What is the Buteyko Breathing method?
Rhyming with Potato and sounding like Boo-Tay-Ko, Buteyko Breathing Method is named after Konstantin Buteyko, a Ukrainian doctor who pioneered breathing techniques in the 1950’s. Buteyko believed many conditions including asthma and high blood pressure were due, in part, to dysfunctional breathing.
Since 2010, the science of breathing has exploded, with knowledge expanding the benefits of correct breathing to also improve conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, sleep apnea and boosting mental and physical performance simply by restoring the most primal of body processes, breathing.
The Buteyko breathing technique (BBT) focuses on reducing the number of breaths taken each minute to slow the breathing and ensure that inhalation occurs solely through the nose. Using breath retention exercises to control the speed and volume of your breath which helps you to breathe more slowly, calmly, and effectively.
The science behind the Buteyko breathing technique:
Relaxes smooth muscle
Smooth muscle lines the airways, blood vessels and digestive system. Contracted or constricted smooth muscle may result in Asthma, Reflux, high Blood Pressure, Headaches and IBS. Changing your breathing style with Breathe Well techniques relaxes smooth muscle.
Calms the nervous system
This breathing technique helps to switch on the relaxing or parasympathetic nervous system. Reducing the negative effects of stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol. Enjoy an immediate reduction in anxiety as well as decreasing the long-term negative effects of stress.
Increases oxygen
Via the Bohr effect, this breathing technique increases oxygen delivery throughout the body, including the brain. Improving memory, concentration and energy levels. Circulation also improves, helpful for people suffering from chilblains, Raynaud’s syndrome and preventing complications of diabetes.
Diaphragmatic breathing
Belly or diaphragmatic breathing is the way we were born to breathe. However, many people lose this ability in childhood and adopt shallow, chest breathing. This puts extra stress on upper body muscles and may contribute to headaches, neck & shoulder tension as well as TMJ pain.
Permanent results
The retraining of your breathing which happens in the Buteyko Breathing course, results in immediate results, but more importantly, via neuro-plasticity, this technique provides significant improvement if not a permanent solution to many health problems.
