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THE CREATOR of Breathe Strong

"Alison McConnell is the world's leading expert on breathing training, and in sharing her expertise, she presents the most up-to-date research-based information on the topic. What's more, her skill as a writer means that the information is presented in a way that can be easily understood and applied by anyone looking to achieve better results, whatever their sport, whether aspiring Olympic medallist or keen amateur."

Sir Matthew Pinsent, CBE
Quadruple Olympic gold medallist and ten times world rowing champion.

Alison McConnell holds a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Birmingham (UK), a Masters degree in Human Physiology and a PhD in Respiratory Physiology from the University of London (UK). Alison has been Professor of Applied Physiology at Brunel University in London since 2000. She is a Fellow of both the American College of Sports Medicine and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and is a BASES-accredited physiologist. Alison is the world's leading authority on breathing muscle training and is the author of numerous scientific articles and book chapters. She is a regular presenter at international scientific and medical conferences.

As well as being an accomplished scientist and academic, Alison is also the inventor of POWERbreathe, the world’s leading breathing training system, which she created in the early 1990s. Alison has pioneered the introduction of breathing muscle training into athlete preparation and has worked with Olympic and world champions around the world to help them to optimise the use of POWERbreathe in their preparation for competition. She has also been influential in the acceptance of breathing muscle training as a treatment for breathlessness in patients with lung disease, and POWERbreathe is now a prescribed treatment within the UK National Health Service. Alison remains an avid sportswoman with an active involvement in running, cycling, weight training, skiing, and windsurfing.

Alison offers occasional Breathe Strong Master Classes for groups or individuals (check up-coming events for information). These sessions can be organised on a bespoke basis, so if you would like to attend a Master Class, please email me stating where you would ideally like the event to take place and how many people wish to attend. All delegates receive a free copy of ‘Breathe Strong, Perform Better’, and an inspiratory muscle assessment (if required). The Master Class typically lasts for three hours and covers the topics listed below, but can be tailored to individual requirements. Each Master class is priced according individual requirements and the number of participants, please email me for a quotation.

The science of breathing (theory)

  • Anatomy (lungs)
  • Physiology (gas exchange)
  • Breathing muscles and mechanics of breathing
  • Non-respiratory functions of the breathing muscles
  • Superhuman lungs (Sir Matthew Pinsent)

How breathing limits [sport] performance (theory)

  • What happens to breathing during exercise
  • Breathing effort perception and its consequences
  • Breathing fatigue and its consequences

Why breathing training works (theory)

  • Why breathing muscles aren’t as fit as they could be
  • How to train the breathing muscles
  • What happens to athletes after breathing muscle training
  • How breathing muscle training improves performance
  • Why breathing muscle training the MOST time efficient addition to your training

How to "Breathe Strong" (theory and practical demonstration)

  • How to breathe during sport
  • Getting in touch with your diaphragm
  • General principles of muscle training
  • Training with the POWERbreathe Plus
  • Training with the POWERbreathe K-Series
  • ‘Top tips’ to optimise training benefits
  • Maintenance training
  • Warming-up and cooling down

Functional breathing training (practical demonstration)

  • What is functional breathing training?
  • Sport-specific challenges to the breathing muscles
  • Functional exercises

See Alison’s published research on breathing training
List of publications >

Visit Alison’s University homepage and Research Centre


http://www.brunel.ac.uk/sse/sport-sciences/people/professor-alison-mcconnell


www.brunel.ac.uk/csmhp

Information on consultancy services
http://www.csmhp.org/high_performance_testing.php

Information on Breathe Strong Master Classes and events where Alison is speaking
List of events >

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More information:

Breathe Strong Training

Breathe Strong training is the quickest and easiest way to improve your performance and enhance your enjoyment of sport.

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"Breathe Strong Perform Better"

Based on academic research spanning two decades, this book explains how anyone can benefit from breathing training the Breathe Strong way.

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Functional Breathing Training

It's the next big thing, and the missing link in functional training...

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Breathe Strong Store

Must have accessories for Breathe Strong training.

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