Certified UK Practitioner · One-to-One

Buteyko Breathing Therapy

Evidence-based breathing therapy to help you overcome mouth breathing, snoring, asthma symptoms and poor sleep. Delivered one-to-one by a certified Buteyko practitioner.

What Is It? What It Helps Benefits How We Help Meet Daniela Book
Book Your Assessment

Start your Buteyko journey with a one-to-one assessment.

Every programme starts with a thorough breathing assessment. We measure your Control Pause, review your symptoms and goals, and build a personalised plan around you. Sessions are delivered online by a certified UK practitioner.

  • 60-minute one-to-one assessment
  • Delivered online, anywhere in the UK
  • Personalised programme and first exercises to take away
Start Your Buteyko Journey Ask a Question First

Ready to book?

Tap below and we'll come back to you within one working day with available 1:1 session dates.

Request Available Dates
Overview

What Is Buteyko Breathing?

Buteyko Breathing is a gentle, evidence-based method that retrains how you breathe, restoring calm nasal breathing and healthy CO₂ balance to support long-term respiratory and mental health.

Restores nasal breathing

Daily and overnight, replacing chronic mouth breathing.

Slows over-breathing

Gentler, slower breaths that calm the nervous system.

Rebalances CO₂

So oxygen reaches your tissues more efficiently.

Builds breathing resilience

Measurable, lasting change you can take into daily life.

Developed by Dr Konstantin Buteyko in the 1950s, the method targets the root cause of many modern health issues: chronic over-breathing and habitual mouth breathing. At Breathe First we deliver Buteyko one-to-one with a certified practitioner, supporting adults and children to make safe, sustainable changes to how they breathe. The approach is grounded in the physiology of the Bohr effect, which links healthy CO₂ levels to efficient oxygen delivery.

Read our in-depth article on the science and benefits of Buteyko →
Woman practising Buteyko nasal breathing in park
Foundations

Buteyko Core Principles

The Buteyko method combines several simple yet powerful foundations that work together to rebalance the chemistry of breathing, helping your body shift from a state of stress to one of balance and repair.

Nasal Breathing

Keeps air warm, filtered, and rich in nitric oxide, a molecule that supports immunity and oxygen absorption.

Reduced Breathing

Retrains your respiratory centre to tolerate slightly higher CO₂ levels, improving oxygen efficiency.

Calm Diaphragmatic Breathing

Reduces tension and helps reset the nervous system by engaging the diaphragm fully.

Awareness & Posture

Encourages upright, relaxed alignment so the diaphragm can work naturally throughout daily activity.

Curious whether Buteyko is right for you?

A 1:1 assessment with one of our certified practitioners is the fastest way to find out.

Request available dates
Buteyko breathing benefits
Results

Buteyko Breathing Benefits

From better sleep to reduced anxiety, the Buteyko method offers measurable improvements across multiple areas of health, by addressing the root cause: how you breathe.

Most of our clients notice calmer breathing, quieter nights, and clearer energy within the first few weeks of consistent practice, and build on that foundation over the course of their programme.

Respiratory Health

  • Reduces asthma symptoms and medication use
  • Helps unblock the nose naturally
  • Supports recovery from colds and allergies

Sleep & Snoring

  • Encourages nasal breathing overnight
  • Reduces snoring and mild sleep apnoea
  • Promotes deeper, calmer rest

Stress & Mental Health

  • Lowers anxiety and panic symptoms by balancing breathing chemistry
  • Supports a calm, clear mind and emotional stability

Energy, Focus & Performance

  • Enhances oxygen delivery to muscles and brain
  • Improves endurance, focus, and resilience under pressure
Explore the full list of Buteyko breathing benefits, with science and evidence →

Conditions Buteyko helps with

What Buteyko Breathing Therapy is for

Buteyko is most often used to support people living with one or more of the following. Each is shaped by dysfunctional breathing patterns that can be retrained.

Buteyko Breathing for Asthma

Asthma is the most studied application of Buteyko. Trials in the UK and Australia have shown reduced reliever medication, fewer exacerbations and improved control. Buteyko works by retraining nasal breathing, restoring CO₂ tolerance and reducing the over-breathing patterns that trigger bronchoconstriction.

Book an asthma-focused assessment →

Buteyko Breathing for Anxiety and Panic

Anxiety and panic responses are physiologically driven by hyperventilation: fast, shallow chest breathing that reduces CO₂ and triggers the body's alarm system. Buteyko's slow, nasal, reduced-volume breathing restores autonomic balance and gives you a tool to interrupt panic in real time.

Book an anxiety-focused assessment →

Buteyko Breathing for Sleep, Snoring and Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing during sleep dries the airways, fragments sleep and contributes to snoring and sleep apnoea risk. Buteyko's focus on full-time nasal breathing, day and night, directly addresses the cause. Many patients also benefit from gentle mouth-taping protocols introduced under guidance.

Book a sleep-focused assessment →

Buteyko for Dysfunctional Breathing and Long Covid

Dysfunctional breathing patterns (chest breathing, frequent sighing, breath-holding, mouth breathing) are increasingly recognised as drivers of fatigue, brain fog and persistent breathlessness, including in long Covid. Buteyko offers a structured, evidence-based path back to normal patterns.

Book a 1:1 assessment →

Who Buteyko is for

  • Adults with asthma, anxiety, or disrupted sleep
  • Parents of mouth-breathing children
  • Professionals seeking calm and focus under pressure
  • Athletes wanting better endurance
  • Anyone looking to build healthier breathing habits

Recognise yourself in any of these?

Tell us a bit about your symptoms and we'll come back within one working day with available 1:1 session dates.

Request available dates

Why Breathe First

Clinical authority. Specialist delivery.

Breathe First brings together the clinical authority of an experienced airway-focused therapy team, and a Buteyko practitioner who has spent her career teaching the work. Together that's the experience and rigour your breathing deserves.

Daniela Rubino, Lead Buteyko Practitioner at Breathe First
Buteyko Oxygen Advantage

Your Buteyko practitioner

Daniela Rubino

Certified Buteyko Practitioner · Master Oxygen Advantage Instructor · Yoga Teacher

Daniela is a certified Buteyko Practitioner and Master Oxygen Advantage Instructor. Her own journey began as a chronic asthmatic: addressing her breathing transformed her sleep, energy and mental clarity, and she has dedicated her career to teaching it ever since.

At Breathe First, Daniela works one-to-one with patients online, building structured, personalised programmes around your Control Pause and your goals.

Book a 1:1 with Daniela Ask a question first
Context

How It Compares to Other Breathing Methods

Recommended

Buteyko

Focus Reduced breathing & CO₂ tolerance
Intensity Gentle
Typical use Asthma, anxiety, sleep, airway health
Alternative

Wim Hof

Focus Deep breathing & cold exposure
Intensity Intense
Typical use Stress resilience, energy boost
Alternative

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Focus Belly expansion & relaxation
Intensity Moderate
Typical use Relaxation, posture, voice support
While each method supports breathing health, Buteyko stands out for retraining your automatic breathing pattern, not just moment-to-moment relaxation. It helps restore calm, efficient breathing and complements Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy for lasting airway stability, especially powerful for singers and athletes.
Your Programme

A typical Buteyko programme: four sessions, one outcome

Most clients work through a structured programme of four one-to-one online sessions, paced to suit you. Some begin with a free discovery call first, others come straight to assessment. There is no one-size-fits-all: your programme is shaped around what your breathing reveals.

  1. 0

    Optional

    Discovery call

    A short, no-commitment call to understand your goals and check Buteyko is the right fit. Useful if you are unsure where to start.

  2. 1

    Session 1

    Initial assessment

    A 60-minute deep dive: we go through your intake form, measure your Control Pause, review symptoms and goals, and observe your breathing pattern. You leave with a personalised plan and your first set of exercises.

  3. 2

    Session 2

    Refining technique

    We review what you have practised, troubleshoot anything that feels difficult, and refine the technique so you are working with the right effort and rhythm.

  4. 3

    Session 3

    Building consistency

    By now changes start to show: better sleep, calmer breathing, fewer symptoms. We build on what is working and adjust where it is not.

  5. 4

    Session 4

    Embedding the change

    The final session locks in the habit. We re-test your Control Pause, review progress against your initial goals, and agree how you will keep the practice going independently.

Sessions are typically spaced one to two weeks apart. Some clients book additional follow-ups; others continue independently with what they have learned.

Start your programme Book a discovery call
The Practice

How to Practise Buteyko

Buteyko breathing isn't about taking deep breaths, it's about learning to breathe gently, quietly and efficiently. The goal is to restore calm nasal breathing and build awareness of how your body breathes throughout the day.

During therapy, you'll learn to:

1

Notice your breathing rhythm

Become aware of your natural breathing pattern and where it moves in your body.

2

Practise soft nasal breathing

At rest and during everyday activity, building the habit gradually and comfortably.

3

Improve your Control Pause

A simple measure of your CO₂ tolerance, tracked throughout your programme to show progress.

4

Integrate calm breathing

Into sleep, speech and movement, so the changes become automatic and lasting.

Each session at Breathe First is personalised: we assess your breathing pattern, measure your Control Pause (also known as the BOLT score), and guide you through a programme paced to suit you.

Note: Buteyko is generally safe when practised gently. If you have chronic heart, lung or other medical conditions, please consult your healthcare provider before starting. Avoid pushing breath holds, and stop if you feel unwell.

Want guidance from a certified practitioner?

Buteyko works best when learned with someone who can read your breathing pattern and adjust the programme to you.

Book your assessment
Man practising Buteyko Control Pause exercise
Integrating Buteyko and myofunctional therapy
Combined Approach

Integrating Buteyko and OMT

At Breathe First, we often combine Buteyko Breathing with Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT), which strengthens the tongue, lips, and facial muscles to support nasal breathing and airway stability.

Buteyko retrains how you breathe, while myofunctional therapy improves the structures that make healthy breathing possible. Together, they help reduce mouth breathing, snoring, and sleep issues, creating lasting, natural breathing habits.

If your assessment suggests OMT would support your goals, we'll talk it through with you, there's no pressure, and many people do brilliantly with Buteyko alone.

Evidence & Origins

The Science Behind Buteyko & Who Created It

Dr Konstantin Buteyko
Dr Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko
1923-2003 · Ukrainian physician & researcher

The Buteyko Method was developed in the early 1950s by Dr Konstantin Buteyko, a Ukrainian-born physician and researcher. While studying medicine in Moscow, he observed that people with worsening illnesses often breathed more heavily and rapidly. Those who breathed more gently seemed to stabilise and recover faster.

Dr Buteyko proposed that chronic over-breathing, or hidden hyperventilation, disrupts the body's balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide, contributing to many modern health issues. His approach was formally recognised within Soviet medical circles in the 1980s and has since been taught worldwide. (Source: buteykobreathing.org)

Evidence-Based Benefits

Over the past three decades, studies in journals such as Thorax, CHEST, and the Journal of Asthma have confirmed measurable benefits of Buteyko breathing for symptom reduction and improved quality of life.

Read the full science and evidence article →
Certified Buteyko Instructor badge

Breathe First is led by a Certified Buteyko Breathing Practitioner, delivering evidence-based practice with clinical precision.

Buteyko breathing practice
Common Questions

Questions About Working With Us

Practical questions about how the service works. For questions about the Buteyko method itself, what it is, how it works, the science, see our full benefits article.

What happens in the first session?

Your first session is a thorough one-to-one assessment, usually 60 minutes. We review your breathing history and current symptoms, measure your Control Pause (the Buteyko score for CO₂ tolerance), observe your breathing pattern at rest and during light activity, and discuss what you hope to achieve.

By the end of the session you'll have a clear picture of where your breathing is today, a personalised plan for your programme, and your first set of exercises to begin practising at home.

How many sessions will I need?

Most Buteyko programmes run over 4 to 6 weekly or fortnightly sessions, though this varies based on your starting point, symptoms, and goals. People with long-standing asthma or sleep-disordered breathing often benefit from a longer programme with follow-up check-ins.

We'll recommend a realistic plan after your first session, and you're never locked in. You can stop, pause, or extend as your needs change.

How soon will I see results?

Most clients notice early improvements within the first 1 to 2 weeks of consistent practice, calmer breathing, a clearer nose, better sleep. Measurable changes in Control Pause usually appear by weeks 2 to 3.

Lasting change, where nasal breathing becomes automatic day and night and symptoms substantially reduce, typically takes 6 to 12 weeks of regular practice alongside your sessions.

Are sessions online or in-person?

Buteyko sessions at Breathe First are delivered one-to-one online by video call, which allows us to work with clients across the UK. Online delivery works well for Buteyko, the practitioner can observe your breathing pattern, measure your Control Pause live on camera, and guide you through techniques in real time, all from the comfort of your home.

For children, a parent or carer joins the session too.

Do I need a GP referral?

No referral is required, you can book directly with us. That said, if you have a significant respiratory, cardiovascular, or mental health condition, or you're pregnant, we always recommend telling your GP or consultant that you're starting breathing therapy. We're happy to coordinate with your healthcare team if that's helpful.

Buteyko complements existing medical treatment and we never advise anyone to change or stop prescribed medication without their doctor's input.

Isn't Buteyko just deep breathing?

No, it's the opposite. Buteyko trains gentle, controlled nasal breathing rather than big, deep breaths. The aim is to slow and quieten your breathing pattern, not enlarge it.

Is Buteyko only for asthma?

No. Asthma is the most-studied application, but Buteyko supports anyone with over-breathing patterns or poor CO₂ tolerance. That includes people living with anxiety, sleep issues, snoring, panic, fatigue, and dysfunctional breathing.

Will Buteyko take months to see results?

Most clients notice small but real improvements within days to weeks: better sleep, calmer breathing, easier nasal breathing. Lasting change is built across a four-session programme.

Isn't Buteyko just about holding your breath?

Breath holds are one component, used carefully to build CO₂ tolerance. The main focus is calm, gentle nasal breathing throughout your day.

Can children learn Buteyko?

Yes, with supervision and age-appropriate practice. Buteyko can be especially helpful for children with early mouth-breathing habits, sleep issues, or asthma.

Ready to start?

Begin your Buteyko journey with a personalised assessment.

Tell us what you're experiencing and we'll get back to you with clear next steps. Every programme starts with a thorough breathing assessment, your Control Pause score, and a plan built around you.

Start Your Buteyko Journey Ask a Question First