The Anatomy of Functional Breathing with Tom Myers and Patrick McKeow (Your Posture Is Killing Your Ability to Breathe)n

Discover how modern life is reshaping our breathing, posture, and facial structure in this in-depth conversation between Patrick McKeown and renowned anatomist Tom Myers (Anatomy Trains). Tom shares insights from 50+ years of clinical practice and teaching, explaining: - How our “modern zoo” (agricultural → industrial → electronic age) creates a mismatch with our Paleolithic genes - Why chronic sitting, inactivity, and lack of movement are fundamentally altering our breathing patterns - The link between anxiety, environment, and dysfunctional breathing - How domestication (in humans and animals) leads to a narrower jaw, smaller face, crowded teeth, and restricted airways - Why head‑forward posture is now almost universal—and what it means for rib cage mechanics and breathing - The concept of tensegrity and how the rib cage functions as a dynamic, elastic structure rather than a simple “lever” system Patrick also shares his own background: - Personal struggles with asthma, nasal obstruction, poor sleep, and poor concentration - How these experiences led him into functional breathing, focusing on asthma, nasal breathing, sleep, and everyday breathing habits - If you’re interested in the deep biomechanics of breathing, facial development, and how our environment and lifestyle are shaping our health, this episode will give you a powerful new lens on the breath. #ButeykoClinic #PatrickMcKeown #TomMyers #AnatomyTrains #FunctionalBreathing #NasalBreathing #BreathingScience #Breathwork#AnxietyRelief #Posture #AirwayHealth #Asthma #SleepHealth #Fascia00:00 – Intro & Tom Myers’ Background 01:43 – Harvard, the 1960s & Buckminster Fuller 02:18 – Tensegrity & the Rib Cage as a Breathing System 03:40 – Modern Life as a ‘Zoo’ & Genetic Mismatch 05:00 – Laziness, Movement & Breathing Changes 06:42 – Domestication, Narrow Jaws & Airway Problems 09:36 – Sleep Apnea & The Shrinking Human Airway 10:45 – Breathing as the Fulcrum: Conscious vs Unconscious 12:39 – Sea Mammals, Diving Response & Human Breath Control 15:00 – Modern Life Disrupts All Basics: Sleep, Breathe, Walk, Eat 15:41 – Tongue Tie, Fascia & the Midline from Brain to Heart 17:15 – Mouth vs Nose Breathing & Posture 18:55 – Nose vs Mouth & Diaphragm vs Upper Chest 19:53 – Transition to Slides