Is Dysfunctional Breathing Holding You Back?

Many people overlook the impact of breathing on performance, recovery, and mental well-being - but dysfunctional breathing patterns like mouth breathing, shallow chest breathing, and over-breathing can significantly limit your results. In this blog, we explore how to identify poor breathing habits, why they matter for oxygen delivery, stress regulation, and muscle fatigue, and how to improve your breathing for better energy, athletic performance, and overall health. Whether you're an athlete or simply looking to boost your daily vitality, learning to breathe properly could be the game-changer you've been missing.

Your breathing patterns may be silently limiting your performance, recovery, and well-being. Dysfunctional breathing, like shallow chest breathing, over-breathing, or mouth breathing, is more common than you think.

How to Spot Dysfunctional Breathing:

Mouth breathing instead of nasal breathing.
Visible use of neck and shoulder muscles during inhalation.
Frequent sighing, yawning, or breathlessness at rest.
Low BOLT score (Body Oxygen Level Test) below 25 seconds.

Why It Matters:

Limited Oxygen Delivery:
Poor breathing patterns reduce oxygen efficiency, leading to fatigue and poor recovery.
Increased Stress:
Rapid, shallow breaths can trigger stress responses, keeping your body in fight-or-flight mode.
Muscle Fatigue:
Overuse of smaller breathing muscles causes tension and reduces endurance.

How to Reset Your Breath:

Breathe Through Your Nose: Nasal breathing improves oxygen uptake, filters air, and balances CO₂ levels.
Engage Your Diaphragm: Focus on low, smooth ribcage expansion to breathe more efficiently.
Slow It Down: Practice light, controlled breathing to calm your body and mind.

Dysfunctional breathing affects everything – from your energy levels to your athletic performance. By addressing these patterns, you can unlock better movement, faster recovery, and a calmer mind. Breathe better, live better. It all starts with functional breathing.