The Buteyko breathing technique was introduced to Australia from Russia in the early 1990s.
Early on the method was popular with adults and children suffering from asthma.
However, recently, the Buteyko Method has shown to be efficacious in helping improve a number of breathing related health problems such as:
- Asthma, rhinitis, hay fever
- Anxiety, stress and panic attacks
- Childhood development: dental health, craniofacial development and ADHD
- Sleep disordered breathing: insomnia, snoring, sleep apnoea
- Digestive disorders: IBS, chronic constipation and diarrhoea
Developed in 1952 by Ukrainian Dr Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko, (Bhew-tae-ko) the Buteyko Method is a breathing technique designed to improve functional breathing patterns.
While breathing is an involuntary activity, it is subject to change by stresses of everyday life, processed foods, food allergies, excessive sitting and talking, lifestyle choices and environmental factors.
The Buteyko Method involves exercises which decongest the nose, and switch mouth you to nasal breathing along with exercises to restore functional breathing patterns.
The exercises are simple and safe for adults and children over five years of age.
For children under 5 years of age exercises can be modified to suit the child depending on their age, ability and health concerns.
Practitioner(s): Jean Jarrett