Connor Dent Advertorial

Before I became certified in Oxygen Advantage®, I was already deep in the world of physical performance and recovery. As a licensed massage therapist in Austin, Texas, I’ve spent years working with athletes—especially Jiu-Jitsu competitors and high performers—whose bodies tell the story of relentless training, chronic stress, and injury.

But over time, I noticed a recurring pattern I couldn’t ignore.

Some clients would tense up the moment I touched them. Others returned with the same pain patterns week after week. Even the most skilled manual techniques weren’t producing lasting results. That’s when I realized: it wasn’t just the muscles—it was the nervous system.

How Breathwork Changed My Approach to Massage Therapy

Determined to go deeper, I began researching the connection between breathing, stress, and chronic pain. That’s when I discovered the work of Patrick McKeown. I was so drawn to it that I flew to Ireland in 2023 to complete the Buteyko Method training, and again in 2024 for the Oxygen Advantage® Instructor Certification.

The tools I gained changed my practice and my clients’ results forever.

Now, every session begins not with deep tissue or fascia work, but with the breath.

The First Step Is Downregulation

Rather than pushing into resistance, I now help clients relax into the work. Each session begins with reduced breathing and slow, nasal breaths—simple techniques that quickly activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Within minutes, the body softens, tension drops, and the system becomes more receptive.

The impact is immediate:
✔️ Deeper muscle release
✔️ Lower pain sensitivity
✔️ Faster recovery
✔️ Results that actually last

I used to hear things like, “Just dig into that knot—it’s always tight.”

Now, those same clients are surprised by how a few minutes of intentional breathing can change the entire session—and how long the relief stays with them.

Better Breathing, Better Posture

So many of the athletes and clients I work with present with classic postural issues—forward head, rounded shoulders, compressed lumbar spines. The old model says: pull everything back and strengthen the core. But that’s just compensation.

What if the lungs and diaphragm were the first tools of postural support?

That’s what I now teach: breath-driven alignment. When clients learn to breathe functionally—using the diaphragm, with proper cadence and control—their spine naturally finds better posture. No force, no strain. Just internal support.

Using the Breath to Manage Pain and Rewire the Nervous System

Breathwork has also become my go-to tool for clients with stubborn pain or muscle guarding. I use BOLT scores, cadence breathing, and light breath holds to help clients break the cycle of over-breathing and stress-based tension.

This approach has been especially effective in releasing:

• The QL and suboccipitals
• Pelvic floor and diaphragm tension
• Jaw and TMJ-related pain

When a client learns how to control their breath, they don’t just relax—they reset.

For My Clients and For Myself

As a Jiu-Jitsu athlete myself, I use Oxygen Advantage® techniques to boost my own endurance, focus, and recovery. On the mats, breath control is often the difference between tapping out and staying calm under pressure.

I’ve seen firsthand how breath training has not only elevated my performance—but kept me injury-free and mentally sharp through the grind of competition.

Why I Recommend This Training to Every Therapist and Coach I Know

If you’re a bodyworker, massage therapist, chiropractor, or coach who works with stress, recovery, or pain—this is a certification you need to know about.

Oxygen Advantage® has equipped me with tools I never learned in school: tools that help my clients relax faster, recover deeper, and walk away with lasting results.

Whether you’re working hands-on or coaching high performers, functional breathing is the edge you and your clients are missing.

Ready to Take Your Teaching to the Next Level?

Deepen your impact as a movement professional with breathwork techniques that enhance body awareness, calm the nervous system, and support real, lasting change.

Start your training today and use code BREATH10 to claim your 10% discount at checkout.