Boxer Star Harry Garside Champions Breathwork as a Game-Changer for Athletes
Olympic boxer Harry Garside is known for his unconventional approach to training but one practice has profoundly shifted his mindset and performance: breathwork.
Moving from ballet to boxing, Harry, 27, was first introduced to Holotropic breathwork in 2020 and recently completed his Breathwork Masters course with Australia’s leading breathwork coach, Johannes Egberts.
He says it bridges the gap between the physical and the mental, enhancing both performance and personal growth, including in the ring, saying, “To this day, I’m still amazed at how powerful the breath is. It completely shifted my perspective and brings clarity and understanding.
“Johannes’ knowledge is exceptional. He bridges the gap between the physical and the mental, showing how breathwork can enhance both performance and personal growth.
“In boxing, if I'm in this stage of panic or a state of being hurt or overwhelmed, I have the capacity to calm myself down right then and there, even in just two or three seconds.
“It can be that quick when you're fighting. Breathwork makes me more grounded, more balanced and more connected, and when I’m in that state, I perform better.”
Johannes, 30, founder of Breathless Expeditions, is currently conducting a breathwork study with Macquarie University School of Psychological Science. His University of Queensland research confirmed it significantly improves symptoms of:
PTSD, anxiety, addiction, depression and psychiatric conditions
Burnout and chronic fatigue
Chronic pain, asthma and immune system issues
Sleep, blood pressure, focus, and emotional regulation
Johannes, 30, says, “The breath is the remote control to the human body and nervous system. When we restore people's natural breathing patterns, we restore their health.
“The average human takes between 12 to 20 breaths per minute. The first step is to use this breath retraining protocol to bring our chemistry back. When you learn to control it the right way, you can use it to shift the state that you're in.”
Johannes has just launched a world-first, internationally accredited online Breathless Instructor Training Program, available to anyone, anytime. It combines major breathing methods, modalities, techniques, and philosophies, and facilitators can be certified within 10 weeks.
As elite athletes search for new ways to gain a competitive edge, Harry believes breathwork will become a game-changer in sports, adding. “The breath is something we always have with us. If we learn to use it properly, the benefits – physically, mentally, and emotionally – are incredible.”
About Johannes Egberts
Johannes arrived in Australia from the Netherlands aged 18 with just the clothes on his back. A chance meeting with world-renowned breathwork pioneer Wim Hof changed his life. Johannes is now one of Australia’s youngest success stories and has introduced breathwork, including ice baths and freediving, to 250,000 people including ASX companies, Australian Defence Force, Navy SEALs, Olympians and NZ Warriors in the most breathtaking locations worldwide.
