"Maria,
I just got back from a rock climbing trip to Nrocks in WV. I never could have mentally handled it prior to my recent efforts to balance my nervous system (Buteyko being a huge part of it!). I was calm and focused the entire 5 hours including a crazy suspension bridge crossing!
A millions thanks!!!!"
J.M. (Virginia, USA)
This service is great for managing stress. I would recommend for people with Asthma and scuba divers.
Kurt
Ashburn, VA
I had recently seen an OB/GYN for uterine prolapse. I was referred to a surgeon and told that I would most likely need a hysterectomy. During my search for alternative treatments for pelvic floor health, I listened to a Master Class about sleep, and one of the teachers mentioned UARS, Upper Airways Resistance Syndrome. I recognized many of the symptoms in my own breathing and decided to pursue Buteyko Breathwork. I didn't know if/how it would help my immediate health concern-the prolapse, but I had suffered from seasonal allergies for 15 years, was a night-time mouth breather, and was frequently trying to ward off sinus infections. So I began to work with Maria via video call. My training with Maria had a profound impact on my life. It has been an important component in healing my prolapse; it turns out I do not need surgery! My breathwork training has drastically improved my sinus health. I now breathe through my nose with healthy, clear sinuses. The breathwork has also centered my type A personality in a way, I had yet to achieve through years of meditation and yoga. I move through the world at a different pace than I did before because the inner anxiety that drove me to exhaustion is now quiet. When the daily stressors that come with being a working mom of two young boys arise, I move through them with a new calm confidence. Thank you, Maria! This has been life changing.
A.C.
Rochester, NY
When I first had an appointment with Maria at the end of March 2021, I had no idea what to expect. As a therapist I already understood that people need to think about their thinking so they heal in their emotions. I was not aware that I needed to think about breathing, since that’s something all of us humans do naturally, right? Wrong. When I started, I learned that I did not use my diaphragm when I breathed. I was holding my breath and basically functionally hyperventilating all the time. This meant that my body was holding onto all the toxicity I had been trying to release. That didn’t surprise me given the complex trauma I had experienced, but I had done a lot of self-work in my own therapy so was on the mend internally. However, my body imploded. Over the course of 6 years, and a minefield of traumatic loss and injury, I went from working a full-time, 40-hour per week job at a community mental health clinic, to where I could not work. My symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia got to the point where most of my days were spent isolated and sleeping. I began to feel hopeless, purposeless, worthless, and wondered how much longer I could believe life is worth living. Then, my functional doctor referred me to Maria. Within a span of about 5 weeks some unexpected things in my life radically improved. As I learned to breathe, the last bits of trauma I continued to work on in therapy started to heal because I was able to “breathe out” and “breathe through” the emotional pain which came up as Maria worked with me on releasing my diaphragm and teaching me to breathe effectively. For the first time in my life, I feel grounded, calm and relaxed, and alive on the inside -even though my body has not yet fully healed and I am on short-term disability. More than the breathing techniques themselves, Maria was a godsend. She is one of the most compassionate and skilled practitioners I have met. Knowing what I know as a therapist, the compassion and peace coming from someone helping you is such a critical element in the healing process for both emotional and physical healing. Because of Maria, I can breathe again and I have hope again. I tell her every appointment how grateful I am to her for literally breathing life back into me.
Dr. Shelli L. Haynes
Rochester, NY
My life and health have transformed for the better thanks to my training with Maria. She has an in-depth knowledge and is able to customize each therapy session to meet my needs. I highly recommend her services!
Jamie M.
VA
My experience was exceptional. I learned how to slow down my breathing and breath appropriately. Each lesson allowed me to take time with myself and the Lord and appreciate the beauty of life. Maria was AMAZING and a joy to work with. I haven't had to use my inhaler in weeks and I have had asthma since I was 12. So grateful for this experience and I plan to work with Maria more in the future.
(Facebook Verified)
Shay Cook
Maryland
I had a very positive experience while learning functional breathing with Maria. She is knowledgeable and has a passion for helping people get better. She has taught me essential skills and I am feeling better and sleeping better as a result. The sessions are enjoyable and she never makes you feel rushed. On multiple occasions our sessions went a few minutes past because she focuses on the patient and not on her own schedule. If you want to reduce your anxiety or chronic pain and if you want to get a good night's sleep and feel energized during the day, this is the way to go.
Nami Kunz
(Google Verified)
I would refer Maria to anyone desiring to breath more properly and efficiently. She was helpful in anything that was asked and very knowledgeable in the Buteyko breathing method. This breathing technique is a life changing understanding and she helped me learn it so I could apply it to my everyday life. Easy to speak to and happy to teach in every way possible. Seemed like she really cares about people and not just advancing. Would use her again!
(Google Verified)
T.V.
Enumclaw, WA
Maria is absolutely wonderful. Her phenomenal expertise coupled with the tailored methods she utilized allowed my daughter to meet her goals, become more focused and less irritable. This has been a game changer for our family. Highly recommend!!
Angela
Sterling, VA
I started seeing Maria in December 2022 after struggling with chronic hyperventilation for nearly two years. I had grown increasingly frustrated with the breathlessness I was experiencing, and I didn’t understand how to resolve the issue.
After searching online and stumbling upon the Buteyko Breathing Method, I had a lightbulb moment and knew I needed to see a breathing practitioner. Shortly thereafter, God led my search to Maria’s website. Her strong faith really resonated with me, and I knew this was an answer to many prayers.
From our very first session, Maria did an amazing job of explaining functional breathing and giving practical tips for implementing nasal breathing into everyday life. Each session built on the last, and I left every appointment feeling more equipped.
I am so thankful for the improvements I have made and continue to make in my pursuit of functional breathing. The results have been tangible — from better sleep to less anxiety and much more peace around my breathing. Her spiritual encouragement was an unexpected gift that I will always hold dear.
Prior to seeing Maria, my husband and I wanted to have another child, but I did not feel like my breathing was at a good place to pursue that. Perhaps the greatest blessing was finally feeling more peace around my breathing after my 10 sessions with her — and now a long-awaited pregnancy!
Functional breathing is often a neglected area in the holistic health space, and I truly believe it’s the missing piece for so many health conditions.
I cannot thank Maria enough for the ways she has helped me, physically with breath, but also emotionally and spiritually.
She is such a gift in my life, and I thank God for her and her ministry.
A.T.
Texas, USA