Jennifer Stark
Jennifer Stark has many years experience at teaching Buteyko and training new practitioners. Jennifer with her husband Russell are published authors of The Carbon Dioxide Syndrome and the Buteyko On Line Home Education Kit, which has been retailing for over seven years and helped thousands of people world-wide. They have taught classes both in hospitals and privately in New Zealand, Australia, USA and the UK, and have taught the Buteyko techniques in studies and clinical trials of the Buteyko Method. Jennify draws on this wealth of experience to keep her training programme up to date and relevant to the new trainee. She also works with other Buteyko practitioners whenever possible so that the trainee meets other people in the same field, helping trainees to build networks with Buteyko practitioners right from the beginning. This assists in learning to sell courses and to discuss or observe different teaching styles.
Selling Buteyko classes is not easy because breathing is so unconscious and automatic that people seldom think that there could be anything wrong with the way that they do it. In addition, many cultures have the ingrained thought that deep breathing is healthy, relaxing and ‘good for you’. Therefore learning to overcome these difficulties and applying simple but effective marketing tools so that you can let people know about your classes is a major component of the Stark’s training programme.
It is no use being able to sell the courses if you cannot deliver what you promise, and therefore developing the skills to teach Buteyko confidently is the most important part of Jennifer's training programme. You begin your training by reading a selection of books and completing some assignments designed to start you thinking not only about teaching but also selling Buteyko classes. This is followed by a four-week practical component where you observe and take part in the teaching of at least eight classes. In the first week you simply observe, using the method yourself, and in the 2nd and 3rd weeks you teach parts of some classes. In the 4th week you teach one entire class while being observed by your trainer. This slow but sure approach to training means that you learn to teach the techniques in an easy way, moving ahead as you gain more skills and this component can be split up into two sections of two weeks instead of a four-week block.
In addition to taking part in eight classes, you also attend two - three hours a day of discussion and lectures in a supportive environment where you learn about the Buteyko Method theory, how to manipulate the exercises so that you teach it safely, basic physiology, how breathing affects the body, medications that are commonly used in the treatment of asthma and other conditions that you are likely to be teaching Buteyko for, and many other related topics. For a full list of these, please email
training@buteyko.co.nz
There are several short answer oral and written tests during this time that are designed to assist the learning process but the practical test of teaching your own classes is where the real test begins. After the practical component, trainees begin to teach their own paying classes that they have organised. Supervision and advice from their trainer via telephone or email is used at any point in time that the trainee feels that discussion is needed. The trainee follows closely the progress of the first 50 people that he or she teaches, writing up the case histories of these people. With the names suitable altered to preserve privacy, the case histories are forwarded to the trainer.
This training is backed fully with a complete set of training manuals – the Buteyko Practitioner Guide (70,000 words) and the Buteyko Business Manual (50,000 words), as well as the resource and research manuals. Other documents that are supplied include various papers and books on breathing and the Buteyko Method.
The following quotes are from two Buteyko practitioners who trained with the Starks:
“I trained with Jennifer Stark in 2000. The tutorial format was very intensive, extremely thorough and organized. Marrying the theory in the morning sessions to the practical aspect of teaching the technique to clients in the afternoons and evenings was a stroke of brilliance. I found the knowledge I was acquiring was "sticking" as often I would have to use it only a few hours after acquiring it! The debriefings after the client courses were enormously helpful in thinking laterally and applying the knowledge to specific situations. Jennifer monitored carefully and gave clear and precise feedback. Jennifer never tired of "talking shop", even long into the night. The manual is also a valuable tool, one that I still refer to regularly as a practitioner. Jennifer's prompt replies to queries and post-course tests after the training have been greatly appreciated and very helpful, particularly when I have a client with a complicated or unusual condition.”
Chris Bauman
“I thought the training was very well planned and executed. I particularly liked the way I got to experience the class, practice the homework and have time to talk about the philosophies of Buteyko and why and how it works. In other words, learning how to teach and why we teach it and what I needed to know about asthmatics and other people with breathing disorders and the drug information. I thought that there was all the opportunity I needed to ask questions and explore my understanding of the information. I thought you were a perfect model for teaching. You presented the material in a very honest and direct manner. I think your teaching was empowered by the belief you have that the Buteyko Method works and your desire to see people have the tools they need to help themselves.
I was very impressed by the depth of your knowledge about breathing disorders. It was evident that you have worked with thousands of people. I saw in you, adaptability in teaching style and how to work the program. Your obvious experience allowed you to find ways to make the program work for everyone. I appreciated your patience to go over material more than once with me. I felt supported by the follow up emails and conversations that made my teaching the work as a beginner, easier. I also liked the preparation work you had me do before coming to New Zealand. You imbued me with a honour and integrity that this work deserves. Thank you.” Robert Litman
Contact Jennifer
Email: training@buteyko.co.nz
Telephone: ++ 61 7 3397 0244
Fax: ++61 7 3397 0462
Post:
P O Box 526
Coorparoo. Qld. 4151
Australia
