What is Buteyko Breathing?

Buteyko Breathing is a gentle breathing-training method that helps your body learn to breathe less, but more efficiently. Just like overeating or over-drinking can stress the body, over-breathing can also create real health issues. When we retrain the breath, the body can use oxygen more effectively — often leading to better energy, calmer breathing, and fewer symptoms.

How the Method Began

In the 1950s, Dr. Konstantin Buteyko, then a young medical student, noticed something unusual:
the sicker a patient was, the more they gasped for air — yet the lower their oxygen levels dropped.

This didn’t make sense at first. Why would breathing more make people feel worse?
He began to look closely and realized that over-breathing lowers carbon dioxide levels, which in turn makes it harder for oxygen to reach the tissues that need it (scientifically based on the Bohr effect - to learn more watch this webinar. This simple observation sparked the beginning of the Buteyko Method.

Around the same time, Dr. Buteyko faced dangerously high blood pressure. He experimented on himself, reduced his breathing volume and rate, and experienced a dramatic improvement. This inspired him to study breathing patterns more deeply and conduct clinical trials. His work ultimately helped thousands of patients — including his own wife — to improve symptoms such as asthma, high blood pressure, fatigue, sleep issues, and more.

Korina, Buteyko Breathing Instructor and Respiratory Therapist

Read her story here

What the Method Involves

Buteyko is a completely non-invasive, medication-free approach. It teaches you to:

• Breathe more slowly and gently

• Reduce the volume of each breath

• Practice calm, consistent nasal breathing

• Do short daily exercises to retrain your breathing patterns

Nasal breathing is especially important. Modern research shows that breathing through the nose:

• Reduces the amount of air you take in (which helps regulate CO₂ levels)

• Humidifies and warms the air

• Produces nitric oxide — a molecule that supports circulation, immunity, and healthy lung function

Who Can Benefit?

Dr. Buteyko documented over 200 conditions linked to chronic over-breathing. Many people report improvement with issues such as:

• Asthma

• Migraines and headaches

• High blood pressure

• Fatigue and low energy

• Insomnia

• Anxiety-related breathing symptoms

• COPD

• And more

Every person is different — but for many, Buteyko becomes a life-changing tool for improving breathing, energy, and overall well-being.

Curious If It Could Help You?

If you’d like to learn more or see whether Buteyko Breathing might be a good fit for your health needs, I offer a free 30-minute consultation. No pressure — just a friendly conversation where you can ask questions, learn about the method, and explore your options.

Your breath is with you every moment of your life. Learn to breathe your way to better health!