BUTEYKO BREATH THERAPY
"I have been working with Eloise during a couple of sessions focusing on Buteyko breathing. I have struggled with asthma symptoms, in spite of proper medication. After doing the Buteyko exercises daily, most of these symptoms have gradually vanished.
Working with Eloise has been a very rewarding experience, due to her deep knowledge about all things related to breathing, as well as her friendly and light-hearted approach. This created a safe space for me to explore the exercises and learn a lot from our sessions."
- Henrik, Stockholm
Working with Eloise has been a very rewarding experience, due to her deep knowledge about all things related to breathing, as well as her friendly and light-hearted approach. This created a safe space for me to explore the exercises and learn a lot from our sessions."
- Henrik, Stockholm
WHAT IS THE BUTEYKO METHOD?
Named after Dr Konstantin Buteyko, the Buteyko Method consists of a series of breathing exercises and guidelines specifically designed to reduce over-breathing (clinically known as ‘chronic hyperventilation’). The simple fact is that many people breathe too much, which alters the natural levels of gases in the blood, reduces oxygen delivery to tissues and organs, and causes constriction of the smooth muscles surrounding blood vessels and airways. This can lead to numerous health problems. Bringing breathing volume towards normal and making the switch from mouth to nose breathing helps to alleviate such health problems.
In 1957 Ukrainian Dr. Konstantin Buteyko observed that unhealthy people have noticeable breathing during rest. Their breathing is often through the mouth, using the upper chest with a respiratory rate and volume greater than normal.
Dr. Konstantin Buteyko identified over 150 disorders which could be resolved by normalising the breathing, and spent the next three decades developing breathing exercises and strategies to achieve this.
The Buteyko Method of breathing re-training has now been taught over the past 20 years as a highly effective, drug-free education process which helps normalise and improve the breathing, reducing the symptoms of many common disorders. By learning the method, you can experience the medical benefits already enjoyed by thousands of people worldwide:
up to 70% less coughing, breathlessness & wheezing
reduced need for medication
improved sleep and quality of life
enhanced ability for exercise
Dr. Konstantin Buteyko identified over 150 disorders which could be resolved by normalising the breathing, and spent the next three decades developing breathing exercises and strategies to achieve this.
The Buteyko Method of breathing re-training has now been taught over the past 20 years as a highly effective, drug-free education process which helps normalise and improve the breathing, reducing the symptoms of many common disorders. By learning the method, you can experience the medical benefits already enjoyed by thousands of people worldwide:
up to 70% less coughing, breathlessness & wheezing
reduced need for medication
improved sleep and quality of life
enhanced ability for exercise
WHAT ARE THE BUTEYKO
BREATHING EXERCISES?
Buteyko Breathing Exercises are a compilation of exercises that have been designed in order to improve an individual’s health.
Over the span of four decades, Dr. Buteyko developed a program designed to normalize breathing volume. Using slow breathing and breath holds following an exhalation, the objective is to take less air into the lungs.
With regular practice over a few weeks, breathing is brought towards normal with resultant improvements to a number of common complaints such as asthma, rhinitis, anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.
Patrick McKeown explains the physiology behind the Buteyko breathing exercises:
“Dr. Buteyko saw that sick people breathe hard. He asked, is the sickness causing the hard breathing, or the hard breathing causing the sickness? People are often told to take deep, full, big breaths in the belief that this will increase oxygen delivery to the tissues. If we look at the science, it doesn’t work that way. If you take big breaths that increase the volume of air beyond what it should be, you get rid of too much carbon dioxide. Due to the Bohr Effect (first described by the Danish biochemist Christian Bohr in 1904) this causes red blood cells to actually hold on to oxygen instead of releasing it. By practicing the Buteyko breathing technique and developing subtle, soft, slow, light breathing while also maintaining diaphragmatic, nasal breathing, you’re increasing oxygen delivery to the cells. This is where it’s going to transform health.”
Buteyko breathing exercises are listed as follows:
Exercise 1: Nose unblocking exercise
Exercise 2a: Normalising breathing volume- hands on chest and tummy
Exercise 2b: Normalising breathing volume- finger blocking nostril
Exercise 2c: Normalising breathing volume- hands cupping face
Exercise 3: walking with diaphragm breathing
Exercise 4a: walking with breath holds to create light air hunger
Exercise 4a: walking with breath holds to create medium to strong air hunger
Exercise 5: Steps (light air hunger) for severe asthma, anxiety, panic attacks
Exercise 5: Steps (medium to strong air hunger) for children and teenagers
Exercise 6: Many small breath holds (mini pauses)
Exercise 7: Relaxation to create air hunger
These exercises help clients with the following conditions:
• Asthma
• Sleep apnea & snoring
• Snoring
• Mouth breathing
• Anxiety
• Panic disorder
• High blood pressure
BENEFITS OF BUTEYKO THERAPY
• Better breathing
• Better asthma control, less colds, chest infections
• Reduction in severity of anxiety
• Better speech
• Calmer mind
• Reduced frequency and elimination of panic attacks
• Improved mood, concentration and cognitive ability
• Reduced reactivity to triggers (stressful events, fur/feathers/pollen or food intolerances)
• Reduced breathlessness physically exercise
• Reduction in frequency and volume of snoring. Reduced need for CPAP machine
• Normalisation of sleep patterns - quieter more restful sleep
• Better asthma control, less colds, chest infections
• Reduction in severity of anxiety
• Better speech
• Calmer mind
• Reduced frequency and elimination of panic attacks
• Improved mood, concentration and cognitive ability
• Reduced reactivity to triggers (stressful events, fur/feathers/pollen or food intolerances)
• Reduced breathlessness physically exercise
• Reduction in frequency and volume of snoring. Reduced need for CPAP machine
• Normalisation of sleep patterns - quieter more restful sleep
THE CONTROL PAUSE BREATHING TEST
Dr. Buteyko developed a test to measure depth of breathing and consequent retention of carbon dioxide, resultant oxygenation and health. He named it the 'Control Pause' breathing test. Get yourself a clock or stop-watch & try for yourself:
The number of seconds that elapsed is your Control Pause. Less than 10 seconds, and you have health problems. Less than 25, your health needs attention. 30-40 seconds is satisfactory, while 60+ seconds is excellent.
- Sitting down, close your mouth and breathe normally through the nose for 30 seconds
- Take a normal breath in through your nose
- Allow a normal breath out through your nose
- Gently close your nose with thumb & forefinger and start to count the seconds on the clock
- When you first feel the need to breathe, release the nose and take a breath through the nose
- Remember to keep your mouth closed throughout
The number of seconds that elapsed is your Control Pause. Less than 10 seconds, and you have health problems. Less than 25, your health needs attention. 30-40 seconds is satisfactory, while 60+ seconds is excellent.
IS BUTEYKO FOR YOU?
Book a free 30 min consultation to discuss whether the buteyko method can help you reach better physical and mental health.