How Conscious Breathing Improved My Sleep, Performance, and Clinical Results
I'm a physiotherapist with a private practice and also work with the Austria National Handball Team.
When I took the Conscious Breathing Instructor Course, I started paying attention to how I breathe—especially during exercise. I used to breathe heavily through my mouth, thinking that was the right way to push myself. But now, I focus on keeping my mouth closed and breathing through my nose, even during intense training.
What surprised me most is that this didn’t reduce my performance. On the contrary, I feel like I can work harder and recover faster. I don’t feel sore afterwards, and often I’m ready to go again the next day.
I used to struggle a lot with sleep. But after I started taping my mouth at night, my sleep quality is way better. I do it every night now. It's such a simple, yet very effective habit.
Conscious Breathing in Practice
Since implementing Conscious Breathing into my physiotherapy work, I've seen very good results. Here are a couple of examples:
- During a weekend workshop, all participants received a Relaxator. They loved it—some even used it while hiking. One 5-year-old boy diagnosed with ADHD used it all the time and was noticeably calmer.
- Another client shared: “I’ve been dealing with emotional outbursts and constant feelings of overwhelm, but the Relaxator has been an absolute game-changer. The effect is immediate—just a couple of exhalations make a noticeable difference. Whether it’s before an important meeting or when things feel overwhelming, I use it for a few breaths and feel significantly calmer and more in control. It’s amazing how such a simple tool can help so quickly.”
- Yet another client said: "After my second COVID infection, I quickly noticed I wasn’t anywhere near as physically capable as before. I struggled with extreme fatigue, muscular and neurological issues, and persistent shortness of breath. But after using the CarboHaler regularly over the past two weeks, I’m incredibly happy! It’s the first thing in a long time that has truly helped me—without requiring much effort." You can read the full story here.
Personal Results with the CarboHaler
At a recent Neuro Athletic Training seminar with Lars Lienhard, we measured our BOLT scores before and after. The seminar was intense—like a training camp—so by the final day, most participants saw decreased scores. But two weeks later, after regular use of the CarboHaler, my results doubled. It was my best BOLT and walking score ever.
At first, I didn’t notice much with the CarboHaler. But when I used it before and during strength training, the effect was clear. For example:
- Pull-ups with 40 kg extra: Before using the CarboHaler, I couldn’t manage a single rep. But after just four minutes of breathing ait with around 4.5% CO₂, I was able to complete one.
- Bent-over rows with 60 kg: I went from 18 reps to 24–25 after a short session with the CarboHaler.
- Muscle-ups: These are quite tricky—not just physically, but mentally too. After five minutes of CO2 inhalation, the mental barrier felt much lower, and I was able to do twice as many as before.
These experiences made a strong impression on me—especially because I had already maxed out on each activity. Normally, when you try to max out again just a few minutes later, you're usually weaker. But with the CarboHaler, I was stronger.
Recovery and Calm with the Cardisuit
During the European Championship, I used the Cardisuit with the Austrian National Handball Team. After big games, players often struggle to fall asleep due to high adrenaline. But once we introduced the Cardisuit, most of them fell asleep within minutes. It helped them calm down fast and recover better. You can read more about it here.
I use the Cardisuit myself, especially on mentally exhausting days. One time, after a 10-hour workday, I felt like my brain needed a reboot. I went into the Cardisuit for 30 minutes, while listening to relaxing binaural beats. Afterward, I used the CarboHaler at 7% for five minutes. The effect was exactly what I hoped for—total mental reset, more energy calmness, and clarity of thought.
I also used the Cardisuit before a handball training session. I felt amazing—so energized I could train for two hours without a break. All the younger guys needed breaks, but I just kept going.
Another benefit I noticed: normally my hands are extremely dry during the winter, with painful cracks. But when I used the Cardisuit 1–2 times a week, this was significantly improved.
Patrick Ehrenberger,
Physiotherapist Humanimal, Austria National Handball Team
