Andrey Novozhilov:
The word "Buteyko" was registered as a trademark in the USA by Ludmila Buteyko in 2010. Our hope is that this step, with the support of Buteyko Center USA, will now allow us to regulate the situation that you just described.

Sasha Yakovleva-Fredricksen:
Until recently, the situation in the West looked like this: any person who decided to call him or herself a Buteyko specialist could create a website and begin to offer their services. Ludmila Buteyko or Andrey Novozhilov's permission, as the patent holders of the Buteyko Method, was not required. After registering the trademark in the US, we now have a judicial foundation to correct the situation, however, this will take time.

Evelyn Windsor:
So, the word "Buteyko" is a registered trademark in America. What about in Europe and other countries?

Ludmila Buteyko:
There, things are much worse. Some time ago, I applied for the registration of the trademark in the European Union. I received a positive reply: the trademark "Buteyko" was successfully registered in the E.U. After a few months, however, we received another document, which stated that due to "third party" objections, the trademark registration was revoked. This decision was made after uncertified Buteyko practitioners in Europe appealed, declaring that they have the prerogative for the Buteyko Method.

Perhaps you would be interested in knowing who these people are. One of them is Patrick McKeown , who had once visited our Clinica Buteyko in Moscow and completed a weeklong course there, gaining control of his asthma as a result . We gave Patrick permission to teach the Buteyko Method to others; however, this privilege was withdrawn in 2010 due to his unethical business practices. The rest of the "specialists" who appealed to the Committee had never trained with us and we can only make assumptions about their level of expertise. Based on nothing more than the appeal of these people, the patent holders and co-creators of the Buteyko Method were denied registration of the trademark in Europe! This whole story sounds like a bad joke. Of course, it is possible to contact the Committee again and again in an attempt to prove that we are in the right, but that will take a great deal of money and time. For now, we have decided to use our resources more productively: towards the establishment of a professional training school for Buteyko specialists in the USA. If at a certain point the European Union decides that it needs the Buteyko Method,which can cure severe illnesses, they will figure it all out and contact us as the primary source of information.

Andrey Novozhilov:
I think it is also necessary to say that our goal in registering the "Buteyko" trademark is to create a unified educational program required for all Buteyko specialists. Such a "standardized" program would provide the specialists with the appropriate training as well as our professional support...

Sasha Yakovleva-Fredricksen:
...Meaning, the support of people who have practiced the Buteyko Method for nearly half of a century, spent a great deal of time with Konstantin Buteyko, and participated in the creation of the method, which today is known as the "Buteyko Method". Furthermore, Andrey is the Medical Director of Clinica Buteyko and has immense experience in the medical application of the Buteyko Method.

Andrey Novozhilov:
...a unified training program and professional support system guarantees that the consumer – in other words, a person with health issues – receives the highest quality service and, as a result, improves his health. Specialists who have not been certified by us do not have an acceptable foundation of professional knowledge. This leads to incorrect applications of the Method and a negative impact on people's health.

Thomas Yakovlev-Fredricksen:
And as a result, the Method is becoming diluted and this may eventually lead to its demise. I agree with Andrey: the fact that the Method is being taught by people who are not properly trained has a highly negative effect on its quality. At Buteyko Center USA, we often receive calls from people who learned the Buteyko Method from uncertified teachers whom they found on the Internet. After applying the Method, their health had not improved and in some cases it had even worsened.
The Buteyko Method is a powerful tool. In the hands of an improperly trained person , it has the potential to cause harm. This is why the goal of the Buteyko Center USA is to preserve the purity of the Buteyko Method, so that it could benefit not only this generation, but future ones as well.

Sasha Yakovleva-Fredricksen:
If you search for "Buteyko" on YouTube, you will find a lot of instructional video clips from uncertified practitioners. Often, what they teach is an imprecise version of the Buteyko Method, and sometimes even the opposite of it. For example, some say that the Buteyko Method is the same as diaphragmatic breathing in yoga but this is not true. If an asthmatic begins exercising deep diaphragmatic breathing, he will most likely trigger a suffocation attack. Patrick McKeown, who was already mentioned, has video recordings on YouTube, also available as a DVD. In a recording of his workshop, he teaches nasal breathing while himself deeply inhaling through his mouth, which is to say the least - ridiculous...

Andrey Novozhilov:
...on a serious note, this is damaging to the Buteyko Method because it discredits it.

Sasha Yakovleva-Fredricksen:
Yes. So, some time ago, Clinica Buteyko and Buteyko Center USA approached Patrick McKeown requesting that he stop distributing these videos. Patrick responded that he couldn't do this because he has invested money into his DVD. He also added that breathing through the nose and talking a lot is much too difficult. But nasal breathing while speaking is one of the basic principles of the Buteyko Method! If a practitioner cannot learn how to do it himself, how can he possibly teach it to others? By the way, this DVD, which discredits the Buteyko Method, is sold under the name "Buteyko Clinic," the name of the clinic opened by Konstantin and Ludmila Buteyko, and Andrey Novozhilov in 1988 in Moscow. Despite many requests to stop using the name of this legendary clinic, Patrick continues to do so. I agree that if the current situation does not change, then little will be left from the Buteyko Method in the future.

Ludmila Buteyko:
This is total chaos, to say the least! A situation like this is not possible in Russia. In the West, however, due to the lack of a judicial foundation for dealing with this issue, as well as the language barrier, such a mess has become possible. I wouldn't be surprised if, in the near future, Patrick or someone else would pronounce himself the author of the Buteyko Method and even register the proper documentation in Europe to back up this claim.

Evelyn Windsor:
And what's the situation like in Russia?

Ludmila Buteyko:
This kind of mess does not exist in Russia, of course. Moreover, in Russia, the Buteyko Method is taught exclusively by medical doctors. "Buteyko" is a trademark in Russia, and the content of the Method is protected by patents. I worked side-by-side with Konstantin for nearly 40 years; Andrey first encountered the method when he was nine years old and immediately began explaining it to me, which saved my life.He has been teaching the Method for decades. Before Konstantin passed away, he left his intellectual legacy to us as his closest allies and like-minded colleagues. The thing is... Konstantin was a brilliant physician, scientist, and philosopher, but he was not fond of teaching. This was not terribly interesting to him. His techniques took on the shape of contemporary wellness programs due to Andrey's determination and my efforts. These programs also reflect the expertise of hundreds of doctors who used the Buteyko Method in their practices all over the Soviet Union. Buteyko often emphasized that Andrey and I are co-creators of the Method. This is why our names are listed under "author's name" in the current Buteyko Method patent. Konstantin passed his knowledge onto us because he was confident that we would never allow anyone to oversimplify his discovery and Method.

Evelyn Windsor:
Is the Buteyko Method at risk of becoming oversimplified?

Sasha Yakovleva-Fredricksen:
Yes, of course, and this is exactly what is happening in the West among uncertified practitioners. The Buteyko Method is multi-dimensional; it offers the normalization of the breathing function through increasing sensitivity towards breathing, through a rise in general mindfulness, through lifestyle changes, and even a reconsideration of life values. Konstantin always stressed that the Method should be learned only under the guidance of a specialist. However, it often turns out that working with a specialist ends up being expensive and time consuming. What would you choose: a DVD for $15 or almost two months of intense training under the guidance of a specialist for $1,800? This explains why uncertified practitioners release DVDs with simple instructions. The method, however, is too complex to lend itself to such a form of learning and as a result, it is brought down to the level of fast food, as packaged servings of thoughtless nose holds.

Ludmila Buteyko:
Breath holds are just one element of the Buteyko Method. During the initial phases, they aid in increasing a person's sensitivity to breathing. When sensitivity is restored, the person is then able to decrease the amount of air he consumes, gradually bringing the level down to normal. This is far from an easy task and must be achieved through relaxation, which special breathing techniques and certain lifestyle changes help foster. Breath holds alone are not a curative factor. Despite this, uncertified practitioners in the West often present this one element of the Method as the whole Method and begin to mass-produce this idea. The situation has gotten to the point where an uncertified practitioner will teach a sick person the Method in just one or two days and then - having no rights to do this - will give the student permission to teach the Method to others. This starts another cycle of pseudo-specialists teaching others and the result is a system, analogous to the game of Broken Telephone. It leaves very little from the original Method intact.

Sasha Yakovleva-Fredricksen:
I once asked Patrick McKeown about a Buteyko practitioner who was co-leading a training for Buteyko specialists with him. I wanted to know where this person learned the Buteyko Method and who was his teacher. Patrick replied that he did not know who his teacher was and his goal was simply to help this person find work. Perhaps Patrick was helping this person find a job, but was this helping the Buteyko Method to remain effective? This is why our website presents the information about every certified Buteyko practitioner: who taught him or her the Method, when the instructions took place, what rights a practitioner possess, whether he or she has a Work Certificate, and if so, when the certificate expires.

Andrey Novozhilov:
One of the main goals of Buteyko Center USA is to preserve the purity of the Method in the West. To achieve this, a continuing education program for specialists had to be set up. This program is now up and running. Every month, certified specialists from all over the world meet in a virtual space online and tell us about their practice; we in turn advise them and teach them new material. This work is incredibly important because the Buteyko Method is not something you can learn in two days, two weeks, or even a couple of months. This work is meant to be learned over a period of years. In spite of the fact that I have known the Method for over 40 years and had the unique chance to learn directly from Konstantin, I still don't consider my education complete and constantly discover new things in my work with the Buteyko Method.

By the way, I'd like to tell you that for a while now I've been receiving emails from a forum led by uncertified practitioners in the West. I am truly amazed by the self-confidence of these people who know only the very surface of the Method. Such self-confidence, as we know, often comes simply from a lack of knowledge. So often, these people are just trying to "reinvent the wheel." They are trying to find answers to basic questions, which have been answered many years ago by Buteyko, by us, or by other Russian doctors. The answers that these people do find are, more often than not, wrong. And so, I read these messages and can't decide whether I should cry or laugh. It's frightening to think what these pseudo-specialists are teaching their students.

Evelyn Windsor:
Can't the uncertified practitioner in the West learn from you? Don't they have this option?

Andrey Novozhilov:
Of course they can! However, someone, perhaps for the sake of his own benefit, has spread the rumor that all Buteyko Method knowledge has emigrated to the West, and Russia is no longer the source for it. It sounds silly, but people who know nothing about the Method believe this. Think about it: what knowledge could an uncertified practitioner who received his pseudo-education from untrustworthy sources possess over Russian medical doctors who learned the Buteyko Method over the course of many years from Konstantin Buteyko himself and who utilize the Method in their professional work on a daily basis? Despite the fact that uncertified practitioners now have the chance to be properly educated, they do not take advantage of this opportunity and, unfortunately, still prefer using a pirated version of the Method.

Sasha Yakovleva-Fredricksen:
It's true; every uncertified practitioner can now sign up for the re-training course at our Center and enroll in the continuing education program for specialists. When the Center opened, we naively assumed that we were offering a long-awaited gift to uncertified practitioners in the West - presenting them with the opportunity to bring their knowledge up to professional level. I regret to say that not one uncertified practitioner participated in this program. Why? Well, the answer to that is difficult to determine. I presume it is because they were afraid to find out how little they really know and how much work they would need to do in order to truly be able to help people.

Ludmila Buteyko:
It is true that the Buteyko Method can cure asthma and other serious illnesses, which traditional medicine considers incurable. I myself am living proof. A long time ago, I survived two clinical deaths while suffering from a severe form of asthma, as well as cancer. Thanks to the Buteyko Method, those illnesses are gone without a trace. I have been living without any symptoms for about 40 years now. Nonetheless, a full recovery is hard work and is based on self-discipline. In the West, uncertified practitioners often get overwhelmed by this, and instead, having gained a bit of their own health back but not becoming fully cured, begin offering the same to their clients. However, a decrease in symptoms due to mechanical breath holds will not, in the end, lead to positive results. The disease can modify itself and attack the person in a different and occasionally more serious form. It is vital to strive to get fully cured, which is possible through profound knowledge of the Method and continuous efforts.

Thomas Yakovlev-Fredricksen:
We work individually with every one of our students for almost two months. During this time we not only meet in person, but also maintain daily contact with them by phone and email. Buteyko Center specialists examine every aspect of a student's life to determine individual causes of hyperventilation. We then help our students create a new lifestyle that supports normal, healthy breathing. This is a huge undertaking that does not end at the conclusion of our course; in fact, in many ways that is when the work really starts. We try to observe a person until their disease is completely gone.

Evelyn Windsor:
Despite all of this, you are not medical doctors. Meanwhile, in Russia, the Buteyko Method is taught by doctors. How can you help a sick person without a medical education?

Sasha Yakovleva-Fredricksen:
Ideally, the Buteyko Method should be taught by doctors, however, this is practically impossible in the West. Doctors cannot possibly give a patient as much time and attention as our specialists do! Besides, we believe that the cure lies in the hands of the student. We do not treat people, we explain how, by changing their breathing and lifestyle, they can heal themselves. Following this advice or not is up to the individual. Still, purely medical questions may arise during the course of the training. We cannot answer them. For example, if a person starts feeling better, can he stop taking his medication and if so, how should he do this? This is why we always recommend that our students continue seeing their physician while learning the Buteyko Method. If a doctor determines that a student's health has improved, the doctor then changes the medication. And, if we are ever unsure of anything related to the Buteyko Method training, we can always call Clinica Buteyko and consult with Andrey or Ludmila.

Ludmila Buteyko:
I believe that the best set-up for teaching the Buteyko Method in the West is for a Buteyko Method specialist to work together with a medical doctor. Obviously, it's better if the doctor is familiar with the Buteyko Method, but that is a rarity in western countries.

Thomas Yakovlev-Fredricksen:
As far as I know, in Australia, asthmatics who learn the Buteyko Method are covered by medical insurance, but in America and Europe that is not yet the case. We hope that some day this situation will change and then the Buteyko Method will become a more viable option financially for people suffering from asthma and other diseases. Perhaps, then the Method will become better known in the medical community.

Evelyn Windsor:
What can you tell me about the medical trials that took place in the West? You say that the Buteyko Method cures asthma but, as far as I know, trials show that it only decreases the number of symptoms.

Andrey Novozhilov:
None of these trials were professionally conducted. Not a single doctor from our clinic participated in any of these studies, which were initiated mainly by uncertified practitioners in the West. I have only heard of them. In one of them, as I was told,an asthmatic was shown a video clip with instructions on breath holds. That is not serious! Of course, I am glad that even this enabled the patient to decrease his medication intake, but serious medical trials should be organized differently, under the supervision of doctors from Clinica Buteyko in Moscow.

Evelyn Windsor:
The Buteyko Method is sometimes compared to yogic techniques, it has even been nicknamed "Siberian yoga." Do you think this is a good comparison?

Andrey Novozhilov:
Konstantin Buteyko was a medical doctor and a serious scientist who had devoted his whole life to the creation of a Method that reverses the progression of severe illnesses, many of which are considered incurable by traditional medicine. And, although it is possible to find similarities between the Buteyko Method and Pranayama yoga, there is no direct connection between the two. Incidentally, Buteyko's scientific findings greatly contributed to uncovering the yogis' secrets of longevity and endurance. It turns out that many yogic techniques normalize respiratory function, which is essential for achieving optimal health.

Evelyn Windsor:
What was Konstantin Buteyko like? When reading certain websites, one gets the impression that he was some sort of psychic: he would arrive, wave his hand, and all would be healed.

Ludmila Buteyko:
Konstantin was a hard-working scientist who devoted his entire life to his scientific discovery. On October 7th, 1952, he concluded that excessive breathing is the leading cause of many diseases. This idea did not just come into his head out of thin air: he carefully studied major diseases and spent countless hours at his patients' bedsides, trying to answer one question, "Why do people get sick?" On top of this, Buteyko himself was seriously ill in 1952. He had a malignant form of hypertension and understood that he only had a few months to live. This was when he was struck by the thought that his own deep breathing was killing him. He instantly decreased his breathing and was shocked when he felt a relief from his symptoms. With this, he saved his own life.

As a young doctor and scientist, Buteyko was astounded by his own discovery and wanted to tell everyone about it. However, his science mentor suggested that Buteyko keep quiet about this discovery until he had scientific data to back it up. First, Buteyko was given a small laboratory in Moscow, but it did not have sufficient equipment. Later, a renowned academic, head of the Siberian Scientific Academy, invited him to be in charge of a laboratory at the Institute of Experimental Biology and Medicine in Novosibirsk, in a settlement called Akademgorodok, which means the village of academics. At that time, Akademgorodok was a center of activity, which today, perhaps, could be compared to Silicone Valley in California. Buteyko was given a nearly limitless budget for purchasing the necessary equipment. He built a one-of-a-kind physiological machine, which measured many of the body's functions. All of this is described in the scientific manuscripts written by Konstantin. However, the traditional medicine made it impossible for him to finish his work at this laboratory. When he was visiting Moscow for a few days, he received a phone call informing him that his lab was destroyed by men wielding axes. Buteyko understood that his discovery was very inconvenient for traditional medicine and the battle ahead would be brutal.

In order to offer people a method that cures severe diseases, he consciously stepped onto this difficult path. He put his life on the line. He had impressive medical knowledge, yet still spent whole days at the library, constantly learning more. During those times, I would sometimes get him to go outside and take a walk with me around the library, just so he would have a little break. He was working on restoring some equipment that was not completely destroyed, taking notes, and writing manuscripts; all in the hope that someone in official medical circles would respond. He worked all the time, at times this was unbearable, he really worked all the time... He had a difficult life. He did not expect that convincing medical bureaucracy that breathing less is good for the health would be so hard. Fortunately, people suffering from serious illnesses did see his work in a positive light and thanks to them, the Buteyko Method continued to spread across the Soviet Union. Besides, Konstantin was a deeply unselfish person. He never accepted money for teaching the Method, instead, when his patients needed something, he would give the last of his money to them. He was an outstanding person for whom science was very important; he was driven by the idea of supporting life on this planet: its continuation and perfection. I have heard him referred to as a homespun healer, but this description does not match reality.

Andrey Novozhilov:
The question of accurate information is yet another problem for Buteyko in the West. Some uncertified practitioners are literally rewriting history on their websites and spreading falsities. For example, some say that Buteyko lived in Voronezh and only occasionally visited Moscow.

Evelyn Windsor:
Yes, I had come across this information. It also said that Konstantin spent most of his time in Voronezh, teaching the Method to his son from his first marriage: Vladimir Buteyko. Is that not accurate?

Andrey Novozhilov:
No, it is not. As you know, in Russia, the Buteyko Method was taught professionally to medical doctors but Vladimir did not have a medical degree. Also, he grew up without Konstantin and had met him for the first time when he was already a grown man. He did become interested in the Method, but unfortunately he had almost no opportunities to see his father: he lived in Voronezh, while Buteyko split his time between Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Crimea.
So, unfortunately, fate did not present Vladimir a chance to learn from his father. What's the point of rewriting history? Since uncertified practitioners are not part of a unified system, they can write whatever they want on their websites, without experiencing any consequences. This is how Vladimir Buteyko's name, purely on the basis of his surname, became used by Patrick McKeown to advance his own reputation. People visit Patrick's site, believe him, and fail to understand that the surname "Buteyko" alone does not give one the rights to use the patented Buteyko Method. We are pleased that now there is a source of accurate information in the West - Buteyko Center USA.

Evelyn Windsor:
Some uncertified practitioners in the West say that they were taught by Konstantin himself, or learned from his direct students. How do you explain this?

Andrey Novozhilov:
Konstantin did everything in his power to make his discovery available outside of Russia. He sincerely believed that it could help people. This is why he sought every opportunity to tell people about his Method and to teach its main principles. At that time, he did not consider how his Method would be used in the future. Aside from this, people visiting him from the West were primarily those with serious illnesses. How could he do anything other than save their lives?

When these people would get cured or, at least, get rid of some symptoms, they would become very enthusiastic about the Method and want to share it with others. Buteyko was never against this; in fact, he would encourage people who were able to help themselves with his Method to share their stories. At that time, however, he did not know anything about business in the West; he couldn't have guessed that his Method would be taught from a DVD or that new practitioners would be mass-produced by unqualified teachers. He trusted aspiring practitioners and assumed that those who had undergone a basic introduction to the Method he offered would continue their studies. He thought that they would visit Moscow annually or invite him to lecture. This is exactly how new Russian specialists were taught, continuing their education of the Method for many years. However, in the West, prior to the establishment of Buteyko Center USA, this was not happening.

Ludmila Buteyko:
I am often overwhelmed by the embarrassment I feel on behalf of my husband because uncertified practitioners in the West are distorting his Method. Buteyko always taught us to approach each patient individually, to learn his history and his personality. Possessing such knowledge is the only way to fully heal a person. In the West, however, a formal approach prevails. Many uncertified practitioners think that they can teach a student breath holds in a day and that's it - the person will get cured. No, he will not! The illness may hide, but it will not leave. This is why we teach our certified specialists to work with a student for a long time and pay a lot of attention to him or her. Breathing is a delicate instrument requiring thorough fine-tuning.

Evelyn Windsor:
From a formal standpoint, what is the difference between a certified practitioner and an uncertified one?

Thomas Yakovlev-Fredricksen:
A certified specialist is someone who is granted a work certificate from the Buteyko Method patent holders. This certificate is awarded only after completion of the necessary education. This enables the practitioner to practice the Buteyko Method professionally. The certificate is valid for one year and acts as a guarantee of their quality. If the specialist does not participate in continuing education courses or makes errors in his work, then his right to teach could be annulled. The work certificate system enables us to maintain the Method's purity and quality.

Andrey Novozhilov:
Buteyko Center USA's website has a list of all certified specialists in the West. If a specialist's name does not appear on this list, that means we do not sanction his role as a Buteyko Method teacher. In other words, the specialist's work may harm the health of a person he or she is attempting to teach. Obviously, we do not recommend contacting such "specialists." In addition, their pirate-like activities break international laws on intellectual property.

Sasha Yakovleva-Fredricksen:
Yet still, it's hard not to notice that many uncertified practitioners spread information online out of enthusiasm for the Method. For many of them, the Buteyko Method is responsible for saving their lives, or at least significantly improving their health. That being the case, it's only natural that they would want to share the knowledge of this miracle-like Method with others suffering from illness.

Andrey Novozhilov:
It's true, and that is why we forgive Buteyko Method "pirates" (that is, all those who teach the Method without any permission or adequate education), in advance. We are ready to accept these people into the global family of certified specialists, under the condition that they will undergo an assessment, receive proper education, if need be, and enroll in the continuing education program. Of course, they will have to continually work on improving their professional skills and treat the intellectual property associated with the patented Buteyko Method with respect.

Evelyn Windsor:
Do you think the situation will change for the Buteyko Method in the West?

Andrey Novozhilov:
We do hope so, of course. In the past few years, it has already changed a great deal, thanks to the well-organized and successful efforts of Buteyko Center USA.

Thomas Yakovlev-Fredricksen:
Thank you, Andrey. We have no doubt that the situation will change. Andrey and Ludmila are tirelessly devoting their time and energy in order to help certified practitioners in the West become true professionals. On behalf of all certified specialists in the world, I would like to express our utmost gratitude to them. For most of us, myself included, the Buteyko Method and Andrey and Ludmila saved my life and filled it with an incredible ability to help others. We will, of course, do everything in our power to preserve the purity of the Buteyko Method in the West.

Ludmila Buteyko:
I would also like to thank Sasha and Thomas of Buteyko Center USA because they are truly trying to change the situation in the West. I think that it will certainly change if people who are illegally practicing the Buteyko Method stop doing that and receive the appropriate education. If that happens, then the Method will cease being oversimplified; it will be understood that decreasing one's breathing is far from an easy task, one that is only possible by developing a more mindful approach to all aspects of one's life.

Evelyn Windsor:
On that bright note, allow me to end today's discussion centered around the important questions regarding the Buteyko Method in the West. Until next time.