I was enjoying the classes until COVID 19 rudely interrupted them, but I diligently followed my course notes and felt motivated to develop further. Sharada then encouraged me to join her ‘lock-down’ Zoom classes and my strength and confidence continued to grow. At the same time, Sharada was developing her Ar of Breathing programme and she invited me to participate because she knew about my previous Bronchiectasis diagnosis, and she knew I was missing attending Breathing Space for physiotherapy as a result of the pandemic. The results have honestly been like a breath of fresh air – sorry for the pun! Seriously, the techniques we’ve learned help me manage my condition and build on those in the Active Cycle of Breathing which NHS Physiotherapists first introduced me to. There are added benefits too… the techniques help to manage my anxiety levels, and my overall physical health improved because effective breathing improves posture and core strength. Plus, having a better understanding of breath has really helped me develop my Yoga practice.
Learning the importance of breath has been enlightening – Sharada has shared her experience and supported everyone in the group collectively, while relating to each individual with care and dedication. Indeed, we’ve learned from and encouraged each other too. I think a ‘maintenance class’ would be a good idea to help us keep up the valuable breathing techniques and awareness. THANK YOU for being there Sharada... so glad I found you!🙏🏻
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SEVERE FORM OF ASTHMA SINCE CHILDHOOD - RELIEVED
Jyothi Kamath
I am pleased to share my experiences on the Art of breathing techniques that I learnt from you. I had joined the course on. 13 -10-20. I am an asthmatic since my childhood. After coming to this country, (more than 40 years now) my GP prescribed inhaler, after several years again 2nd inhaler was prescribed and was told that I have to live with this condition for the rest of my life. My condition was getting from bad to worse and I used to get breathless even when I went for a short walk. With Sharada's blessings I joined the above course which helped me a lot. I am doing breathing techniques twice every day, along with little physical exercises, walking, and also a few changes to my lifestyle and diets prescribed by Sharada.
At the Beginning my CP was just 8.0, I am so pleased to say that I am on a steady 40. Today it is 40.11. I do keep my inhaler with me as per Sharada s advice and I very rarely use my inhaler. My chest is so light now I can do my all my house work with ease and comfort. & go for walks. I feel so happy now Sharada. With great determination you can achieve anything in life. Thanks to Sharada from the bottom of my heart 🙏 All this credit goes to you. You are the best teacher. Thank you🙏
June 2021 … update..
After years of struggling with thyroid problems I have just been told that my thyroid has returned to normal. Unbelievable. I have promised Sharada that I will continue these breathing regulations throughout my life now.
From Jyothi Kamath
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Breathlessness, heart palpitations, joint pains relieved
Indira Natarajan UAE MAY 2021
Couple of years back, I had noticed a change in my breathing, heart palpitations, sleeplessness and getting up many times during night with extreme thirst. I also had a lot of joint pain, knee pain, back pain and I thought they were probably some of the symptoms of the menopause period. I met Mrs. Sharada Rao this March and had a one-to-one with her on zoom. After just two sessions she regulated my breathing, and made me realise that it was a wrong way of breathing that had become a habit and was causing me to feel stressed and like a chain reaction, one problem was giving rise to another. The breathing therapies taught by her have immensely benefited me. I now breathe well, sleep well, feel more lighter, relaxed and energetic. I sleep continuously and no longer get up at nights. Many thanks dear for bringing about a wonderful change in my life. Like most people, not only me, my doctor too associated my problems to menopause. But, when the problems were getting resolved one after the other just by correcting the breathing method, was I truly amazed by the technique. I strongly recommend the various breathing techniques taught by her to all people irrespective of health problems or not. You will be surprised at the positive impact it has on your body."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- RECURRENT SINUSITIS AND ASSOCIATED BREATHING PROBLEMS
Dr. Remy George.
19TH MARCH 2021
I have known Sharada for a few years now. She is an amazing person with a wealth of knowledge and takes individual attention on the needs of her students.
I had improved a lot in my strength and flexibility with general yoga sessions with her but felt breathless on exertion like climbing stairs or walking uphill. I also had a bloating sensation all the time and felt very uncomfortable.
As suggested by her, I joined the specialist ART OF BREATHING SESSIONS on zoom. Its then I realized that my breathing was not good and learnt to regulate my breathing through the various individualised home exercises that Sharada planned for me through her lessons. I must stress here that home practice is a must.
With Sharada's SPECIALIST breathing techniques, support and guidance I am happy to say that in a span of 6 weeks, I have improved a lot and am still improving. I must mention here that I used to get recurrent sinusitis and severe headache associated with this and after completing the 5 week sessions, I have not had an episode of sinusitis yet.
Overall my health has improved and I feel energetic.
I strongly recommend her classes.
Regards
Thankyou
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- SEVERE ASTHMA AND RECURRENT CHEST INFECTIONS
Zanib Rasool 7th December 2021
I was very poorly when I saw Sharda. I was having problems with my breathing and my asthma were getting worse day by day, and I was getting recurring chest infections. The different Yogic breathing techniques Sharda showed me really helped and the exercises were useful. Doing exercises that allowed you to do breathe holds, inhalations, and exhalations to control your breathing and known as Pranyma, moving from deep breathing to shallow breathing. I also received diet advice and to eat certain foods. I found the 5 weeks session really worth doing for the benefit of my health and I am seeing tremendous improvements in my breathing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHRONIC FATIGUE, FIBROMYALGIA, VERTIGO STRESS AND ANXIETY
Taryn
Having just finished a zoom breathing plus course of five weeks with Sharada, I would like to share with everyone how much it as helped me manage my health. The chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, stress and anxiety that I suffer with have all improved, I'm sleeping much better have more energy and in less pain.. I'm controlling my breathing much better feeling more relaxed which also helps my vertigo too.. It's all down to you how I have improved in my health in yoga over the years, & the deep breathing class last year.
I would recommend this course to anyone with any breathing problems, anxiety and pain.. She's a wonderful tutor with so much experience to give to us.. 😊🙏🧘♀️ Thankyou for being you 🤗🙏Xxx
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STRESS, ANXIETY, ASTHMA AND BREATHLESSNESS
Sarah B
I began the course after an increasing worsening of my asthma over 15 months which became very Acute from April to Sept 2020 requiring prescriptions of medication of various sorts which I had not previously required. . It had begun to settle a little with the medication as I joined the course but I was still struggling and it has improved a significant degree over the time since I have been trying to do the exercises
Although I still require all the prescribed medication presently to treat the underlying cause of my asthma, and continue to be breathless on moderate levels of exertion ; I can only hope that eventually it will settle to how it was previously. I now hardly ever need to use my Reliever Inhaler even during my level of exercise as I try to regulate my breathing as I have learnt and have been able to reduce the onset of anything other than mild post exercise asthma issues.
I have found the holistic teaching, of mind and body as one entity to be enormously helpful in trying to reduce my stress levels which are in part causing this acute asthma and have been able to have a much calmer mind generally. I have learnt that many of my behaviour patterns are worsening the problems and now I am aware of them . I don`t always succeed but now I know what exacerbates the issues and I now have the tools to try and improve so I can manage my asthma and busy mind better.
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FIBROMYALGIA, ANXIETY AND BREATHLESSNESS
Marlene
I have known Sharada many years and she has really helped me in many different ways through yoga and meditation (which really helped me with very bad anxiety last year) I did the breathing course more recently which helped increase my CP and breathing techniques She is a wonderful yoga teacher and adapts the classes to suit the individual She is extremely knowledgeable warm and friendly and nothing is too much trouble She helped my 83 year old mum in law with her breathing after she'd had Covid had become extremely breathless she rang her and advised the best breathing techniques to get sufficient air into her lungs thankfully she has made a full recovery Its so lovely reading all the reviews Sharads is an amazing yoga teacher and I look forward to the studio opening again in the future 🙏Thankyou Sharada you are amazing Xx🥰
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ANXIETY, PANIC ATTACKS AND GRIEF
Julie
I turned to yoga over 2 years ago when I lost my dad, I started with Sharada and she taught me how to relax my mind and body through stretching and breathing technics that have helped me enormously through the grief, I also did the breathing course that she ran last year, I struggled a bit with my CP score but again I learned even more breathing techniques that I practise on a daily basis, I don’t know how I would have got through the last 2 years without the care and guidance that Sharada has given me.
Thank you so much 🙏 xx
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WEIGHT LOSS, BREATHING PROBLEMS, LOWER BACK PROBLEMS AND SCIATICA
BHAVNA
I have known Sharda for few years now and I found Sharda is extremely knowledgeable, warm and friendly person , she is completely dedicated to yoga and cares a lot about her students. I suffer from arthritis in both knees and used to struggle in going up and down the stairs...I couldn't walk properly and in September last year I was also diagnosed with lower back disc prolapse due to which my health took an extremely bad shape . Sharda has been a saviour to me.. a true Guru in every sense..with her support and guidance my condition is lot better now..she kept encouraging me to do better every day and and I make sure I follow everything she teaches and I feel a lot better in myself. I also joined the breathing plus classes on zoom to improve my breathing and it has helped me immensely..it is the first time since then that I have not had bronchitis that I normally get during winter time. Sharda, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart🙏 you have helped me in many ways than I can explain .. you are the best teacher ..very encouraging and I am really grateful to you for everything that you have done for me. 😘😘 Thanks Sharda and you will be pleased to know that I have now also achieved 16kgs weightloss in 4 months ..my journey continues to transform myself towards becoming a fit and healthy person 😃
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