The Origins of the Buttafly 

Hi there, and welcome to our story. I say “our story” because the Buttafly and I come as a package – not by design, it’s just the way things have turned out!

It all started in 2011 when I was training as a yoga teacher and designed the Buttafly to address the challenge of sitting comfortably on the floor for yoga and meditation.

Having been a Chartered Physiotherapist for 30 years, specialising in musculoskeletal pain, I knew how important it is for the spine to be well aligned. Poor posture, as well as contributing to back pain, interferes with the normal functioning of the whole body – even how we breathe.

All day long, the brain is in constant communication with our body, making sense of our internal and external environments and the relationship between the two. When the spine is out of line, this work of the brain is compromised.

The Buttafly Technique

The evolution of the Buttafly Technique for back care and the relief of back pain began when I used it to heal my own chronic symptoms that resulted from a fracture of the base of my spine in 2005 in a rollerblading accident.

The extent of the injury was such that I had to learn new ways to move, and to this end, I took up yoga.

Sitting cross-legged presented a challenge, but lying flat on the floor in what’s known as Corpse Pose was impossible due to a large knobble of bone on my sacrum where the fracture healed – to this day, it hits the ground before anything else.

I didn’t set out to design the Buttafly, but every time I sat cross-legged on the floor and attempted to quieten my mind, the creative juices flowed. There must be a way to make this whole experience more enjoyable for myself and others, I thought, especially as, by this time, I was training as a yoga teacher.

In 2005, I fractured the base of my spine in a roller-blading accident.

The fracture has left me with a large knobble of bone on my sacrum making it painful to lie down. At the end of a yoga class when we come into the rest position, I'm like the princess in the Princess & The Pea story - I need at least 5 yoga mats to be comfortable!

One day though, as I was lying there, feeling pain and frustration, something made me connect the shape of the sacrum with the Buttafly - I saw how they fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw. In this way, the Buttafly allowed the lower end of my spine to “float” in the indent, leaving it free from any direct pressure.

The position itself felt wonderful, and yet there was even better to come.

Afterward, I was able to lie on my back without any additional padding  –  the relationship between my spine and the floor had changed. Somehow, it felt more natural. 

I continued to use the Buttafly like this for the next few weeks, and slowly but surely, ten years’ worth of chronic symptoms resolved. After having tried so many different treatments to no avail, this was like a miracle!

Video Feedback 

Orthopaedic Consultant, Osteopath, and Chief Medical Officer of GB Rowing, Dr. Ann Redgrave gives her account of the Buttafly Technique.

Yoga and Pilates Teacher Tracey Mellor is "blown away" by the Buttafly Technique.

"Unbelievable!" says David, a retired psychologist recovering from spinal surgery.

"The Buttafly has changed my life - back pain, gone!" Kat, a Relax Kids teacher.

Yoga & Pilates teacher Jamie Elmer uses the Buttafly daily for herself and her clients, "I can't recommend the Buttafly enough," she says.

Written Testimonials

“The specific sacral release posture in lying with the Buttafly gave a significant sense of grounded-ness and aided in deep relaxation methods for me and others... Thank you for your hard work and determination bringing this to the market - it’s very much needed.” Carl Simmons, facilitator of relaxation and meditation.

"Almost immediately I could feel something quite powerful was happening. There was a pronounced realignment of my spine and more than one person commented on the immediate change in my posture." Nick Edge, yoga teacher.

"For someone such as me with a strong and healthy back and daily meditation practice for almost 15 years it can be easy to forget just how difficult it can be for those new to meditation to sit comfortably with a straight spine. Recently when full of cold and physically exhausted, I sat to meditate on my usual cushion. I found myself constantly slouching; my focus was repeatedly drawn away from my practice to my body, so I reached for the Buttafly and sat on that. I immediately found my spine erect, my breath flowed freely from the openness my ribs had and my sacrum and tailbone felt almost as if they were floating. This is not just another yoga gimmick, I truly believe that the Buttafly can enhance a meditation practice for both beginners and experienced practitioners." James Chapman, yoga therapist, Triyoga, London.

"Loulou's surprisingly simple but effective new 'body tool' has many different uses. Some of our students love it to ease out back pain. My favourite position is resting my pelvis on it - this allows the tightness in my groins to slowly release, which enables the stretching out of old scar tissue from deep and invasive surgery long ago on my spine. This gives release for my posture to fly." Angela Farmer, international yoga teacher & author of Feminine Unfolding

"I was suffering from lower back pain and had been for some considerable time. The pain, at times, meant moving was a real discomfort. I spent a session with Loulou and purchased a Buttafly. My back was in pain on a Friday, but by the following Monday, it was gone. I used the Buttafly, as directed, for the entire weekend. My back pain has not returned. This was in October 2019. I write this recommendation in March 2020. I can’t express how impressive and permanent the Buttafly’s effects have been." Benjamin Dennehy, long-term sufferer of back pain.

"With the Buttafly, however, I am finding not only that I am able to sit cross-legged, but I am loving sitting cross-legged – the front of the hip crease finally getting the release it has been calling for all these years!"  Xulia Duran-Rodriquez, yoga teacher.

“The Buttafly is simple, effective, and versatile. It goes to the Yoga class with me and helps me with the most basic of poses, such as sitting in alignment and opening my chest and shoulders. I'm a habitual sloucher so it comes as no surprise that I have lower back pain – the Buttafly is super effective at relieving it.  I think my Buttafly blocks are brilliant and they are backed up by a great teacher in Loulou. Thank you.”  Ted Walker, a retired fireman, Berkshire.

“The Buttafly is truly amazing. I suffer from chronic lower back pain and within a day of using it, it helped me a lot. I will definitely be using it daily.” Kasia Kowalska-Trela, yoga student.

"This product is 100% my favourite purchase from the Om Yoga Show! I currently suffer from chronic lower back pain... The difference when I tried it the first time was incredible. The pain I usually experience is constant but when I was lying on the Buttafly, allowing my spine to re-align, it disappeared! It allowed my overworked muscle to release tension and let my back flatten totally to the mat after 5 minutes of use. Loulou was also lovely and very honest & helpful - so refreshing when searching for a cure!” Katie Cornish, yoga teacher.

“I use the Buttafly in the supine position to get deep relaxation of the hip flexors. So effective is the release that tears flowed the very first time I tried it. As a Thai Massage Practitioner, I take my Buttafly everywhere I go, it’s invaluable.”  Ernest Bryden, Thai Massage Therapist.