Why You Can't Relax, Sleep Or Focus! - Do This 5 Minute Habit To Feel ALIVE Again | Brian Mckenzie

Rangan Chatterjee

Apr 16, 2025

Episode description

Save 20% off Bon Charge products with code LIVEMORE https://boncharge.com/livemore

Download my FREE Breathing Guide HERE: http://bit.ly/3WbGHUw

Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK

Your breath is intimately linked with every aspect of your health – from how you respond to stress to how efficiently your body burns fat. While most of us breathe over 20,000 times a day, few of us pay attention to this automatic process. But it may hold the key to transforming our physical and mental wellbeing.

Today’s returning guest is the wonderful Brian Mackenzie, Founder & Creative Director of SHIFT, President of The Health and Human Performance Foundation and a world renowned human performance specialist who combines breathing techniques, movement practices, and stress adaptation training to enhance physical and mental performance.

His methods have been used by Olympic athletes, professional sports teams and military special forces and Brian's work has undergone rigorous scientific testing at institutions including Stanford University School of Medicine and San Francisco State University. He is also the author of several books including, Unbreakable Runner, Power Speed Endurance and Unplugged.

In this fascinating conversation, we explore:
• Why breathing is "the remote control to the nervous system" and how becoming aware of our breath patterns can help us instantly regulate our stress responses
• The relationship between the way that we breathe and our ability to burn fat
• The "Five Gear Breathing System" that matches our breathing technique to different activity levels, from relaxed walking to high-intensity exercise
• Why nasal breathing (while beneficial at rest and low intensities) might limit our performance and oxygen use during higher-intensity activities
• How a simple daily 45-minute walk with nasal breathing can transform our metabolism, stress resilience and mental clarity
• The three-stage stress response cycle and how breathwork provides a practical tool to interrupt our automatic reactions to daily triggers
• Why Brian believes finding joy in mundane tasks like washing dishes is possible when we focus on the process rather than constantly chasing outcomes
• Practical techniques to establish healthier boundaries with work, technology and stress – including Brian's approach to shutting off work by 4-5pm and using red light in the evenings to improve sleep

Brian is a remarkable individual, with an enviable track record of transforming the wellbeing and performance of a wide range of individuals, and this conversation is full of practical insights that you can utilise immediately to improve your health, performance and the overall quality of your life. I hope you enjoy listening.

#feelbetterlivemore
-----

Show notes available at: https://drchatterjee.com/547

Connect with Brian:
Website https://www.brianmackenzie.com/
Instagram http://instagram.com/_brianmackenzie
X https://twitter.com/brianmackenzie

Brian’s books:
Power Speed Endurance: A Skill-Based Approach to Endurance Training US https://amzn.to/3XZsGgs UK https://amzn.to/42fpekk
Unbreakable Runner: Unleash the Power of Strength & Conditioning for a Lifetime of Running Strong US https://amzn.to/42LmSKe UK https://amzn.to/4jAV7tC
Unplugged: Evolve from Technology to Upgrade Your Fitness, Performance & Consciousness US https://amzn.to/4j7BvND UK https://amzn.to/4lskWOd

#feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast
-------

Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK
-----
Follow Dr Chatterjee at:
Website: https://drchatterjee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/
Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Episode description

Save 20% off Bon Charge products with code LIVEMORE https://boncharge.com/livemore

Download my FREE Breathing Guide HERE: http://bit.ly/3WbGHUw

Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK

Your breath is intimately linked with every aspect of your health – from how you respond to stress to how efficiently your body burns fat. While most of us breathe over 20,000 times a day, few of us pay attention to this automatic process. But it may hold the key to transforming our physical and mental wellbeing.

Today’s returning guest is the wonderful Brian Mackenzie, Founder & Creative Director of SHIFT, President of The Health and Human Performance Foundation and a world renowned human performance specialist who combines breathing techniques, movement practices, and stress adaptation training to enhance physical and mental performance.

His methods have been used by Olympic athletes, professional sports teams and military special forces and Brian's work has undergone rigorous scientific testing at institutions including Stanford University School of Medicine and San Francisco State University. He is also the author of several books including, Unbreakable Runner, Power Speed Endurance and Unplugged.

In this fascinating conversation, we explore:
• Why breathing is "the remote control to the nervous system" and how becoming aware of our breath patterns can help us instantly regulate our stress responses
• The relationship between the way that we breathe and our ability to burn fat
• The "Five Gear Breathing System" that matches our breathing technique to different activity levels, from relaxed walking to high-intensity exercise
• Why nasal breathing (while beneficial at rest and low intensities) might limit our performance and oxygen use during higher-intensity activities
• How a simple daily 45-minute walk with nasal breathing can transform our metabolism, stress resilience and mental clarity
• The three-stage stress response cycle and how breathwork provides a practical tool to interrupt our automatic reactions to daily triggers
• Why Brian believes finding joy in mundane tasks like washing dishes is possible when we focus on the process rather than constantly chasing outcomes
• Practical techniques to establish healthier boundaries with work, technology and stress – including Brian's approach to shutting off work by 4-5pm and using red light in the evenings to improve sleep

Brian is a remarkable individual, with an enviable track record of transforming the wellbeing and performance of a wide range of individuals, and this conversation is full of practical insights that you can utilise immediately to improve your health, performance and the overall quality of your life. I hope you enjoy listening.

#feelbetterlivemore
-----

Show notes available at: https://drchatterjee.com/547

Connect with Brian:
Website https://www.brianmackenzie.com/
Instagram http://instagram.com/_brianmackenzie
X https://twitter.com/brianmackenzie

Brian’s books:
Power Speed Endurance: A Skill-Based Approach to Endurance Training US https://amzn.to/3XZsGgs UK https://amzn.to/42fpekk
Unbreakable Runner: Unleash the Power of Strength & Conditioning for a Lifetime of Running Strong US https://amzn.to/42LmSKe UK https://amzn.to/4jAV7tC
Unplugged: Evolve from Technology to Upgrade Your Fitness, Performance & Consciousness US https://amzn.to/4j7BvND UK https://amzn.to/4lskWOd

#feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast
-------

Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK
-----
Follow Dr Chatterjee at:
Website: https://drchatterjee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/
Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Reframe perspective to find joy in mundane chores

You can find joy in mundane chores like washing dishes by reframing your perspective and being present in the process.

Regulate excitement to avoid poor decisions

When you get excited about something, intentionally slow it down to see the situation for what it really is and avoid making poor decisions.

Match breathing pattern to exercise intensity with five-gear system

The five-gear breathing system is a framework for matching your breathing pattern—from slow nasal to power mouth breathing—to your exercise intensity.

Balance nasal breathing to enhance oxygen utilization during high-intensity activities

An overemphasis on nasal breathing during all activities can lead to under-developing your high-intensity capacity and impairing oxygen utilization in your tissues.

Walk 45 minutes daily to enhance metabolism and nervous system feedback

Walking for at least 45 minutes daily with your mouth shut builds a metabolic foundation and acts as a feedback loop on your nervous system's state.

Say 'no' to reclaim your freedom and focus on what you want

Learning to say 'no' to things you don't want to do is the path to freedom, ensuring you are only doing things you truly want to be doing.

Confront pain; breathing alone won't heal

There is no amount of breathing that will change the pain you are not willing to confront.

Manage stress response to enhance recovery and behavior choices

Even elite performers like Navy Seals have an initial physiological stress response; the key is how you recover and the behavior you choose afterward.

Utilize naps to restore nervous system after stress

A healthy, functioning animal, including a human, should be able to take a nap at any point after a stress response.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius