The Mel Robbins Podcast – 5 Ways to Improve Your Breathing for Better Health With the #1 Breath Expert in the World

Intro

In this episode of “The Mel Robbins Podcast,” Mel Robbins interviews Patrick McKeown, the world’s leading expert on functional breathing. They discuss the importance of proper breathing for better health and overall well-being.

Main Takeaways

The Power of Nose Breathing

• Nose breathing is better for health, focus, sleep, mood, and reduces anxiety.
• The quality of breathing determines the quality of life.
• The human organism is fueled by the air we breathe.
• Breathing is delicate and susceptible to change based on lifestyle and trauma.
• The perfect person breathes as if they do not breathe.

The Benefits of Nasal Breathing

• Breathing through the nose is the foundation of breathing and mouth breathing activates a greater fight or flight response.
• The human nose is responsible for 30 functions in the body, including increased oxygen uptake in the blood and better oxygen delivery to the brain.
• Nasal breathing can improve visual and spatial awareness, memory, attention, and provide stabilization for the spine.
• Breathing through the nose can improve respiratory health and provide antiviral and antibacterial benefits.
• Mouth breathing can lead to sleep problems, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea, affecting mental health and attention span.

Dysfunctional Breathing and its Impact

• Dysfunctional breathing is present in a minimum of 10% of the general population, but up to 75% of the anxiety and panic disorder population.
• Changing breathing patterns can help bring the body and mind into balance.
• Breathing influences blood flow and oxygen delivery, affecting fatigue and circulation.
• Intentional breathing can be used as a tool to fight stress.
• Learning functional breathing can provide maximum health benefits, and Patrick McKeown is an expert in this field.

Breathing Techniques and Tips

• The “small little breath holds” exercise can activate a relaxation response and stimulate the vagus nerve.
• Holding your breath can also help de-congest a stuffy nose and carry nitric oxide into the lungs, which is antibacterial and bronchodilator.
• Breathing normally means breathing in and out of your nose, which is how we should be breathing.
• Practicing these exercises for just a few minutes can have significant benefits, but it’s important to focus on breathing low and slow.
• Breathing exercises can have immediate benefits for stress, racing mind, and panic disorder.

Summary

The Power of Nose Breathing

Nose breathing is not only essential for our health but also impacts our focus, sleep, mood, and anxiety levels. Our breathing quality determines the quality of our lives, and it can be affected by various factors such as lifestyle and trauma. The goal is to breathe as if we do not breathe, achieving a state of effortless and efficient breathing.

The Benefits of Nasal Breathing

Breathing through the nose is the foundation of proper breathing. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing the fight or flight response associated with mouth breathing. The human nose plays a crucial role in multiple bodily functions, including oxygen uptake and delivery to the brain. Nasal breathing improves respiratory health, enhances cognitive abilities, and provides antiviral and antibacterial benefits. On the other hand, mouth breathing can lead to sleep issues, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea, negatively impacting mental health and attention span.

Dysfunctional Breathing and its Impact

Dysfunctional breathing is prevalent in both the general population and individuals with anxiety and panic disorders. By changing our breathing patterns, we can restore balance to our bodies and minds. Breathing influences blood flow, oxygen delivery, fatigue levels, and circulation. Intentional breathing techniques can serve as effective tools to combat stress and improve overall well-being. Patrick McKeown, the world’s leading expert on functional breathing, offers valuable insights and guidance in this field.

Breathing Techniques and Tips

Various breathing exercises can help us optimize our breathing patterns and experience immediate benefits. The “small little breath holds” exercise activates the relaxation response and stimulates the vagus nerve, promoting a sense of calm. Holding our breath can also de-congest a stuffy nose and deliver antibacterial and bronchodilator properties to our lungs. Breathing through the nose, focusing on breathing low and slow, and practicing these exercises for just a few minutes can make a significant difference in reducing stress, quieting a racing mind, and managing panic disorder.

Conclusion

Proper breathing is a fundamental aspect of our health and well-being. By understanding and improving our breathing patterns, we can enhance our physical and mental performance, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve our overall quality of life. Patrick McKeown’s expertise in functional breathing provides valuable insights and techniques to help us optimize our breathing for better health and vitality.