Voices of Hope Charity announces launch of online breathing course

Everyone knows how to breathe, as it is the first thing we do after our birth. But for some people, after a long-term respiratory condition breathing no longer comes naturally, or easily. 

To help people with breathing difficulties Voices of Hope, the Kingston-upon-Thames based charity, today announced the launch of its informative Active Breathing Course (ABC) website.

The six-week online course, originally launched in 2021, is designed to help people who need to recover from long-term respiratory conditions and to help them manage their fatigue, stress and anxiety levels. It's approved by the NHS and is led and guided by specialist professional tutors.

Having run in excess of 60 courses in the three years since its original creation, ABC has nine expert tutors leading the sessions who have worked with in excess of 600 people.

89% of participants found the course to be either helpful or very helpful.

Over 60% said they'd noticed great or good improvement in their overall breathing capacity.

Whilst the course originally came about in response to the devastating symptoms and impact of long-Covid, the courses now help people with a range of ongoing respiratory illnesses, plus benefitting those who are struggling with anxiety disorders.

Explains Voices of Hope CEO, Sarah Clay, BEM: “Respiratory disease impact one in five people in the UK. It's actually the third largest cause of death throughout England. 

"Not only does it have a distressing impact on the lives of the people involved and their families, it also puts a massive economic strain on our Health Service, with the cost of asthma and COPD treatment alone estimated at a staggering £4.9 billion each and every year."

She went on to explain: "Through our Active Breathing Course, we aim to help people manage their symptoms via a range of techniques, including the teaching of Diaphragmatic Breathing, controlled breathwork and singing exercises to help to strengthen the intercostal muscle. And it's all done in a creative, inspiring and empowering way.

"The course has been shown to have a positive impact on our participants and we partner extensively with charities, healthcare providers (including hospitals, GPs and social prescribers) and businesses, too. As a charity we can offer individuals a cost-effective way of improving their breathing and quality of life.”

Sarah Clay continued: “ABC can also offer great benefits to businesses, too. With bespoke courses available, we support businesses in improving staff well-being. Benefits can include higher energy and better creativity levels; a reduction in stress and anxiety levels in the workplace; improved posture and the positive release of endorphins.”

For more information about the Active Breathing course visit www.voh.org.uk/abc.