If breathwork for performance worked the way it’s commonly taught online, most people practicing it would be performing better — not feeling more stressed, fatigued, or confused about their breathing.Yet I regularly see athletes, coaches, and high-performers who’ve tried CO₂ tolerance training, hypoxic breathing, nasal breathing, breath holds, and “breath control” — only to feel worse, not better.In this episode I explain why that happens.We’ll break down the most popular breathwork concepts used for performance and endurance, how they’re typically taught on social media and short courses, and how the science and clinical reality actually reframes them.In this video, you’ll learn:Why CO₂ tolerance is often misunderstood — and why forcing breath holds can increase stressThe critical difference between tolerance vs capacity when it comes to air hungerWhy air hunger is perceptual and emotional, not just chemicalThe truth about hypoxic breathing and EPO (and why most protocols aren’t realistic or useful)Why breathing during exercise is an output, not an inputHow forced breathing patterns can increase cognitive load and reduce coordinationWhen nasal breathing helps — and when it becomes a constraintWhy hypoxic sprints and breath holds often cause overload, not adaptationThe real role of inspiratory muscle training vs breath holdsWhy over-breathing is primarily a nervous system response, not a CO₂ problemBreathwork for performance isn’t about forcing calm, controlling breathing, or chasing physiological shortcuts.It’s about sequencing stress correctly, understanding how the nervous system interprets demand, and letting efficient breathing emerge naturally.About this channelMy name is Martin McPhilimey.I’m a respiratory and exercise physiologist and the founder of the School of Breath Science.On this channel, we don’t teach breathwork as tricks or techniques to override the body.We teach breathing through physiology, nervous system regulation, and performance science, understanding breath as an output of the system — not something to micromanage under stress.If you’re interested in evidence-based breathwork, performance physiology, and nervous system-led training:👉 Subscribe to the channel👍 Like the video if it helped reframe your thinking👉 Join our community: http://schoolofbreathscience.com/community👉 Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/schoolofbreathscienceSubscribe for regular insights, practices, and deep dives into the science of breathing.