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Oxygen Advantage: Breathing if You are Unwell

Course program

Breathing if You are Unwell, Breathless or More Senior is a self-paced online course from Oxygen Advantage, designed by founder Patrick McKeown for people who need a gentle, accessible entry into breathwork. It applies the three dimensions of functional breathing — biochemistry, biomechanics, and cadence — to ease breathlessness, calm the nervous system, and support daily comfort in chronic conditions.

The course is open to anyone — no prior breathwork experience or credential is required. It is designed for adults living with asthma, long Covid, COPD, high blood pressure, chronic breathlessness, or chronic fatigue, and for older adults who want to start a breathing practice gently. It is not a professional or instructor certification.

The curriculum is built around the three dimensions of functional breathing that define the Oxygen Advantage method. Biochemistry covers how sensitive the body is to the build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood. Biomechanics looks at whether breathing comes from the diaphragm or the upper chest. Cadence, or coherent breathing, focuses on slowing the respiratory rate to between 4.5 and 6.5 breaths per minute.

Across 25 video lessons, students work through gentle, step-by-step exercises tailored for unwell and senior bodies. The training avoids stressor practices and instead emphasises light, slow, and deep breathing as a way to ease asthma symptoms, coughing, wheezing, and fatigue. Students learn how to breathe more comfortably during rest and light activity, how to feel calmer and more in control of the breath, and how to apply techniques to specific situations such as panic and breathlessness. A downloadable PDF of Patrick’s book Close Your Mouth accompanies the videos as a practical reference.

The course is led by Patrick McKeown, founder of Oxygen Advantage and a clinical trainee of Professor Konstantin Buteyko. Patrick is the author of ten books on breathing — including The Oxygen Advantage, published in over a dozen languages — a TEDx speaker, and a Fellow of The Royal Society of Biology. He has worked with thousands of students on breathing, sleep, and anxiety since 2002.

The format is fully self-paced and online. After enrolling, students receive login details for the Oxygen Advantage eLearning portal and work through 25 pre-recorded video lessons at their own pace. Lifetime access is included along with a downloadable PDF of Patrick’s book Close Your Mouth. The exercises are gentle by design, with no required live sessions, scheduled cohorts, or assignments.

The course does not lead to a certificate. What it aims to give you is easier, more comfortable breathing and a calmer state, gentle techniques that can support symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and fatigue, and healthier everyday breathing habits, with a downloadable copy of Close Your Mouth and lifetime access to the lessons.

Meet your teacher

Patrick McKeown

Patrick McKeown is a world-renowned Buteyko breathing expert who has worked with thousands of people on breathing, sleep, and anxiety since 2002. He trained clinically under Professor Konstantin Buteyko and is the author of ten books, including The Oxygen Advantage.

Read more about Patrick
Patrick McKeown

Host reviews

  • Brian Johnson

    Patrick McKeown is one of the world’s leading authorities on optimal breathing. He’s also a really cool guy. He’s done some coaching of me and my breathing—for both meditation and sports performance with the Spartan races I’m doing. My life has changed from this book. I’m a huge fan of Patrick and his work. Highly recommend the book—and highly recommend we think more about breathing

  • Chris Martin

    These are some things that have been helping me on tour and in general, in hopes that maybe some of them might be good for you too... Free-form writing, Transcendental Meditation, the music of Jon Hopkins... and The Oxygen Advantage — it’s great for breathing. These are helping me stay grateful and happy to be alive

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