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Buteyko is a breath retraining method that teaches light, slow and low nasal breathing helping those with conditions such as respiratory disorders, asthma, anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep apnea to breathe with ease. It is beneficial for all people. Why? Think of a stressful time in your life perhaps before an exam or presentation, or the last time you watched a scary or sad movie. How were you breathing? Fast, irregular, shallow, upper chest perhaps? Your sympathetic nervous system would have been dominating your breathing to prepare you to either do battle or flee the situation. But these situations are everyday events in the 21stCentury, and so we are typically always in a state of mild sympathetic nervous arousal. We may not notice that we are because it’s become our new normal. This new normal leads to chronic pain, autoimmune disorders and general poor health.
 
The Buteyko method trains you to breath functionally through the nose when at rest, sleep and in activity. Why the emphasis on the nose? The nose is made to be breathed through here’s how:
  •  The two nostrils are narrow which creates turbulence to the air being breathed through them slowing the breath down​
  • The slower the breath the more time for gases to be exchanged from the lungs to the blood and vice versa
  • The slow breath recruits the diaphragm optimally and helps the chest and neck muscles stay relaxed
  • The nostrils have hair inside of them which act to filter pollutants from the air that we breathe
  • At the back of the nose there are finger like projections that warm and humidify the air
  • The nasal sinuses produce nitric oxide that opens the blood vessels for greater gaseous diffusion
  • The nostrils are abundant in immune cells that are the first line of defence in stopping bacterial and viral pathogens from the outside world from entering our internal environments
 
So, remember the nose is for breathing and the mouth is for cake!
The Buteyko method emphasises light breathing. Light breathing in which 20-30% less air is breathed in through the nose desensitises our respiratory centre in the brain to the effects of rising carbon dioxide in the arterial blood. Carbon dioxide is the main trigger of respiration. If we can’t tolerate much carbon dioxide, then we breath more rapidly sucking in high volumes of air. Think back to that stressful event…fast, irregular, shallow and upper chest breathing. This is referred to hyperventilation. Hyperventilation keeps us in that aroused state ready to fight or flee from our phone notifications, the oven timer, the washing machine beeping at us, the phone ringing etc! We are ready to do battle with everyday life demands rather than saber-tooth tigers!
 
Typically, when we are instructed to breathe diaphragmatically or belly breathe, we breathe in sharply, noisily, and fully. We breathe as much air as we can into our lungs slowly. Slow is good. But slow, full breathing is not so good. It is not so good because it increases ones minute ventilation (the amount of air that enters the lungs per minute) which means that we blow off too much carbon dioxide (hypocapnia) causing haemoglobin in the red blood cells to hold onto oxygen rather than release oxygen from the cells that can used by the brain and body. The Buteyko method increases one’s tolerance of rising levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, by breathing light, slow and low. 
 
You will not only breathe better but you will feel more energised, feel calmer, sleep better, and be able to concentrate for longer periods of time.
 
Book a FREE discovery call with me now! I can work with you online or in-person. My garden studio is based in the idyllic Kentish village of Ladddingford ME18.
 
We can optimize your breathing solely using the Butekyo method or include clinical massage therapy and corrective movement. You will be given a wealth of skills that will increase your energy levels, enhance your sleep quality, improve your health status, calm, and relax you and bring great joy to your life!
​Buteyko is a progressive system requiring your dedication and practice. By working with me weekly over four weeks, either online via Zoom or in-person (Laddingford UK) we can discuss your progress and barriers helping us to tailor the techniques to suit your unique development. 
"It is so hard to find a Buteyko therapist and after ten years of looking for one locally, FINALLY I found a really special one. After years of struggling with my breathing thanks to asthma and bronchiectasis, Caroline has taught me some great techniques that are really easy to incorporate into every day life and are effective. They are also super relaxing. Caroline takes time to listen to your needs with empathy and kindness. And even better, she doesn't just do Buteyko. She is extremely knowledgeable and I have ended up joining her yoga class and having her remedial massage too. I highly recommend her. Thank you Caroline!" - Leanne English