09/02/2026
Back to our Alphabet of Functional Breathing. There are a lot of Bs in that and even more. Let's start with Buteyko.
Buteyko Breathing is a breathing technique developed in the 1950s by Ukrainian physician Konstantin Buteyko, designed to normalise breathing patterns by reducing respiratory rate and volume. The method emphasises nasal breathing, reduced breathing, and relaxation to counteract chronic hyperventilation, which Buteyko practitioners believe leads to low carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) levels in the blood contributing to respiratory and other health issues.
The method we use to reduce breathing at The Buteyko Clinic International is called Breathe Light. It's a method you practice to change your unconscious breathing to light breathing as opposed to heavy, over breathing.
This is all ties in to the Bohr effect which was describer Christian Bohr in 1904. Very briefly summarised it refers to the relationship between O2 and Co2 in the tissues. Higher levels of Co2 lower the pH of the blood facilitating the release of 02 into the tissues. A lot information is available online which explains it in more depth.
Bottom line- slow, light breathing facilities better gas exchange. The Buteyko method teaches you to change your unconscious breathing habits.
