![What we can all learn from England's breathing coach](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1720756225/articles/AUQUTb5i91720770105213/WHAT-WE-CAN-ALL-LEARN-FROM-ENGLANDS-BREATHING-COACH.jpg)
There are few words more triggering to an England fan than "penalties". Yet when the Three Lions faced Switzerland in the Euros last Saturday, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold hit five spot-on spot-kicks – earning the team a place in the semi-finals against the Netherlands.
It was an epic feat. So what was the secret to their sudden penalty power? Harder drills, canny substitutions, bananas prematch rituals? No, pundits believe it’s all down to the team focusing on not just their footwork but their breathwork too.
It’s since been revealed that manager Gareth Southgate (a man acutely aware of the pressure of a penalty himself) drafted in a “breathwork expert” to get the team match fit.
Respiratory coach Stuart Sandeman – who promises that “by changing the way you breathe, you can transform the way you think and feel” – began working in breathwork after tragically losing his girlfriend to cancer.
Now the bestselling author of Breathe In, Breathe Out, a guide on how to breathe for “better sleep, stress management and improved self-esteem and mental health”, Sandeman has clients including Olympic athletes and high-profile business execs.
“There’s no greater indication of the powerful link between breathing and performance than @england including breathwork to aid the team’s recovery at @euro2024 after Sundays [sic] win,” wrote Sandeman (“@breathpod” to his 83,000 followers) on Instagram, from the training camp in Germany, posting a video of him coaching the team. “I’m humbled that they chose me to lead these sessions.”
One person unsurprised to hear Southgate added breathwork to his team’s already hectic schedule is somatic movement, breath and yoga educator Nahid de Belgeonne. She says there’s ample evidence that “breathing consciously” before a stressful moment can really help you focus.
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin July 12, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin July 12, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
![Brown shrugs off dislocated shoulder to skate to bronze](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/K7l0TymNv1723011861082/BROWN-SHRUGS-OFF-DISLOCATED-SHOULDER-TO-SKATE-TO-BRONZE.jpg)
Brown shrugs off dislocated shoulder to skate to bronze
Sky Brown is an Olympic medallist again, and this time she did it the hard way.
![Team GB sprinters bow to all-conquering Dutch trio](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/jhYZhg5bo1723011675268/TEAM-GB-SPRINTERS-BOW-TO-ALLCONQUERING-DUTCH-TRIO.jpg)
Team GB sprinters bow to all-conquering Dutch trio
Jack Carlin, Ed Lowe, and Hamish Turnbull won Olympic men's team sprint silver for Great Britain as pre-race favourites the Netherlands broke the world record twice on their way to gold last night.
![Kerr wins battle but loses war as Hocker rips up script](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/HiLlU-9SM1723011406816/KERR-WINS-BATTLE-BUT-LOSES-WAR-AS-HOCKER-RIPS-UP-SCRIPT.jpg)
Kerr wins battle but loses war as Hocker rips up script
It was an astonishing end to perhaps the most enthralling 1500m final in Olympic history.
![Three water companies face £168m in fines over sewage](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/LLtBFys211723011252106/THREE-WATER-COMPANIES-FACE-168M-IN-FINES-OVER-SEWAGE.jpg)
Three water companies face £168m in fines over sewage
Industry regulator Ofwat has proposed £168m of fines for three of England's biggest water companies for failing to manage their wastewater treatment works, including a £104m fine for Thames Water.
![Hezbollah vow Israel strike over death of military chief](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/qe2WIfT5a1723011096084/HEZBOLLAH-VOW-ISRAEL-STRIKE-OVER-DEATH-OF-MILITARY-CHIEF.jpg)
Hezbollah vow Israel strike over death of military chief
The leader of Hezbollah yesterday pledged a \"strong and effective\" response to the killing of its military commander by Israel last week and said it would act either alone or with its regional allies.
![Demand for Nobel winner to lead Bangladesh rebuild](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/0jDVbz6tx1723010881607/DEMAND-FOR-NOBEL-WINNER-TO-LEAD-BANGLADESH-REBUILD.jpg)
Demand for Nobel winner to lead Bangladesh rebuild
Jubilation turned to anxiety in Bangladesh yesterday as the focus of student protesters turned to who should lead the country, now that authoritarian prime minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled to neighbouring India.
![The man who was the first to call Republicans 'weird'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/JJr0zUuo41723010629660/THE-MAN-WHO-WAS-THE-FIRST-TO-CALL-REPUBLICANS-WEIRD.jpg)
The man who was the first to call Republicans 'weird'
Former football coach Tim Walz gave away all the money he received from the NRA and is a favourite of the online left
![Minnesota governor Walz to be Harris's running mate](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/mWsd1MYzh1723009486893/MINNESOTA-GOVERNOR-WALZ-TO-BE-HARRISS-RUNNING-MATE.jpg)
Minnesota governor Walz to be Harris's running mate
The vice-president touted Tim Walz's work for 'middle-class families' in social media post as she announced her selection
![Police offer £3,000 reward in their hunt for horse killer](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/T_sSHBmTd1723009390417/POLICE-OFFER-3000-REWARD-IN-THEIR-HUNT-FOR-HORSE-KILLER.jpg)
Police offer £3,000 reward in their hunt for horse killer
A £3,000 reward has been offered in the hunt for the killer of a horse found mutilated in a field in Nottinghamshire.
![Charles overruled Camilla to go public on ill health.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/GD8ejXOi01723009290707/CHARLES-OVERRULED-CAMILLA-TO-GO-PUBLIC-ON-ILL-HEALTH.jpg)
Charles overruled Camilla to go public on ill health.
Queen Camilla was against King Charles's decision to publicly disclose his ongoing health concerns earlier this year, according to biographer Rob Jobson, who has written a number of books about Charles and other members of the royal family.