A stop in Galway that reminded me why Simply Breathe exists.

One of the unexpected highlights of our family trip to Ireland had nothing to do with castles, cliffs, or the Wild Atlantic Way. It was a stop in Galway, where I caught up with an old friend, Oxygen Advantage founder and international breathing expert Patrick McKeown.

Back in 2017, my dad and I each spent a week in Galway training with Patrick through Buteyko Clinic International. Later, we trained with him again in Canada, this time becoming Oxygen Advantage certified. Those weeks, and the science behind them, changed the way I thought about breathing, sleep, and how something as simple as nasal breathing can influence overall health. In many ways, that's where the Simply Breathe journey began.

So while my kids and I were traveling through Ireland last month, I reached out to Patrick to see if he had time to catch up. I'm so glad he did. It felt like picking up a conversation with an old friend, one that's been growing and evolving for years.

We talked about breathing science, new research, where the field is headed, and something we've both spent our careers thinking about: how do you help more people without making it more complicated?

And the funny thing is, the more I learn about breathing, the simpler my recommendations become. Not more complicated. Simpler.

People often assume better health requires more: more supplements, more gadgets, more data, more things to optimize. Sometimes those tools have their place. But I've found that some of the most meaningful improvements come from consistently practicing the fundamentals. Learning to breathe through your nose. Creating a sleep environment that supports real rest. Building habits that are sustainable enough to actually stick. None of that is flashy, but it works.

That philosophy didn't begin with Simply Breathe. I first saw it in my dad.

As a prosthodontist, he spent more than 40 years helping patients with TMJ disorders, clenching, grinding, and airway-related issues. He was endlessly curious and never seemed to assume that expertise meant he had all the answers.

One of the greatest lessons he ever taught me was this: if you listen carefully enough, people will tell you what they need. That wasn’t just how he treated patients. It’s how he approaches just about everything.

Reflecting on my conversation with Patrick, I realize how much that mindset shaped me, as much as anything I have learned in a classroom. It's why I keep reading the research, why I keep seeking out conversations with people like Patrick, and why I keep asking questions. Not because I think we've figured everything out. Because I know we haven't. Health is always evolving, and the people who teach it should keep evolving too.

When I left Galway, I found myself thinking less about how much I'd learned over the years and more about how grateful I am to still be learning.

Simply Breathe has never been about chasing trends or promising quick fixes. It's about helping people feel and function better through simple, sustainable habits. That belief connected my dad, Patrick, and me back in 2017. It still guides everything we do today, and I hope it always will.

Ps. I also highly recommend the Wild Atlantic Way!