The Oxygen Advantage: Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques to Help You Become Healthier, Slimmer, Faster and Fitter―Improve Your Health and Fitness with Efficient Breathing Techniques Paperback – Illustrated, November 29, 2016

I remember that when I was a little kid it was fun to see how long I could hold my breath. Fast-forward to today, and holding my breath for a fraction of the time I did as a child is not fun- in fact it feels like a desperate “brush with death”! The main premise of this book is that we become adapted to over-breathing with significant diminishment of our health and well-being. For the specifics of how and why we have adapted to over-breathing, please refer to the book if you find this review interesting. I believe this premise that we have adapted to over-breathing is true and self-authenticating , from reading and working with the book. This book is truly transformative and deserves to be widely known.There are three components to the Oxygen Advantage program which addresses this over-breathing. They are explained clearly and supported with anecdotal and scientific studies, and tips and exercises are given to develop them. I appreciate the scientific explanation (which is not tedious), because it provides real support and conviction for engaging the process.The three components could be summarized as:1) Breathe through the nose while awake (including when exercising) and asleep2) “Breathe Light to Breathe Right”3) Increase your ability to comfortably hold your breath#1 Breathe through the nose- Personally I already took #1 for granted when I came across this book. The reasons for nose-breathing are explained thoroughly in this book, and a very persuasive case is also made in John Douillard’s “Body, Mind, and Sport”. Reading that book convinced me to learn to run without mouth-breathing, which has already convinced me that nose-breathing is calmer and healthier and more efficient than mouth-breathing. This book has shown me that I still have some work to do in this area, but what got me excited about the book immediately was working with breath holds. However, breathing through the nose at all times would have to be considered the most fundamental building block of the program, I believe.#2 Breathe Light to Breathe Right- In the book, a tai chi master is quoted as saying, “Generally speaking, there are 3 levels of breathing. The first one is to breathe softly, so that a person standing next to you does not hear you breathing. The second level is to breathe softly so that you do not hear yourself breathing. And the third level is to breathe softly so that you do not feel yourself breathing.” The author was told that at tai chi tournaments, judges pay particular attention to the breathing of the contestants, and if they can notice their breathing, points are deducted! More about this topic shortly.#3 Increase your ability to hold your breath- This topic is what initially captured my attention, because I experienced immediate positive effects from practicing breath holds. At my starting level, the exercises are simple and mild affairs, where the breath is held after an exhalation (while walking for example), only to the point of feeling a tolerable need for air (both words, “tolerable” and “need” being key). Breathing should be back to normal after the hold in 3 breaths or so, or the hold is overly intense.This simple exercise, practiced for 15 minutes a day, has had an immediate and continuing effect on my well-being. As the number of paces I can walk comfortably while breath-holding slowly goes up, so does the benign unfolding of this process. There are many things developing at once, but here’s an attempt to summarize my subjective experience so far:1) The exercise influences my breath to calm and slow down throughout the day. This has brought my attention to the real importance of “Breathe Light to Breathe Right”, which initially went over my head. A deep breath is not something I TAKE, or grab, or force, or make an effort to achieve. I do not get “more” by breathing more! (The specifics of the exercises are in the book, but as the author says, “Breathe Light to Breathe Right is not just an exercise, it is a way of life”.)2) There is a psychological stress around breathing that this process is helping to dissolve. The first tolerable need for breath is not a danger signal, any more than beginning to get hungry should lead to panic. As this stress unwinds, there is relaxation and calm mindfulness in its place, with more relaxation in movement and effort.3) I have an undeniable increase in physical well-being.Of course, everyone who works with this book will have a different starting point and experience of the process. I feel that it is a fantastic boon to discover that I have adapted to over-breathing in my life (just the opposite of what I have been conditioned to believe), and begin to unwind it. I think therefore it is only kind to recommend that anyone find out for themselves if they over-breathe. I don’t think there can be many more fundamental discoveries than this to make about oneself - perhaps one or two profound spiritual discoveries would fill the bill!There is considerable information presented on the health benefits of this program, with almost 300 references to supporting theories and compelling evidence. And there are recommendations for how practically everyone can safely engage the process, from someone in poor health to someone in superb physical condition. Check it out!

First, I would like to congratulate Patrick McKeown for writing another great book to add to his Buteyko breathing method series. By writing this book Patrick once again demonstrated his world’s leading role as the Buteyko breathing method writer and educator.I have been a Buteyko breathing educator for more than 20 years, and I found this book as an advanced step which puts the Buteyko method on a higher level of development and effectiveness. I would highly recommend the book to anyone, regardless of health level and goals.What makes this book special are three fundamental factors – knowledge, applications of breathing techniques, and how to get yourself in the Zone by using the power of mind.This book will give you power of new knowledge, particularly how to be much better prepared for sport performance regardless of your level of health. For example, you’ll learn “how to bring mountain to you” without extra equipment, by simulating high–altitude training, which would help you to significantly improve sport performance. This knowledge may empower you.The book well described the power of breathing. By learning and implementing a variety of breathing strategies, you may fuel each cell of your body to maximum oxygen capacity. It will make every cell, organ and system of your body healthier and stronger. You may significantly improve breathing control and increase endurance, which is one of the main factors for better performance.In addition to my training in the Buteyko method I have more than a decade of experience in training people in relaxation of mind and body. I found it really valuable how the book teaches you to use the power of mind to bring yourself into the Zone, quiet your mind, and improve focus and concentration. The techniques and ways to get into the Zone are explained very well. I can assure you that these techniques are highly effective and would help you to improve your skills to bring yourself into the Zone for highest performance.If you implement the power of knowledge, breathing, and mind at the same time, you may really experience their synergetic effect. And if you add your willpower, you may expect the highest outcome in areas of improvement that you are looking for.It can help you to achieve the highest level of your ability and capability which gives you an outstanding opportunity to achieve maximum enhancement in health, life style, and performance.So, the details are in the book and the benefits would be from your experience, possibly even in an area you might have never dreamed of yet! This is how “The Oxygen Advantage” may work for you!

This is a good book, has easy to follow information regarding how to train your breathing for a variety of exercises, but also how to breathe every day. Many of us are not breathing correctly. I was pleasantly surprised that my BOLT score was higher than I thought it would be, and the included exercises helped me to improve on that as well. I recommend this book if you are in Breathwork Facilitator training, training for any high altitude sport or adventure, or if you simply want to increase the productivity of your breath.