#32 The Breathing Secret Athletes Don't Know, With Liz Ho

4TG

4TG
#32 The Breathing Secret Athletes Don't Know, With Liz Ho
Mar 03, 2026 Season 2 Episode 32
Kylie Lynch

Watch & subscribe now to 4TG on YouTube đŸ“ș

 If you’ve ever felt gassed in a game and assumed it means you’re “unfit”, this one’s for you.

In this episode of 4TG (For The Girls), Kylie chats with Liz Ho – Performance Breathwork Expert about how to breathe properly for your sport, and why breathing is a trainable performance skill. 

Whether you play AFL, netball, soccer, or you’re building fitness with running, your breath can help you recover faster, stay calm under pressure, and unlock more consistent performance.

Liz breaks down the biggest breathing myths, the posture cues that actually help, and simple breathwork techniques you can use in real time – even with only 5 to 10 minutes before you run out.


In this episode, we cover:

  • Why “getting gassed” is not always a fitness issue
  • Hands on knees vs standing tall – what helps recovery?
  • Nasal vs mouth breathing at max intensity
  • Diaphragm breathing and the “3D” rib expansion cue
  • Breathwork for pre-game anxiety (extended exhale + physiological sigh)
  • Endurance breathing rhythms and CO2 tolerance basics

Chapters:

[00:00:00:01 ] Why breathing is a skill (not just “fitness”)

[00:03:54:20] Myth busting for athletes – getting gassed, hands on knees, nasal vs mouth breathing

[00:07:46:12] Liz’s story + the performance benefits (recovery, speed, sleep, regulation)

[00:21:21:07] The foundations – posture, nose breathing, diaphragm “3D” breath + quick drills (extended exhale, physiological sigh)

[00:36:51:09] Sport-specific breathing – endurance (CO2 tolerance, rhythm), high intensity resets, pre-game rituals + wrap up and where to find Liz


đŸ“± Follow Liz on Insta @_liz_ho 


Keywords:


breathwork for athletes, breathing techniques for sport, performance breathwork, diaphragmatic breathing, nasal breathing, mouth breathing, recovery between efforts, game day anxiety, nervous system regulation, endurance breathing, CO2 tolerance, AFL training

Support the show

Did this episode inspire you?

  • Please subscribe to 4TG, leave a five-star review, and share it with an athlete, parent or coach who needs to hear it.
  • Follow @4TG_Podcast on all socials and visit us at 4tg.com.au.

1:1 Athlete Mentoring – Confidence and Champion’s Mindset

  • Want 1:1 support to build real self-belief and perform with freedom? The 4TG 1:1 Athlete Mentoring is a 6-week program for driven female athletes who want to back themselves, lead with confidence and play to their strengths – on the field and off it.
  • We will work on mindset, habits, resilience, leadership and handling pressure with a clear plan and accountability each week.
  • If you are ready to stop overthinking and start playing with freedom, apply now via 4tg.com.au or DM me "MENTORING" on Instagram @4tg_podcast.

Want to support 4TG?

4TG Discount codes:

  • Younify Active – 10% off athlete supplements 👉 Grab yours h...
Episode Artwork #32 The Breathing Secret Athletes Don't Know, With Liz Ho 1:11:32 Episode Artwork #31 Self-Funded Olympian To Self-Taught Software Engineer: Tori West on Building Peak 54:04 Episode Artwork #30 Retirement From Sport, ACL Comebacks & Performing Under Pressure, With Piepa Cleary 54:53 Episode Artwork #29 Connection Beats Structure: Building Teams That Perform When It Matters Most, With Tom Cashin 55:40 Episode Artwork #28 5 Pre-Season Tips to Get Noticed & Level Up 28:14 Episode Artwork #27 Ayeisha McFerran UNBOXED: Person First, Athlete Second – Irish Hockey Goalkeeper on Confidence and Culture 1:05:53 Episode Artwork #26 Fix the Mindset or Lose the Athlete: Why 90% of Performance is Mental, With Jacqui Louder 56:12 Episode Artwork #25 Breaking the Boys’ Club: How Emily McKie Coaches Men and Inspires Women 1:05:50 Episode Artwork #24 Unstoppable Growth: 7 Ways Female Athletes Can Turn New Year Resolutions into Real Results 24:16 Episode Artwork #23 BONUS: Breaking the Mould: Kylie Lynch’s Journey from Setback to Spotlight in Women’s Sport 47:32 Episode Artwork #22 4TG 2025 Wrapped: Resilience, Confidence, and Your Identity Beyond Sport 25:11 Episode Artwork #21 Sidelined, Selected, Seen: Whitney Souness on Injuries, Non‑Selection & Fighting for Your Place in Women’s Sport 48:17 Episode Artwork #20 The Sprinter Who Refused to Quit: Fia Fighera on Injuries, Setbacks, and Speed Psychology 37:20 Episode Artwork #19 Rewriting the Rules: Why Sport Must Be Designed for Every Ability (and Gender) with Tamsin Colley 36:36 Episode Artwork #18 Burnout, Breakdowns & a New Beginning — Georgia Nanscawen’s Journey from Professional Hockey to AFLW 1:01:59 Episode Artwork #17 The Iron Within — How Lydia Frazer’s Self-Belief Carried Her Across the World’s Toughest Finish Line 41:33 Episode Artwork #16 What It Really Takes to Make It: The Truth About Sacrifice, Pressure & Purpose with Issie Bourne 38:59 Episode Artwork #15 The Invisible Load of Female Athletes: Why Doing More Might Be Holding You Back — with Chloe Giles 1:09:13 Episode Artwork #14 Food Is Science, Eating Is Behaviour: Matildas Dietitian Alicia Edge on Fuelling Female Athletes 1:04:13 Episode Artwork #13 From AFL Star to AFLW Champion: Ben Brown on Lessons, Daughters & Driving Change in Women’s Sport 51:47 Episode Artwork #12 Are You Really Eating Enough? RED-S, Recovery & Fuelling Strategies Every Athlete Needs with Dr. Emily Meehan 1:01:03 Episode Artwork #11 Behind the Mic: The Biggest Lessons from 10 Episodes of 4TG 32:56 Episode Artwork #10 When Parents Push Too Hard: Robbie Turnbull on Pressure, Confidence & Supporting Young Athletes 37:46 Episode Artwork #9 From Setbacks to the Olympics: Kate Smyth on Mindset, Fueling & the Power of 'The Athlete's Sanctuary 1:03:42 Episode Artwork #8 Where Are the Women? Liz Quinn on Closing the Female Coaching & Leadership Gap 50:25