One of the most common questions we receive here at the Breathing Center is just how effective the Buteyko Method is, and if it actually works. Apart from the numerous testimonials from our happy and healthier clients, this form of retraining your breathing has been proven effective in research studies.
Before we delve into the proof behind our health claims, it is important to understand exactly what it is that we do here and how we can help you live a healthier and longer life.
Breathing Normalization: What Is It?
Many of us do not realize that we are and have been breathing incorrectly for our entire lives. What we teach here at the Breathing Center is “Breathing Normalization.” These teachings (known as the Buteyko Method) were founded by physician Konstantin P. Buteyko. These lessons strive to teach individuals how to regain control over their breathing and how to retrain themselves to breathe correctly.
The two most common breathing problems we suffer from today are:
a) Mouth breathing
b) Over-breathing
Mouth breathing is dangerous for our bodies as it allows impure air to enter into our bodies and can have a negative effect on our overall health. Over breathing leads to a reduced amount of carbon dioxide entering into our blood stream, which essentially depletes our blood and tissues of much-needed oxygen.
How Over-Breathing Is Affecting Your Asthma
Those who suffer from asthma not only tend to breathe through their mouth, but they also have a higher respiratory rate and breathe more heavily than those who do not suffer from the condition. This creates an undesirable feedback loop which actually worsens your symptoms:
1. The heavier breathing volume which is being received by your lungs disrupts the blood gasses. This includes a loss of carbon dioxide.
2. When the body loses too much carbon dioxide, the smooth muscles which surround your airways constrict, making breathing more difficult.
3. The heavy breathing also causes the inner walls of your airways to dehydrate, again making breathing more laborious.
4. Your body will naturally try to compensate by breathing more heavily to take in more air.
As you can see, this creates a negative, cyclical effect which can be difficult to break.
Gaining Control over Your Breathing
Our teachers at the Breathing Center allow individuals suffering from asthma to control their symptoms by teaching techniques such as nasal breathing, relaxation, and breathe reduction. We first meet with our patients during a Preliminary Consultation and are able to create customized plans to help you reach your specific health goals. From there we typically recommend that adults and children who are suffering from asthma start with our Level 1 Breathing Normalization course (this course is available in person or online). Additional teachings and training is available to those who want to enjoy optimal health, or those who want to help others and become a Breathing Normalization Specialist themselves.
