Are you Breathing correctly? The Mechanics of Peak Performance with Prof. John Dickinson

Episode Summary

We do it 23,000 times a day, yet most of us are doing it wrong. In this episode of Beyond Better, we step away from the "mindfulness" of breathing and dive deep into the hard science and mechanics of how we move air.

Our guest, Professor John Dickinson, is a world-leading respiratory physiologist who has spent 25 years optimising the lungs of Olympic athletes, professional footballers, and ultra-endurance runners. He reveals why up to 40% of elite athletes suffer from "Breathing Pattern Disorders" and why your "asthma" might actually just be a mechanical glitch in your rib cage.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• The Three Pillars of Breath: How your physical rib cage, your posture, and your nervous system work in tandem (or against each other).
• The Physics of a Breath: Why your lungs are like "bags stuck to the inside of your ribs" and how pressure—not suction—is the key to oxygen.
• The "Desk Worker" Trap: How sitting all day "turns off" your core and forces your shoulders to do the heavy lifting.
• Self-Testing Your Breath: A simple 5-second trick using your sternum to see if your mechanics are efficient.
• Myth Busting: Why Prof. Dickinson wants to ban the term "Belly Breathing" and why your wearable’s "stress score" might be lying to you.

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction: The most underrated health tool you own.
• 02:45 – Meet Prof. John Dickinson: From football coaching to Olympic physiology.
• 06:10 – Why nobody ever taught us how to breathe.
• 08:35 – The 3 factors that ruin your breathing efficiency.
• 12:15 – Physics 101: How air actually enters your lungs.
• 15:40 – Breathing Pattern Disorders: Why it takes 7 years to get a diagnosis.
• 21:00 – The "Hunched Desk" effect on your respiratory muscles.
• 24:30 – The Sternum Test: How to check your breathing in the mirror.
• 29:15 – What a "perfect" breath looks like at rest vs. during exercise.
• 34:00 – Myth Busting: Wearables, chest breathing, and "Belly Breathing."
• 41:20 – The power of the breath in one sentence.
• 43:00 – Who Prof. Dickinson wants to interview (The Jurgen Klopp connection).

Key Takeaway: The "Perfect" Breath

According to Prof. Dickinson, a healthy breath isn't about pushing your stomach out; it’s about lateral movement. Your rib cage should expand sideways, forwards, and backwards. If your shoulders are moving up toward your ears, you’re using "accessory muscles" that waste energy and trigger your "fight or flight" response.

"Breathing should feel effortless. If you feel like it's the limiting factor in your performance, there's likely a technical fix, not a fitness problem."

Enjoyed the episode? If you're now manually counting your breaths (sorry!), please subscribe, rate, and share this episode with someone who is always "out of breath" at the gym!

Note to listeners: This podcast is for educational purposes. If you are experiencing severe respiratory symptoms, please consult a medical professional.

How's your posture right now? Are your shoulders currently up by your ears?

Series: Beyond Better

Host: Marylebone Health Group

Guest: Prof.John Dickinson, Respiratory Physiologist

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The Burnout Trap: Finding True Recovery in a World That Never Stops

Episode Summary

Are you actually recovering, or are you just "lying down"? In this deep-dive episode of Beyond Better, we sit down with Dr. Steve Mayers, a clinical psychologist and competitive cyclist, to dismantle the modern obsession with "hustle" and the failure of "intelligent recovery."

As we get further into 2026, many of us find ourselves trapped in the "Drive" system; constantly performing, even in our hobbies. Dr. Mayers explains the psychological continuum between stress, depression, and burnout, and why the solution isn't just a day off, but a reconnection to meaning. We explore the "Threat, Drive, Soothe" systems, the pitfalls of social media "therapy culture," and practical tools like the 20-minute reset to help you move from a state of survival to a state of fulfillment.

Key Takeaways from This Conversation

• The Burnout Continuum: Understanding that burnout isn't a binary switch, but a physiological and psychological spectrum.
• Meaning vs. Vibe: Why millennials and Gen Z view "meaning" differently and how to create a personal narrative that sustains you.
• The Three Systems: A breakdown of Paul Gilbert’s Compassion Focused Therapy: the Threat, Drive, and Soothe systems.
• The Trap of "Therapy Culture": How TikTok and Instagram might be pathologizing everyday experiences and what to do about it.
• Practical Resilience: Why resilience is a skill, not a personality trait, and how systemic factors (work culture, environment) play a role.

Timestamps & Chapter Markers

• [00:00] Introduction: Meet Dr. Steve Mayers.
• [03:45] Burnout vs. Clinical Depression: How to tell the difference.
• [08:12] The Cyclist’s Perspective: Managing performance pressure in sport and life.
• [12:30] Reconnecting to Meaning: Why purpose is the ultimate recovery tool.
• [18:45] Therapy Culture & Social Media: The pros and cons of "TikTok Psychology."
• [22:15] Integration in Medicine: How psychology supports physical injury recovery.
• [27:40] The 20-Minute Reset: Practical tools for shifting your nervous system.
• [33:10] The Threat, Drive, Soothe Model: Why we struggle to feel "soothed."
• [39:00] Journaling for Mental Clarity: Stream of consciousness and the 3-question daily check-in.
• [45:20] Starting 2026 Right: Reflecting on the "Christmas Burnout" to plan a better year.
• [48:15] Closing Thoughts: Steve’s dream interview and final advice.

Resources & People Mentioned

• Guest Info: Dr. Steve Mayers (Consultations available at Marylebone Health Group and Cafe Psychologique).
• Books:
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (Stream of consciousness journaling).
• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (The 20-second morning check-in).
• Poverty Safari by Loki / Darren McGarvey (Systemic impacts on psychology).
• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* by Mark Manson.
• Models: Paul Gilbert’s Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).
• Podcast: Solved by Mark Manson.

Connect with Beyond Better

• Hosted by: Marylebone Health Group.
• Mission: Helping you go beyond the ordinary for a healthier, more fulfilled life.
• Subscribe: Don’t forget to rate and share this episode if it helped you reframe your recovery!

Series: Beyond Better

Host: Marylebone Health Group

Guest: Dr. Steve Mayers, Clinical Psychologist

If you enjoyed this episode: Subscribe to Beyond Better, Share with a friend or colleague

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Motherhood, Boxing, and success

Episode Summary

What happens when a financial journalist for the Mail Online decides to step into the ring for a white-collar boxing story, and never leaves?

In this episode, we sit down with Amy Andrew, a professional featherweight boxer, Commonwealth champion, and gym owner. Amy shares her incredible journey from the newsroom to the Haringey Boxing Club, detailing how she navigated the high-stakes world of professional combat sports while raising two children.

We dive deep into the mental gymnastics required to face your fears, the reality of postpartum recovery as an elite athlete, and how she is now building an inclusive boxing empire from London to Marbella.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The Radical Career Pivot: How a single article about white-collar boxing sparked a decade-long journey into the professional ranks.

Mastering the Mental Game: Amy’s strategy for overcoming performance anxiety by "embracing the worst-case scenario."

The Power of Your Tribe: Why specialised support (nutritionists, physios, psychologists, and coaches) are the secret to sustainable success.

Motherhood in the Ring: Breaking the stigma of pregnancy in sports and the practicalities of training with a baby in the corner.

Building Inclusive Communities: Why Amy opened her own gyms to bridge the gap between "intimidating" boxing dens and high-end fitness studios.

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Key Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Meet Amy, the Journalist turned Pro Boxer.

04:20– The First Hit: Transitioning from journalism to Olympic-style boxing.

09:15 – Amateur vs. Professional: Why "entertainment" changes the way you fight.

14:30 – Facing the Fear: How to handle the mental pressure of a crowd.

20:10 – The Body Positive Shift: Exercising for capability, not just aesthetics.

26:45 – Navigating Pregnancy: Challenging the "step-down" culture for mothers in sports.

33:15– The Logistics of Motherhood: Warming up for fights with a newborn.

38:50 – The Evolution of Women’s Boxing: From sexism to a depth of talent.

45:10– Entrepreneurship: Building inclusive gyms in London and Marbella.

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Series: Beyond Better

Host: Marylebone Health Group

Guest: Amy Andrew, Professional Boxer & Entrepreneur

If you enjoyed this episode: Subscribe to Beyond Better, Share with a friend or colleague

Leave a review to help more people find evidence-based health conversations

Stay curious. Stay strong. And keep going Beyond Better.

Connect with the Show:

Like, share and subscribe!

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Follow Amy & Her Gyms: @amyandrewboxing (IG)

https://www.rivalkingscross.com/

https://rivalboxinggymmarbella.com/