Background of Professor Buteyko
Professor Konstantin Buteyko, a Russian medical doctor, observed in 1952 that a majority of the human population actually over-breathe, some more severely than others. Most people are unaware of this. He called it Hidden Hyperventilation, long term over-breathing not clearly visible to the individual or the doctor.
He also observed that people became more ill when their breathing volume increased further. Those who then reduced their breathing began to recover. This fact had been noted long before but it was Professor Buteyko's research and techniques that enhanced the lives of thousands of people and stunned the medical profession. For various reasons, attempts were made to suppress his findings but doctors who had found that the method worked, continued to use it. Eventually, results of Russian trials were released that vindicated Professor Buteyko's work and he was free to train pupils in his method.
One of his best pupils was Alexander (Sasha) Stalmatski who was invited to Australia in the early 1990's to teach the Buteyko Method and train practitioners. He stayed for 6 years and then went to work in the Hale Clinic in London.