Buteyko breathing therapy
In the 1950s, Ukrainian doctor Konstantin Buteyko discovered the crucial role that breathing plays in our health.
People who experience breathing difficulties often breathe high in the chest and tend to breathe through their mouth. This can lead to symptoms such as breathlessness, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
Buteyko developed a method to restore healthy breathing patterns. It starts with consistently breathing through the nose and practicing exercises to make breathing light, regular, and effortless. The method continues to be successfully applied worldwide.
Core principles of the Buteyko method
The goal of the Buteyko method is to restore nasal breathing and normalize functional breathing patterns. This is achieved through breathing exercises that involve inhaling slightly less air, creating a mild sensation of air hunger. The purpose is to allow carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood to rise slightly.
By practicing these exercises regularly, your body adapts, and the oxygen-carbon dioxide balance improves over time. The benefits include:
- Easier and calmer breathing, positively influencing the autonomic nervous system
- Improved circulation
- Better oxygen supply to body cells
- Balanced blood pH and optimal fluid-mineral regulation in cells
The Buteyko method has proven to be an effective complementary therapy for conditions such as stress, panic attacks & hyperventilation, asthma & COPD, snoring & sleep apnea, insomnia, high blood pressure, chronic pain, and mouth breathing in children.
A healthy lifestyle
Healthy breathing is essential because it affects all parts of the body—after all, every cell needs oxygen. While breathing is largely an automatic process, it is also influenced by daily stress, diet, sleep quality, physical activity, posture, exercise habits, and even talking. That’s why we also examine lifestyle factors that may be affecting your breathing, helping you make adjustments for long-term health benefits.
What is the Buteyko method?
The Buteyko method includes a variety of breathing exercises, ranging from relaxing to more active techniques. You can learn all of them if you wish, allowing you to switch between exercises as needed. Typically, you will practice four times a day for about 15 minutes per session, for at least three months. You will only do the exercises that suit your specific health condition.
From a physiological standpoint, it is normal to breathe in and out through the nose—all mammals do. Mouth breathing is an unhealthy habit, often caused by nasal congestion. That’s why one of the first exercises you’ll learn is the “Nasal Opener”— when you can breathe through your nose for one minute, you can do it all day.
Buteyko breathing exercises
- Control Pause – A test that provides feedback on your breathing volume
- Nasal Opener – Uses movement and a breath-hold to create mild air hunger, helping open the airways
- Reduced Breathing – Decreases breathing volume by relaxing muscles and taking in less air
- Basic Exercise – A mini-protocol combining a pre-test, reduced breathing, and a post-test in various forms
- Mini-Pauses – Short breath-holds used occasionally or as a full exercise
- Walking Exercises – Walking while creating mild to moderate air hunger, adjusted to your Control Pause and fitness level
- Managing a Hyperventilation Attack – An exercise to stop or prevent acute hyperventilation
- Step Exercises – Combining physical activity with reduced breathing
- Talking Exercise – Training yourself to breathe more lightly while speaking
Rates and registration
View the rates on this page. Partial reimbursement through supplementary insurance is often possible. Different rates apply for consultations and programs reimbursed by the employer or for business purposes. Feel free to inquire about the conditions.
Using the button below, you can book an intake consultation or a free phone consultation directly