Core Faculty Member
Margaret Leong, M.A., P.T.
Physical Therapist and Wellness Educator

Margaret Leong, a physical therapist, has been in practice for thirty years. She received her B.A. Degree in Physical Therapy from Russell Sage-Albany Medical College in Albany, NY in 1974 She received her M.A. degree in Kinesiology of the Disabled at New York University in 1987. Margaret spent 16 years in direct study and collaboration with Carola Speads, the author of Ways to Better Breathing. Mrs. Leong co-authored with Mrs. Speads the chapter "Breathing - An Approach for Facilitating Movement" in Dr. Osa Jackson's textbook - Therapeutic Considerations for the Elderly.

Mrs. Leong has taught workshops, including some with Carola Speads on Facilitating Breathing, Posture and Movement to Health Care Professionals. She has also has given injury prevention and wellness programs with better breathing emphasis to many varied audiences. Mrs. Leong has found breathing lessons to be especially helpful for those in need of pain or stress reduction, when recuperating from injury or illness, and for excelling in all endeavors, whether sports, hobbies or ordinary activities of daily living. Mrs. Leong began her collaboration with Michael Grant White in 1995 and appreciates his tremendous enthusiasm and focus to educate so many as to the importance of optimal breathing. Currently Margaret continues to teach workshops and individual lessons in better breathing to all, and also work individually with patients in need of physical therapy in Sunnyvale, California

"It is wonderful to experience the beautiful feeling of easy deep breathing with the whole body eased up, much as in our days as a baby! Since breathing is such a vital part of living, improving how it happens helps with everything that we do, giving tremendous confidence and vitality for living. It is practical to learn a skill that can be applied in all life situations and done discreetly, even if all the time you have is a few seconds. My work as a physical therapist has shifted to include Better Breathing Lessons in all my patient care. My patients develop stamina, alignment and balance so much quicker through this approach. For those patients with more limited abilities, I can do some of the gentle lessons to them or teach someone else how to, so they can also benefit.

Here are some of the insights that I and many of my students and patients think you may benefit from after learning these better breathing lessons. You may find it tremendously helpful that some of the breathing lessons once learned can be done briefly and discreetly during any activity you are involved with. This is especially valuable when you are in a challenging interpersonal situation, and want to be thinking and responding to the best of your ability. Because of the improved breathing awareness that you develop, your emotions can be expressed more appropriately and with greater clarity. Many times throughout the day, and in just a few seconds, you can recuperate to have more stamina for whatever you are doing. Everyday tasks became so much easier since you become more skilled at 'feeling' what you are doing, and acquire smoother movement with better balance and muscle tone. Better ways to do mundane tasks or fun filled hobbies come more natural to you, and make life infinitely more interesting.

Your desire to acquire new skills often accelerates, and your ability to know when to rest improves so that you have less chance of injury and strain. You look at lot better because of improved alignment and balance, especially in sitting and standing. Clothes that are comfortable are sought, and allow your rib cage and abdomen to expand and lengthen and let breathing improvements through. You may feel an amazing shift in ability to adapt to extremes of weather, both hot and cold. For instance, after doing breathing lessons, some have felt that severe humidity and oppressive heat had 'lifted', when actually it was still there.

I hope that many will respond to Mike White's invitation to learn the art of better breathing, synonymous with better living, and offering a lifetime of benefits.

Home Office: 408 732-7073
Email: mleong12@earthlink.net)