#101 - Patrick McKeown | How To Breathe Like A Pro
Nov 9, 2021
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Patrick McKeown, world-renowned breathing practitioner, discusses the impact of COVID-19 on respiratory health, the benefits of nasal breathing, and the importance of breathwork for mental and physical performance. He shares personal struggles with asthma and sleep apnea, the basics of breathing, and techniques to address dysfunctional breathing and manage panic attacks. Patrick also discusses his inventions and provides book recommendations for further reading.
Nasal breathing improves heart rate variability, diaphragmatic movement, and reduces the risk of injury in athletes.
Slow and relaxed exhalation stimulates the vagus nerve and induces a relaxation response, beneficial for managing panic disorder and anxiety.
Improving breathing function and resilience through techniques like slow breathing exercises and hypoxic training enhances physical performance and overall well-being.
Deep dives
The Importance of Nasal Breathing
Patrick McEwen discusses the benefits of nasal breathing compared to mouth breathing, especially in athletes. He highlights that nasal breathing helps stimulate the vagus nerve, leading to a relaxation response in the body. Nasal breathing also improves heart rate variability, enhances diaphragmatic movement, and reduces the risk of injury. McEwen suggests that athletes should aim to breathe through the nose during exercise, but allowances can be made for high-intensity activities where mouth breathing may be necessary. He also recommends the use of nasal dilators to improve airflow in individuals with compromised nasal airways.
Addressing Panic Disorder and Anxiety
McEwen discusses the role of breathing in managing panic disorder and anxiety. He emphasizes the importance of slow and relaxed exhalation to stimulate the vagus nerve and induce a relaxation response. He suggests using small breath holds or cupping hands to pull carbon dioxide and improve blood flow to the brain. McEwen also recommends improving everyday breathing patterns and monitoring breath-hold time to assess functional breathing. He highlights the need for breathing techniques to be included in sports science curriculums to support athletes' overall well-being and performance.
Improving Breathing Function and Resilience
McEwen discusses the significance of improving breathing function and resilience for athletes and individuals in general. He explains that dysfunctional breathing, such as shallow and irregular breathing, can affect physical performance and increase the risk of injury. McEwen suggests various approaches, including slow breathing exercises and gentle stressors, to address breathing patterns. He also highlights the importance of improving heart rate variability and vagal tone to enhance overall well-being. Additionally, he mentions the benefit of hypoxic training for increasing nasal airflow and improving blood flow to the brain.
The Importance of Nasal Breathing
Nasal breathing has numerous benefits, including improved oxygen uptake, enhanced sleep quality, and better cognitive function. Breathing through the nose stimulates the vagus nerve, which activates the body's relaxation response and balances the autonomic nervous system. Nasal breathing also increases carbon dioxide in the blood, leading to improved blood vessel dilation and oxygen delivery to tissues. Additionally, breathing through the nose improves visual spatial awareness, memory, and attention. Overall, nasal breathing is crucial for overall health and well-being.
The Power of Breathing Exercises
Engaging in specific breathing exercises can significantly impact physical and mental performance. By slowing down and controlling the breath, individuals can stimulate the vagus nerve and activate the body's relaxation response. This can lead to enhanced endurance, better control over breath and heart rate during physical activities, and improved overall flow experience. Various techniques, such as breath holds, slow diaphragmatic breathing, and pulse oximetry monitoring, can be used to train and optimize breathing patterns. Incorporating these exercises into daily routines can have profound effects on health, performance, and overall well-being.
Patrick Mckeown is a world-renowned breathing practitioner, author and speaker that has helped thousands of people around the world, including athletes, military and other high performers.
Lewis and Patrick discuss how functional breathing is not only the key to unlocking many different physical benefits to performance but for mental performance too.
Lewis & Patrick discuss:
COVID-19’s effect on the respiratory system and how to mitigate symptoms through nasal breathing. [04:15]
Patrick shares his struggles with asthma and sleep apnea as a child. [11:09]
Patrick’s first attempts into improving his own breathing through taping and dilators. [14:28]
“Mindfulness will not address respiratory physiology.” [17:28]
Why breathing through the nose instead of the mouth is better-as explained by science. Patrick also discusses that healthcare needs a multidisciplinary approach that includes breathwork. [20:48]
The basics of breathing are often overlooked. Build good habit breathing habits so it becomes second nature. [32:48]
Dysfunctional breathing can hinder performance and aggravate pains among other implications. The breath-hold test is useful for self-assessment. [36:42]
Manage panic attacks by improving everyday breathing patterns. [43:34]
Patrick’s tailored approach to help different people with functional breathing. [46:59]
Patrick’s book recommendations. [57:54]
Patrick invented the MYOTAPE to take the scariness out of taping. [59:09]