Asthma is a condition that you can't afford to ignore because it won't go away on its own. In fact, doctors categorize asthma as a lifelong condition. But this doesn't mean that you can't control the condition; there are different proven ways of doing so. One way is by trying the buteyko breathing technique. It is a method that has been in use for ages and has been found to be quite effective in treating asthma.

How The Buteyko Breathing Exercise Came About

The buteyko breathing exercise was invented in the 1950s by a Ukrainian doctor known as Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko. He believed that certain medical conditions like asthma are caused by hyperventilation or deeper breathing. Therefore, he formulated a theory that when an asthmatic patient engages in repetitive breathing exercises, the patient will eventually correct his or her hyperventilation problem. According to Buteyko, the exercise should focus on three things: relaxation, breath control, and nasal breathing.

How The Exercise Help Asthmatic Patients

Asthma is a condition that makes breathing difficult.  Basically, the airways narrow, swell, and produce excessive mucus. The buteyko exercises prevent this from happening by clearing the airways. One well known exercise is the horse rider exercise. The exercise aims at controlling the breathing of an asthmatic patient as well as reducing the effort used when the patient is breathing.

How You Can Do The Horse Rider Exercise

Find yourself a normal dining chair or any other chair that has a square or rectangular seat and place it in the middle of a room. Rotate the chair or adjust its position until one corner of the seat is turned forward. Stand astride the corner and face away from the seat. Straighten your shoulders and let your hands rest on the sides of your legs. Then put your head straight and breathe using your nose. Your mouth should be closed during this exercise.

The next part of the exercise involves sitting down on the chair. Place your left palm on your navel and your right palm on top of your left. Press your inner abdomen slightly and lower yourself to the chair (corner of the seat). Once you are seated, stop the press on your abdomen and slide your palms down to your knees. Place your feet under your legs and straighten your shoulders. With your head pointing forward, close your mouth and breathe quietly using your nose for the next ten minutes. A daily dose of this exercise can go a long way in helping you deal with asthma.

For more information or assistance, contact a local expert in physiotherapy.