About - Breath Theory

What is Buteyko Breathing?

The Buteyko Method is a clinically informed breathing retraining approach that focuses on restoring healthy, functional breathing patterns to address the root cause of many physical and psychological symptoms. Buteyko (pronounced Bu-tay-ko) works to normalise breathing so the body can return to its natural balance.

Developed by Ukrainian physician Dr Konstantin Buteyko in the 1950s and is most well-known for its evidence‑based application in asthma care, but is increasingly used to support anxiety, sleep disorders, chronic stress, fatigue, snoring and respiratory disorders. At its core, Buteyko is a clinical model with measurable outcomes. Progress is tracked using objective markers such as breathing rate, tolerance to carbon dioxide (CO₂), control pause measurements, validated questionnaires and symptom changes over time.

A Root‑Cause Approach to Breathing

Many breathing‑related symptoms are driven by chronic overbreathing (hyperventilation), mouth breathing and dysfunctional breathing habits that place unnecessary strain on the nervous and respiratory systems. Buteyko addresses these patterns directly rather than managing symptoms in isolation.

The method is grounded in respiratory physiology and works across the three dimensions of breathing:

Biochemical: Breathing volume is gently reduced to improve CO₂ tolerance. This supports oxygen delivery to tissues via the Bohr effect, helping to reduce breathlessness, air hunger, dizziness, brain fog and anxiety symptoms.

Biomechanical: Breathing is retrained to be nasal, quiet, low and diaphragmatic. This reduces upper‑chest breathing, improves airway mechanics, supports posture and decreases unnecessary muscular tension.

Psychological: By calming breathing patterns, the nervous system shifts out of a chronic stress response. This helps regulate heart rate, reduce sympathetic overdrive and improve emotional regulation, focus and sleep quality.

By working across all three dimensions, Buteyko offers a more comprehensive and clinically robust approach than breathwork methods that focus on relaxation, intensity or altered states alone.

How Buteyko Is Different From Other Breathwork

Buteyko breathing is intentionally subtle and precise. Exercises are gentle, personalised and designed to integrate into daily life. The goal is not to breathe more, faster or deeper, but to breathe less, slower and more efficiently. This makes the method particularly suitable for people who experience anxiety, asthma, trauma sensitivity, fatigue or nervous system dysregulation, where more forceful breathwork techniques may be counterproductive.

Importantly, Buteyko follows a structured, clinical framework:

About Me

I help people understand their breathing patterns and learn simple, practical tools to support healthy, functional breathing. Watching people realise that they have the power to shift their own state through breath is always profound. It’s deeply rewarding to witness the moment people recognise that it was their own breathing that brought the relief they were seeking.

My path to breathwork wasn’t one I had planned. I spent over 20 years working as both a biochemical researcher and a teacher, but after experiencing significant personal loss, I found myself facing insomnia, a racing heart, and a nervous system that felt stuck in survival mode. When I reached a dead end in the medical system, with no conclusive diagnosis in sight, I began breathwork on the advice of a forward-thinking GP. Breathwork proved to be the key intervention in restoring my health. Like many people, it had never crossed my mind that dysfunctional breathing could be contributing to my symptoms. That realisation captured my attention and, true to my background, led me to research deeply into the science of breathing and its impact on the nervous system and biochemistry. I couldn’t ignore that something so essential and accessible had been largely overlooked in education and in the way we care for health and wellbeing. I made a commitment then and there to become an advocate for breathwork, not only for adults, but for children too.

Today, my work focuses on functional breathing education, with a strong emphasis on workshops and school-based programs. Drawing on my background as a teacher, I design and deliver supportive, evidence-informed programs that translate complex physiology into practical, accessible skills. These programs support clients with stress, anxiety, focus, sleep, asthma symptoms and performance under pressure, particularly during adolescence and high-demand learning environments.

When I’m not sharing my passion for breathwork or diving into new research, you’ll find me spending time with my family or recharging in nature. I make it a priority to get outdoors every day to practice what I teach: slowing down, breathing efficiently and being fully present.

Qualifications

Breathwork Instructor Level 1 (Flow Institute Australia)
Postgraduate Diploma of Education (The University of Melbourne)
PhD in Biochemistry (La Trobe University)
Bachelor of Science with Honours (La Trobe University)
Full Teaching Registration (Victorian Institute of Teaching)
First aid & CPR Certified