I’m Charlotte
Breathing Coach & Functional Breathing Instructor
Science-based breath training for active women whose breathing is holding them back
You train regularly. You’re strong. But your breathing feels unreliable, especially during exercise.
This isn’t a loss of fitness or something you just have to accept. Your breathing is trainable.
Science-based functional breath training to improve breathlessness, performance, recovery, sleep, and confidence during exercise.
I’m Charlotte, a qualified Functional Breathing Instructor specialising in working with active women who experience breathlessness during exercise, training, or daily life.
I work with women who still train hard, gym classes, strength training, Pilates, running, hiking, but feel frustrated that their breathing hasn’t kept pace with their fitness.
Many of the women I support are in their 40s, 50s and 60s. They don’t see themselves as unfit. They’ve invested in their health. But something feels off, and it’s usually their breathing.
My role is to help you understand why this is happening, and to give you a clear, structured way to retrain your breathing so it supports your body rather than limiting it.
Functional Breathing Instructor
As a qualified Oxygen Advantage Breathing Instructor and Certified Breath Coach, I teach adults and recreational athletes how to enhance performance, improve sleep quality, and increase stress resilience through science-based functional breathing techniques.
Qualifications & Professional Training
Certified Oxygen Advantage® Breathing Instructor (Standard & Advanced)
Certified Buteyko Clinic Method Instructor (CertBBM)
Functional breathing training for adults
First Aid at Work certified
Improve your breathing
You breathe in and out 22,000 times a day.
My approach focuses on functional breath training, not emotional or consciousness-altering breathwork, improving how you breathe day-to-day, during sleep, exercise, and stress.
I’ll teach you how to breathe more efficiently, consciously, and functionally so you can feel and perform at your best.
Breath Training Services
I offer structured breath training services designed to improve breathing efficiency, sleep quality, stress resilience, and physical performance. All sessions are grounded in science-based functional breathing methods and tailored to your individual breathing patterns and goals.
Personalised Breath Training Plan
A fully personalised breath training plan tailored to your breathing patterns, goals, and lifestyle. This self-paced option includes a structured breathing assessment, targeted exercises, and clear guidance on how to practise day to day, ideal for improving sleep, managing stress, reducing breathlessness, or supporting exercise performance with expert support but no ongoing sessions.
1-to-1 Functional Breathing Training (Online & In-Person)
Personalised 1-to-1 functional breathing training delivered either online or face to face. Sessions are based on a structured breathing assessment and focus on improving breathing efficiency, nervous system regulation, sleep quality, and breathing during everyday life and exercise.
Group Breath Training Sessions, Workshops & Seminars
Group breath training sessions, workshops, and seminars designed for gyms, teams, and organisations. These sessions focus on practical, science-based breathing techniques to support stress regulation, sleep quality, breathing efficiency, and performance. Delivered in an accessible, evidence-led format, with tools participants can apply immediately in daily life and around exercise.
Breathing Instructor Cohort
A growing community for coaches, trainers, and practitioners interested in functional breathing education. Join the cohort to receive my newsletter, access a private WhatsApp group, and stay updated as free resources and training materials are released. Designed for those who want to deepen their understanding of breathing principles and integrate them into professional practice over time.
“Charlotte’s expertise and thoughtful approach helped me learn various techniques to breathe more efficiently improving my daily life, relaxation, sleep and physical performance.”
Nahida, 1-to-1 Breath Training Client
Case Study: Lowering Blood Pressure Through Functional Breathing
One client came to me with rising blood pressure, poor sleep, and daily stress. Through a structured breath training plan focused on nasal breathing, CO₂ tolerance work, and nervous system regulation, her blood pressure reduced from 143/88 to 123/79 in just a few weeks. She also reported deeper sleep, calmer moods, and better energy throughout the day.
This case highlights how targeted breath training can create measurable, real-world health improvements safely and naturally.
About me
I’m Charlotte, a qualified Functional Breathing Instructor, having completed both the standard and Advanced Instructor trainings to become a certified Oxygen Advantage® instructor.
I help clients improve their breathing across the three pillars of functional breathing:
- biomechanical (how you breathe)
- biochemical (respiration efficiency & CO₂ tolerance)
- psycho-physiological (nervous system regulation)
My work focuses on improving sleep quality, mental clarity, focus, stress resilience, and physical performance.
I am also certified in the Buteyko Clinic Method (CertBBM), enabling me to work with adults, teenagers, and children experiencing dysfunctional breathing patterns. I provide tailored exercises to help reduce symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, anxiety, sleep-disordered breathing, and breathlessness.
I discovered the power of breath training in 2017 while preparing for Red Bull Neptune’s Steps, one of the world’s toughest open-water swimming challenges. Utilising functional breathing techniques played a significant role in completing the event, sparking my ongoing passion for this work.
Group Case Study: Private Gym Seminar (Menopause Support)
Private gym seminar supporting women through menopause
I delivered a small-group breath training seminar at a private gym, focusing on practical breathing exercises to support common menopause-related challenges such as poor sleep, heightened stress, fatigue, and breathlessness during exercise.
The session introduced safe, evidence-based functional breathing techniques designed to improve nervous system regulation, breathing efficiency, and recovery. Participants left with simple tools they could use at home, before bed, and around training to feel calmer, more in control of their breathing, and better supported day to day.
This case study highlights how targeted breath training can complement exercise and lifestyle habits during menopause.
Help & Solutions
Breathing can help improve your health and wellness.
Functional breathing can significantly improve your daily health and wellbeing.
Explore how targeted breathing exercises can help alleviate common problems like those listed below.
Managing Anxiety
Breathing practices such as diaphragmatic breathing can help calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety symptoms.
Reducing Stress
Controlled breathing resets the autonomic nervous system, helping you feel calmer and more grounded.
Improving Sleep
Gentle pre-sleep breathing routines support deeper rest and reduce night-time wakefulness.
Breath training for mobility
Restricted or inefficient breathing can limit rib cage movement, posture and overall mobility.
Breath training for performance
Breath training for energy
Latest Breathing Insights
Here you’ll find insights on functional breathing, performance, sleep, stress regulation, and practical breath training techniques.
How mouth breathing disrupts deep sleep (and 5 natural ways to fix it)
Mouth breathing during sleep can quietly fragment deep sleep, leading to more micro-arousals and poorer recovery. This article explains why it happens and how to fix it with simple, non-extreme strategies that support nasal breathing at night.
Breathing Exercises for Menopause Symptoms
Breathing Exercises for Menopause Symptoms: Alleviate Breathlessness, Anxiety, and Sleep-Disordered Breathing Menopause brings significant changes to a woman’s body, often accompanied by symptoms such as breathlessness, anxiety, and sleep-disordered breathing. These...
Why is it better to breathe through your nose when sleeping
The Science Behind Nasal Breathing and Sleep Quality Many of you may be familiar with the importance of breathing through your nose when sleeping, but do you know why and how this contributes to a better night's sleep?Content Index TL;DR Top Benefits of Nasal...
Get in Touch About Breath Training
If you’re looking to improve your breathing for better sleep, reduced stress, or improved performance, you’re welcome to get in touch. Use the form below to ask a question or find out whether personalised breath training is right for you.
Qualifications & Professional Training
I am fully certified in functional breathing methods backed by decades of research, including Oxygen Advantage® and the Buteyko Clinic Method. These qualifications ensure that all training I deliver is safe, structured, and evidence-based.
- Oxygen Advantage® Advanced Instructor
- Oxygen Advantage® Functional Breathing Instructor
- Buteyko Breathing Method (CertBBM) Instructor
- First Aid at Work
- Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
Guest Appearance on Oxygen Advantage® Webinar with Patrick McKeown
I was invited to speak on an Oxygen Advantage® webinar hosted by Patrick McKeown, where I discussed the advanced functional breathing techniques used within my coaching practice. We explored how structured breath training can improve sleep, focus, recovery, and overall respiratory efficiency.
Participating in this session was a privilege and an excellent opportunity to share evidence-based approaches that I use with my clients every day.
Cold Exposure & Breathing
I occasionally integrate breath control strategies with cold exposure training for clients seeking to enhance their stress tolerance and recovery. Cold water immersion can be a useful tool when combined with functional breathing techniques to regulate the nervous system and support resilience.
Using Breath Control to Support Cold Exposure
If you’re interested in exploring cold exposure safely at home, my trusted partner Submerge Ice Baths provides portable systems designed for controlled, regular practice.
Use code CHARLOTTE for 15% off.
Questions About Breath Training?
What’s the difference between breath training and breathwork?
Breath training focuses on improving your everyday breathing patterns using science-based techniques. It strengthens the biomechanical, biochemical, and psycho-physiological aspects of breathing, leading to better sleep, reduced stress, improved performance, and calm, efficient breathing.
Breathwork, in contrast, often refers to emotional-release or consciousness-altering practices. These sessions can be more meditative or spiritual in nature.
My approach is functional breathing training – practical, measurable, and grounded in physiology, not emotional catharsis.
What happens during a breathing assessment?
A breathing assessment is a structured session where I evaluate:
- Your breathing pattern at rest and during light movement
- Nasal vs mouth breathing tendencies
- CO₂ tolerance (using BOLT score or other indicators)
- Breathing rate, rhythm, and depth
- Biomechanical factors such as posture, upper-chest breathing, or over-breathing patterns
You’ll leave with a clear understanding of how you currently breathe and which specific training techniques will benefit you most.
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes.
Online breath training sessions are available via Zoom and are just as effective as in-person sessions. You’ll be guided through tailored exercises, assessments, and techniques, with follow-up resources so you can practise between sessions.
Do you offer face-to-face or in-person breathing training?
Yes.
I offer in-person functional breathing training at LB Fitness & Coaching, Unit 4A, Charlton House Farm, Brackley, NN13 5LH.
These sessions are ideal if you prefer hands-on guidance, a private environment, or want a deeper assessment of your breathing biomechanics, posture, and movement patterns.
The space is quiet, comfortable and purpose-built for 1-to-1 coaching.
You’ll receive the same structured training as online sessions, with the added benefit of in-person observation and real-time adjustments.
How long does it take to see results?
More significant changes, such as improved CO₂ tolerance, better endurance, reduced breathlessness, and calmer nervous system responses, typically occur over 4–6 weeks with consistent practice.
Is functional breathing suitable for beginners?
Absolutely.
All breathing patterns can be improved, and many people have never been taught how to breathe functionally. Whether you’re new to breath training or already familiar with breathing techniques, sessions are tailored to your level, health, and goals.
Can breath training help with sleep and snoring?
Yes.
Functional breathing can support better sleep by:
- Reducing upper-chest breathing at night
- Encouraging nasal breathing
- Calming the nervous system before bed
- Supporting healthy CO₂ tolerance
- Improving oxygenation and reducing nighttime arousals
For snoring or sleep-disordered breathing, breath training can help reduce symptoms by strengthening nasal breathing and addressing patterns that contribute to airway collapse.
Can breath training help runners or fitness training?
Definitely.
Functional breathing helps runners and fitness enthusiasts by:
- Improving CO₂ tolerance (delays breathlessness)
- Increasing endurance
- Supporting better recovery
- Enhancing focus and body awareness
- Improving pacing and nasal breathing during movement
It’s one of the simplest performance upgrades for recreational athletes.
Who is breath training suitable for?
I work with adults (18+) who want to improve:
- Sleep
- Stress regulation
- Focus and energy
- Breathlessness
- Fitness performance
- Recovery
- Nervous system balance
- Symptoms of dysfunctional breathing (asthma, anxiety, mouth breathing, etc.)
Sessions are adapted to each person’s physiology and comfort level.
Do you create personalised breathing plans?
Yes.
After your breathing assessment, I design a tailored plan based on your goals and your dominant breathing patterns. This typically includes:
- Specific exercises
- Training pace
- Daily or weekly routines
- Tracking progress (BOLT score, symptoms, sleep, performance)
This ensures you’re working on the right techniques for maximum benefit.
Is breath training safe?
Yes, when done correctly.
Functional breathing techniques are gentle, safe, and based on normal physiological mechanisms. They do not involve forced hyperventilation or extreme breath retention practices. All sessions are paced to your comfort and monitored carefully.
