The Lung Mechanic

23/02/2026

Pretty exciting times! Hot off the press a research scoping review I have the pleasure of being involved in. Looking at using breathing pattern retraining to improve functional non epileptic seizures.

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26/01/2026

Heading back from the holidays and into work wanting to keep hold of that feel good relaxed feeling?

Breathing well helps us to become calm, relaxed and think more clearly. Whether you are living with a long term condition that affects your breathing or energy, or you simply want to have more of that holiday feeling breathing well is the key.

26/01/2026

How well do you breathe? Lets take a moment to notice. Place one hand on your chest, one hand on the tummy, above the belly button. Do you breathe through your nose of your mouth? Is your breath out longer than your breath in? Which hand does most of the moving? The top hand or the bottom hand? Breathing well is about taking moments to notice whats happening with the breath

26/01/2026

The nose is the MVP of the breathing system. Do you use it to breathe? For some it might be blocked due to a cold, running because of allergies or difficult to breathe through for structural reasons. If the nose filters the air we breathe and prepares the air to be warm and moist for when the air gets to our lungs. It will be difficult to nose breathe through a cold or allergy season so be patient. Structural changes are a little different and covered by the ears nose and throat specialists.

26/01/2026

Summer invites us to get outside, how does being outside support your well being? The next time you are outside, notice how it makes you feel, notice if your breathing changes or settles. Remember to stay Sunsafe if you do and you have full permission to stay within your energy limits.

26/01/2026

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Now that you have spent time noticing your breathing lets see how efficient it is, which means how much energy you put into breathing. The most energy efficient way to breathe is to use your nose and when you breathe in. When the tummy rises and falls is means the diaphragm is moving and fun fact, needs to do about 80% of the work. The top hand may not move, its OK if it moves a little bit. Then your breath out should be longer than the breath in. Take some time to compare what your breathing does when you are working or under pressure, compared to how your breathing is when you are feeling chilled and calm.

01/01/2026

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Southern Physiotherapy Symposium 2025: Both Jen and Catherine with colleague and physio legend, Fy Dunford took to the podium for a Focused Symposia to highlight the need to understand the long term implications of COVID 19. We know how hard people with lived experience advocate in this space so it's been a privilege to continue the advocacy to health professionals.

Photo is of Fy Dunford, Jen Mepham and Catherine George standing in front of the opening slide of the focused Symposia Dare to Care: Medical ambivalence and care denial whilst enduring the symptoms and limitations following COVID: Shared learnings for true patient-centred care

www.breathability.nz The Lung Mechanic

18/12/2025

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Work wives. Fuelled by caffeine and our passion for improving outcomes for people living with long term conditions. www.breathability.nz https://www.thelungmechanic.co.nz/ www.jennifermepham.com

09/12/2025

My amazing colleague and other half of Breathability NZ has helped write a book on managing long covid!

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This book came to fruition this year. The feedback has been humbling to say the least. Jen co authored the chapter Physical Rehabilitation Techniques for Long COVID with Dr Lynette Hodges and Angela Maxwell-McRae. It took about a year from first putting pen to paper to having the physical book. Jens hopes the book supports clinicians working with people living with Long COVID and clinicians who are coordinating access to much needed services.

Our online Long COVID course covers the key topics for managing the symptoms and a great place to start, whether you want to work through the content at home with family or whānau or as a precursor to your physio appointment we are confident you will find evidence based strategies to support you or someone you know living with Long COVID. Check out our online course here www.breathability.nz/courses/

19/11/2025

Are you, a friend or a colleague still struggling with long covid symptoms? The evidence for managing this sits currently with pacing. Breathing well is an essential element to this! Want to know more? Check out https://breathability.nz/

19/11/2025

You, your family member, friend or colleague still struggling with managing long covid symptoms? Check out https://breathability.nz/ an online self management programme you can do in your own time in your own home to learn and understand where the evidence sits currently in managing your symptoms

11/09/2025

The better half of Breathability.nz Jen Mepham has just been published! Check out this book for managing long covid.

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This ground-breaking volume provides the first comprehensive resource for health professionals managing the rehabilitation of people experiencing Long COVID. Founded on therapeutic principles and evidence from other chronic conditions, and informed by clinician and lived experience expertise, the bo...