Body Posture and Emotional Armor with Tom Myers and Patrick McKeown

Discover how modern life is reshaping our breathing, posture, and facial structure in this in-depth conversation between Patrick McKeown and renowned anatomist Tom Myers (Anatomy Trains). Tom shares insights from 50+ years of clinical practice and teaching, explaining: - How our “modern zoo” (agricultural → industrial → electronic age) creates a mismatch with our Paleolithic genes - Why chronic sitting, inactivity, and lack of movement are fundamentally altering our breathing patterns - The link between anxiety, environment, and dysfunctional breathing - How domestication (in humans and animals) leads to a narrower jaw, smaller face, crowded teeth, and restricted airways - Why head‑forward posture is now almost universal—and what it means for rib cage mechanics and breathing - The concept of tensegrity and how the rib cage functions as a dynamic, elastic structure rather than a simple “lever” system Patrick also shares his own background: - Personal struggles with asthma, nasal obstruction, poor sleep, and poor concentration - How these experiences led him into functional breathing, focusing on asthma, nasal breathing, sleep, and everyday breathing habits - If you’re interested in the deep biomechanics of breathing, facial development, and how our environment and lifestyle are shaping our health, this episode will give you a powerful new lens on the breath. #ButeykoClinic #PatrickMcKeown #TomMyers #AnatomyTrains #FunctionalBreathing #NasalBreathing #BreathingScience #Breathwork#AnxietyRelief #Posture #AirwayHealth #Asthma #SleepHealth #Fascia00:00 – Intro & Tom Myers’ Background 01:43 – Harvard, the 1960s & Buckminster Fuller 02:18 – Tensegrity & the Rib Cage as a Breathing System 03:40 – Modern Life as a ‘Zoo’ & Genetic Mismatch 05:00 – Laziness, Movement & Breathing Changes 06:42 – Domestication, Narrow Jaws & Airway Problems 09:36 – Sleep Apnea & The Shrinking Human Airway 10:45 – Breathing as the Fulcrum: Conscious vs Unconscious 12:39 – Sea Mammals, Diving Response & Human Breath Control 15:00 – Modern Life Disrupts All Basics: Sleep, Breathe, Walk, Eat 15:41 – Tongue Tie, Fascia & the Midline from Brain to Heart 17:15 – Mouth vs Nose Breathing & Posture 18:55 – Nose vs Mouth & Diaphragm vs Upper Chest 19:53 – Transition to Slides