ABOUT MARTIN McPHILIMEY
I'm a Clinical Respiratory & Sleep Scientist, educator and consultant. I work at the intersection of breathing, sleep, stress and human performance — translating complex science into meaningful, practical support.
THE THREAD THROUGH MY WORK
I've spent more than a decade in clinical respiratory and sleep science, from exercise physiology laboratories and NHS hospitals in the UK to healthcare, education and consulting in Australia and internationally.
Along the way, one thing has become increasingly clear to me: understanding physiology matters, but so does understanding the individual — their experiences, environment, behaviour and goals.
Today, I work with organisations, practitioners and individuals to bridge scientific understanding and practical application. I believe good science should lead to better questions, better decisions and more meaningful support.
WHERE IT BEGAN
My interest in breathing started with an unexpected discovery during university — and developed into a career exploring respiratory health and human performance.
01 · SPORT SCIENCE
While studying Sport and Exercise Science, I took part in a respiratory muscle strength assessment alongside housemates who, like me, played competitive rugby. My results stood out.
Two professors with expertise in respiratory physiology invited me for further investigations. The results continued to surprise us, and I wanted to understand why.
02 · RESEARCH
I went on to complete a Master of Research in Sport Science, exploring inspiratory muscle training and isocapnic hyperpnoea in relation to exercise performance and recovery.
What started as curiosity about my own physiology became an enduring interest in how the respiratory system influences health, behaviour and performance.
03 · NHS & CLINICAL SCIENCE
Through the NHS Scientist Training Programme, I developed my clinical foundation in respiratory and sleep science, later progressing into senior scientific and team leadership roles. Working across UK and Australian healthcare gave me experience in clinical assessment, multidisciplinary collaboration and caring for people with complex respiratory and sleep conditions.
That clinical foundation taught me the importance of careful assessment, professional boundaries and understanding what the evidence can — and cannot — tell us.
04 · WESTERN AUSTRALIA
After moving to Western Australia, I often encountered people with breathlessness, disrupted sleep, fatigue or anxiety whose routine investigations did not fully explain what they were experiencing.
That prompted deeper questions about habits, stress, expectations, emotional responses and the interaction between physical sensations and everyday life — without assuming that normal results rule out other medical causes.
BUILDING BEYOND THE CLINIC
In 2018, I founded Performance Through Health on the belief that sustainable performance is built on a foundation of health — including sleep, breathing, recovery, emotional regulation and understanding the demands we place on ourselves.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for support around anxiety, burnout and breathing-related concerns grew. I also saw an opportunity to reach beyond one-to-one consulting and support the professionals already working with people facing these challenges.
Exercise physiologists, coaches, breathwork facilitators and health professionals started approaching me for more advanced education and mentorship. They wanted to understand the underlying science and develop better professional judgement, not simply collect techniques.
In 2022, this led me to create the Breath Science Certification. As the training and professional development pathways expanded, School of Breath Science became the dedicated education brand in 2025.
Today, School of Breath Science focuses on practitioner education and continuing professional development. My personal work focuses on organisational consulting, specialist speaking and workshops, and individual mentorship. Both are built on scientific integrity, practical application and continued learning.
MY PHILOSOPHY
“I see my role as a bridge between scientific understanding and practical application.”
Breathing, sleep, stress and performance are too interconnected to understand entirely in isolation. I'm curious about insights from physiology, psychology, yoga and contemplative traditions, while being careful to distinguish established evidence, emerging research and hypothesis. I want education and practice to be individualised, safe, honest about uncertainty and genuinely useful.
Represent evidence accurately, including its limits, uncertainties and context.
Understand the person, their circumstances and goals before deciding what may be appropriate.
Translate complex knowledge into useful decisions, skills and strategies.
Prioritise safety, clear boundaries and referral or collaboration when needed.
WHAT MATTERS MOST
Helping someone who feels anxious or uncertain gain a clearer understanding of what they're experiencing. Supporting ambitious people to find a more sustainable relationship with work and recovery. Working with athletes who want to pursue performance without neglecting their long-term health.
And watching practitioners develop the knowledge, confidence and professional judgement to support others more effectively.
Those experiences motivate me far more than any single metric or credential. Scientific knowledge is important, but what we do with it is what matters.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
SELECTED RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
Selected co-authored journal publications spanning respiratory muscle training, exercise physiology and the interpretation of emerging ideas. Each links to the published article.
International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports, 13(4), 10–20.
View publication ↗Journal of Applied Physiology, 116(8), 970–979.
View publication ↗Journal of Applied Physiology, 115(8), 1163–1172.
View publication ↗Contraception, 88(3), 408–412.
View publication ↗
BEYOND THE SCIENCE
Outside work, I'm a husband, father and someone who has always enjoyed physical training and testing my own limits.
I played competitive rugby for years and now practise Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu alongside strength training. Both have taught me a great deal about patience, adaptation, managing pressure and learning from setbacks.
I love travelling, experiencing different cultures and being exposed to different ways of thinking about health and human behaviour.
I take the science and professional responsibility seriously. But I also believe warmth, curiosity, compassion and the ability to connect with people matter just as much.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER
If you're developing a more informed approach within your organisation, looking for practical education for your team or exploring specialist mentorship, I'd be pleased to hear what you're working towards.