Why I Am Finishing This Book: Letters from the Living Buteyko Book Circle

When I first reached out and invited people to join the Living Buteyko Book Circle, I was stepping into the unknown, unsure of what might unfold.

What I did know was that I needed time—time to finish the book I had started so many years ago, and time to reflect on everything I had received from the original Buteyko lineage. This book was never just a personal memoir for me; it was always meant to be a living record of teachings, experiences, struggles, and discoveries, something that might help others see the Buteyko Method in a new light.

What I could not have anticipated was how deeply some of the responses would move me.

As people joined the Book Circle, a few sent me notes—letters that arrived quietly, yet carried a weight I felt immediately. Reading them, I was reminded why this book matters. The Buteyko Method is not just a breathing technique; for many, it has marked a turning point, touching lives physically, emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes transforming the course of an entire family.

I want to share some of these letters here, because they express something I cannot say about my own work. These voices belong to people whose lives have been touched by the method, by the Buteyko Breathing Center, and by the teachings I am now striving to preserve within these pages.

Their words offer me the strength I need to keep going.

P.S.: To honor everyone’s privacy, I am sharing these letters with only the first letter of each person’s name.

***

Sasha,

You read my heart when you saw my contribution. What I have learned from you and others at the Breathing Center (including your late husband) have truly given me my life back. I continue to benefit from the lessons learned – both physically and spiritually. I’m doing well and just turned 80 — so am grateful to still be active and reasonably productive. And life is good!

Best always,
P.

***
Hi Sasha,

I have just been reading about your book and the struggle to find the time to complete it. I think it is tremendously important that this sort of work sees the light of day. It takes decades to get to the bottom of Buteyko, and even then the learning never really ends. Understanding deepens through direct experience and continues to evolve as we grow. If that knowledge is not captured and shared, it risks being lost. A book can never replace lived experience, but it can preserve hard-won insights and help guide others rather than leave them to rediscover everything for themselves.

The more exposure Buteyko receives in the world, the better, and I think you have done a remarkable job over the years not just bringing many people suffering from chronic conditions back into health but also in bringing the method to public attention, getting media coverage and generally raising its profile. Everything possible should be done to encourage you to finish the book.

I have therefore become a modest contributor as a supporting member and look forward, in due course, to reading your account with great interest and pleasure.

Many thanks, and all best wishes,

V.

***

I am happy to join the Book Circle.
Sasha came into my life when I was very sick, with a control pause of 4!
She helped me heal and regain my health.
Thank g-d that about 15 years later, I am married with four children and living in much better health.

Lots of luck, Sasha!

M.

***

Dear Sasha,

I am so happy that you are setting aside the time to complete this book.
This is important work. The Buteyko Method is a legacy that needs to be remembered and taught properly. I remember you talking about it over the years since I’ve known you. Yes! The world needs this more than ever.

I read the note you sent out in your newsletter to my husband, as it touched me deeply. He started to get emotional and then said, ‘The Buteyko Method gave me my wife back.

I was so sick when I met you and Thomas. You were a lifeline, and the teachings saved my life. I will always continue to practice and deepen my understanding of this method.
You are surrounded by many who treasure these teachings — here and beyond. And many more will need this work after we have left this world.

So much love to you as you go deeper into this journey ahead. I am filled with gratitude.

Love,
C.

***

Dear Sasha,

I’m writing because when I learned about your Book Circle, I instantly thought of the parents who will need this knowledge in the future.

Years ago, when my child was little, our lives revolved around breathing problems. We planned everything around inhalers, coughs, congestion, sleepless nights, doctor visits, and the fear that came when breathing was difficult. As a parent, you try to stay calm, but inside you are always alert. You listen to every breath, every cough, and every sound your child makes while sleeping.
Then I read your book Adenoids Without Surgery and, through it, discovered the Buteyko Method. This changed the course of our family’s life. It didn’t work right away, and it wasn’t always easy. But over time, we learned something new: breathing wasn’t just a symptom, it was part of a bigger picture.

Learning this changed how I saw my child’s health. It also changed how I responded to symptoms and changed me as a parent, which in turn changed our family life.

Now my child is a healthy teenager. Looking back, I’m even more grateful than I was then. When you care for a sick child, you mostly want relief. Years later, you realize the deeper gift: someone gave you knowledge that helped your child become stronger, more resilient, more confident – instead of weak and anxious.

That’s why I believe your book is important.

There are parents right now who are where we once were: exhausted, worried, and searching for answers. They need more than just techniques—they need real understanding and a broader perspective. They need someone who understands both the method and the human side of healing.

Please finish this book. It will help people you may never meet. It will help children whose parents are still searching. And it will help keep an important teaching alive.

With gratitude,

M.

***

Dear Sasha,
Thank you for everything, including your beautiful message to me, and you are welcome.  Again, thank you!
 
Indeed YOU matter and all the work that you do is as important as it gets here on the planet.  At least for me, as you literally have saved my life more than once.  It is an honor and I am grateful for the opportunity to be of any support as you carry the torch forward and light the way.
 
KEEP GOING

Sincerely w/LOVE,
D

*****

Dear Sasha,
I was moved by reading your post, and your letter, about your summer sabbatical dedicated to completing your book. My community and I are sending you our heartfelt support and many blessings for the completion of your project.
Writing something as significant as your book may feel like a long birth after many year long pregnancy. I’m glad you reached out for support. I suspect this will not be easy, but I hope it will be very fulfilling. You have so much wisdom to share, Sasha. I’m looking forward to your book getting published and reaching many people who are looking for help.
Much love,
E.

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Thank You

To everyone who has joined the Book Circle, thank you.

This book has been with me for many years. It is a personal story, a teaching memoir, and a record of what I learned through illness, healing, study, love, loss, practice, and decades of working with students and clients.

If you feel connected to this work and would like to support the completion of the book, you are warmly invited to join the Living Buteyko Book Circle.

Click here to learn more or join the Living Buteyko Book Circle