At 74, Olli Auvinen has lived for years with COPD and asthma. Regular movement and daily breathing training with the WellO2 device have given him strength for everyday life and helped him find an easier, calmer way to breathe. This is his story.
Finding strength through daily routines
Olli is a retired television journalist from Finland who once believed his condition could never really change.
“For more than ten years, I thought my illness wouldn’t improve and that I’d just have to live with it. I was wrong,” Olli says.
At his most recent doctor’s appointment, he received surprising news: his lung function test results had clearly improved. For example, his lung vital capacity (FVC) had improved by 30% in one year – contrary to the common belief that the disease inevitably progresses. “The doctor said medication alone couldn’t explain it. I was amazed. Maybe everything I’d been doing had actually helped?”
Years ago, after several lung infections had left him weak, Olli began to exercise regularly. “I started slowly, walking in the forest and around town. These days I walk about 3,500–4,500 steps a day.”
To support his breathing, Olli also trains daily at home using the Finnish-developed WellO2 device, which combines warm steam with adjustable breathing resistance. “It’s become a daily routine for me. It feels good – just like after a nice walk.”
Small steps that make a big difference
Olli believes that small daily choices and consistent breathing exercises have been key. “You can feel the results in both body and mind. When you can walk more easily and breathe more calmly, it brings energy and confidence.”
He hopes more people would understand the value of doing something for themselves. “Doctors do important work and guide us as best they can. But there are also simple ways to support your breathing and wellbeing – and everyone can make a difference in their own life.”
These days, Olli sees his condition in a new light. “I don’t think of it only as a limitation anymore. I’m grateful for every small improvement – and for the fact that life goes on, at home, in my own rhythm.”
Olli’s story is a reminder that caring for your breathing isn’t only for those with an illness. Through small, consistent actions – gentle movement, calm breathing, and simple routines – we can all support our wellbeing every day.
What is the WellO2 breathing trainer?
WellO2 is a Finnish innovation that combines adjustable resistance breathing with gentle steam inhalation. Daily use helps support natural breathing, recovery, and overall wellbeing, naturally and without medication.