New Zealand store Ordering from Australia?
The Breather respiratory training device
$99.95 AUD
The Breather is a hand-held respiratory training device. Breathing in and out through it against a resistance you choose exercises the muscles you breathe with.
- One dial for breathing in and one for breathing out
- Two sessions a day of 20 breaths
- Drug-free. Wash it by hand and keep using it
- A TGA-listed medical device in Australia
In stock
- Delivery to New Zealand from $27.50, posted from Australia
- Prices are in Australian dollars (AUD)
- Pay with your card or through PayPal. A PayPal account is not required
- Have a question? Email sales@thebreather.com.au or call +61 410 777 034
Is The Breather the right device for you?
The Breather is made for people who need stronger breathing muscles. It is often one part of a plan your GP, physio or speech-language therapist has put together, whether that is for rehabilitation, voice work or respiratory support over the long term.
A good fit if
- You get short of breath walking up a hill or carrying in the groceries
- A health professional has suggested respiratory muscle training
- You are seeing a speech-language therapist about your swallow, cough or voice
- You would like a drug-free exercise that takes a few minutes at home
Choose The Breather Fit if
- You are healthy and want it for sport or fitness
- You are after a higher resistance range
Is there a problem with your heart or lungs? Talk to your health professional before starting any new breathing exercise programme.
How The Breather works
The Breather is a breathing device that works by resistance. Each breath in and each breath out goes through the device, and you decide how hard it is to move the air. Working against that resistance is what trains your breathing muscles. The name for this is respiratory muscle training.
It has one dial for breathing in and another for breathing out. Some devices train only one of the two.
Both dials start at 1, the lightest setting, and you set them separately. That lets you give more work to whichever direction needs it.
Inhale dial
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Settings 1 to 6. Trains the diaphragm and the other muscles that pull air into your lungs.
Exhale dial
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Settings 1 to 5. Trains the abdominals and the other muscles that push air back out.
Who it is used with
Respiratory muscle training is used by health professionals for people living with asthma, stable COPD, heart failure, Parkinson's disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, spinal cord injury or swallowing difficulty (dysphagia), and for people who have had a stroke.
It works alongside your medication and other treatment. It is not a replacement for either.
What the studies say
Our articles go through the published research.
Using The Breather day to day
- Get set. Sit up straight, let your shoulders drop and turn both dials to 1.
- Empty your lungs, then seal the mouthpiece with your lips.
- Take a deep, strong breath in that lasts 2 to 3 seconds.
- Hold for a moment, then push the air out strongly for 2 to 3 seconds without puffing your cheeks.
- Count that as one. A set is 10 breaths.
Our training page has a printable daily journal, a checklist for before each session and the protocol in full.
A typical week
- 10 breaths per set
- 2 sets each session
- 2 sessions daily, one morning and one evening
- 6 days out of 7
Try the next setting up on a dial roughly once a week. Allow 2 to 4 weeks of steady training before you expect to feel a change.
Device details
| Inhale settings | 6 |
|---|---|
| Exhale settings | 5 |
| Size | 129 x 43 x 46 mm |
| Weight | About 45 g |
| Use | One person per device |
| Regulatory status | TGA-listed medical device in Australia |
Keeping it clean
- Pull the mouthpiece off and hand wash it with warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid. Rinse it thoroughly.
- Shake the water off, then set it down somewhere clean to air dry, away from direct sun.
- Now and then, give it a deeper clean with a 5 to 15 minute soak in a mix of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts warm water.
- Keep it out of the dishwasher.
- One device per person. It should not be shared, even with family.
Delivery to New Zealand
We post to addresses across New Zealand from Australia. Delivery is one charge per order.
| Items ordered | Delivery (AUD) |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | $27.50 |
| 4 to 10 | $37.50 |
| 11 to 20 | $49.50 |
| More than 20 | Email us |
Paying from New Zealand
Prices on this page are in Australian dollars (AUD). Your card provider or PayPal converts the total to New Zealand dollars when you pay.
Clinics, hospitals and therapists
Buying for a practice, ward or service? Email sales@thebreather.com.au or call +61 410 777 034 about larger orders.
Who supplies The Breather in New Zealand
The Breather is supplied to New Zealand by Nikki Martin, an Australian speech pathologist. She is the only distributor for New Zealand and Australia, for both The Breather and The Breather Fit.
Nikki has worked in speech pathology since 2000, including in major Sydney teaching hospitals such as Royal North Shore, Concord and Westmead. To ask a question before you order, email sales@thebreather.com.au or call +61 410 777 034.
Common questions from New Zealand customers
Do you deliver The Breather to New Zealand?
Yes. Orders are posted from Australia to New Zealand addresses. Delivery costs $27.50 AUD for 1 to 3 items, $37.50 for 4 to 10 and $49.50 for 11 to 20.
Is the price in New Zealand dollars?
No. Prices are in Australian dollars. Your card provider or PayPal converts the amount to New Zealand dollars at checkout.
How soon will I feel a difference?
Allow two to four weeks. That is with both daily sessions done, six days out of seven.
How many times a day do I use it?
Twice a day is the usual guideline, once in the morning and once in the evening, with one day off each week. You do two sets of 10 breaths each time.
Should I buy The Breather or The Breather Fit?
Buy The Breather if you are managing a health condition or building your breathing strength back up. Buy The Breather Fit if you want it for sport or fitness, because its resistance goes higher. Each has six settings for breathing in and five for breathing out.
Can my partner and I use the same device?
No. Each Breather is for one user only, and that includes partners and others in your household.
Is light-headedness normal?
Some people feel light-headed in their first sessions. It usually passes. If it keeps happening, stop and speak to your health professional.
How is it different from an incentive spirometer?
A spirometer of that kind is for practising slow, deep breaths and shows the volume of air you take in. The Breather works differently. It makes you breathe against resistance, and that is what strengthens the breathing muscles.
Can I stop my medication if I use The Breather?
No. Keep taking what you have been prescribed. The Breather is an addition to your treatment, not a swap for it.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. This page gives general information only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Your GP, physio or speech-language therapist can tell you if respiratory muscle training suits you.
