Buteyko Breathing is a type of breathing technique that Russian Doctor Konstantin Buteyko developed in the mid-20th century. The technique is based on the premise that breathing patterns play a significant role in various health conditions, including respiratory problems, asthma, and sleep disorders.
The Buteyko Breathing method involves reducing the air inhaled and exhaled during breathing, which is believed to minimise hyperventilation or overbreathing. By controlling the rate, depth, and duration of breathing, practitioners of the Buteyko method can improve the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in their bodies, leading to various health benefits.
The Buteyko Breathing method consists of a series of exercises designed to help reduce breathing volume, including controlled breathing exercises, breathing through the nose with the diaphragm, and reducing talk time. The activities are usually done in a specific sequence and can be done anywhere, at any time.
How Does the Buteyko Method Work?
The Buteyko method teaches individuals to control their breathing in a specific way to reduce the air volume inhaled and exhaled, this is also known as the minute volume. This reduction in breathing volume helps restore a healthy balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the body, which can lead to various health benefits.
The Buteyko method consists of a series of breathing exercises and techniques that aim to reduce breathing volume, including:
- Controlled breathing exercises: This involves breathing in and out at a slower pace, focusing on breathing through the nose and reducing the volume of air inhaled and exhaled.
- Breathing through the nose with the diaphragm: Diaphragmatic breathing through the nose is believed to be more efficient than chest breathing through the mouth , so the Buteyko method encourages individuals to use the diaphragm to breathe through their nose as much as possible.
By learning to control their breathing and restore a healthy balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen, individuals who practise the Buteyko method may be able to alleviate symptoms of various health problems, including asthma, sleep apnea, and anxiety.
What is Buteyko Good For?
Buteyko breathing teaches you how to reduce breathing, i.e., to reduce the air volume you breathe. The way to reduce the breathing volume during practice is to create a light air hunger. How ‘light’ is light is vague here, even Dr. Buteyko thought this was the most difficult to learn.
According to proponents of Buteyko Breathing, the technique can help to improve a range of health problems, including:
- Asthma
- Sleep apnea
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Allergies
- Hypertension
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
Aimwell Breathing and the AYO BT+
If you practice the Buteyko breathing technique, AYO BT+ can be an excellent companion to enhance your practice. Thanks to its Minute Ventilation tracking, AYO BT+ can measure breathing volume and rate accurately, making practice Reduced Breathing much easier.
For the first time since the Buteyko Method was first introduced more than half a century ago, people can now have a tool to help practice Reduced Breathing effectively and accurately.
The breathing measurement from AYO BT+ can also help you measure your progress, provide data to your trainers or clinicians remotely, and even add your breathing status to the Apple Health App for tracking your overall health.
Here are some examples AYO BT+ monitors & measures:
- Spirometry Testing
- Realtime Breathing Waveforms
- Breath Rate
- Minute Ventilation
- Tidal Volume
- Peak Flow
- Breath-hold Time
- Power of Breath & Work of Breath
Along with Summary Reports for meditation and breathing exercises.
