The Buteyko Method of Breathing Retraining was developed by Ukrainian-born physician and researcher, Professor Konstantin Buteyko in the 1950s. It is based on his decades of research and clinical practice. Professor Buteyko put together a package of practices that work synergistically to normalise dysfunctional breathing. Buteyko’s method is succinct, potent and scientifically sound. In the hands of a skilled teacher it gives a systematic and reliable means of achieving and maintaining healthy breathing. (It is also known as the Buteyko Breathing Technique .)

The Buteyko Method was brought to Australia in 1990 and since then has been introduced into many countries. Tess Graham trained in the Buteyko Method in 1993 and did advanced training with Professor Buteyko in 2000. It formed a substantial part of her clinical work. Tess is one of the very few breathing educators outside of Russia to hold a Diploma in Buteyko Method (Moscow).

Tess was a member of the research team for the Western world’s first clinical trial (1) of the Buteyko Method of breathing retraining for asthma.  She was also the practitioner who taught the Buteyko Method to the intervention group (the ‘Buteyko group’) of chronic asthma sufferers. At the three-month follow-up point, this group showed a 71% median reduction in symptoms, a 96% median reduction in daily β2‐agonist (bronchodilator) dose, and 49% reduction in daily inhaled steroid use. The control group, on conventional asthma management and standard physiotherapy management, had no significant change in any parameter. (Medication changes were made under medical direction and supervision.)

The principles of breathing retraining – what it is, how it works.

(1) ‘Buteyko breathing techniques in asthma: a controlled trial’. Bowler SD., Green A, Mitchell CA. MJA. 1998; 169: 575–578.