Following his recent win against AZ, Feyenoord player Marcus Pedersen said he would benefit from a “breathing coach”. It helps him stay energized longer in games and may have contributed to that goal.
The breathing coach Pedersen mentions is Robbin Vredeveld (30). The two of them have one session each week. “This is not a floating thing. I lay the foundation for players to improve their performance.”
turn the rudder
Vredeveld had a “wrong start” to life. Born with severe asthma, he was separated from his mother immediately and lived in an asthma center for the first few years. He recovered from most illnesses, but his interest in breathing remained.
When his mother died of a heart attack at the age of 55 and his entrepreneurial father and stepfather were under constant stress, he changed course. A stressful job as a political consultant was traded for his passion.
“I have always been interested in human behavior,” says Vredeveld today. “It was a passion with books and courses. Until my mother died. When I realized that life is short, I quit my job and gave myself a year to put on permanent makeup.”
more than breathing
Vredeveld is known today as a “breathing coach,” but explains that his job involves more than just breathing. “I help people with awareness. I help them perform better, sleep deeper, and heal faster. Including breathing exercises but also with mental guidance, cold training and mindset. Your breath is the remote control of your nervous system.”
Vredeveld focuses on top athletes. This was done through a good friend, Ramon Hendriks, who went on loan from Feyenoord to FC Utrecht. Vredeveld helped Hendriks recover from a serious injury and the footballer noticed that he was in faster form and feeling better.
“The club talked about it and Marcus Pedersen, among others, became interested,” says Vredeveld. “I work with many players now, including Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV. The focus is only on Pedersen because he is very open about it. It breaks taboos.”
underexposed look
“I want everyone who comes to me to experience what goes on in their body emotionally, physically and psychologically when they are under stress or pressure. Breathing is an underexposed feature in soccer players. They need to get to know their body so that they can recognize, recognize, and regulate the signals coming from their bodies. Science shows that breathing work significantly reduces stress levels and improves performance.”
“I coach players to improve their CO2 tolerance so they can perform better under high pressure. I do this with Marcus doing one hour of breathing work each week, checking his internal state, and sitting in an ice bath after training. It’s also getting protocols for greater oxygen uptake and maximum concentration. This means it is more efficient and can do more with less.”
“For example, an ice bath helps increase mental stamina, boost regeneration and endorphin production. This gives you ‘mental clarity’. You become ‘happy’ because your dopamine and adrenaline levels rise. It lowers the stress level. Do you do this often? Then you will feel happier. A cold shower has more or less the same effect.”
inner peace
“These exercises help Marcus focus, energize and recover. And above all: peace of mind. A calmer feeling in the head and a stronger feeling in the body will increase your performance. Train your ‘mind’ and your body will follow.” You make great progress when functional breathing, confidence, and regulation become a habit.”
“Because of the protocols implemented before, during and after matches, Marcus has, among other things, less shortness of breath, acidosis and more concentration. It can also keep energy management up to date. That makes it easier for him to resist in a match.” Marcus is incredibly ambitious. Obsessed with details.”
breathe longer
A football fan from Rotterdam, Vredeveld watches every match played by the players he coaches. He’s watching your stance. For example, does he see high shoulders and mouth breathing? He then sees breathing patterns that cause less concentration and more fatigue, hyperacidity, and even injury. Vredeveld discusses this during meetings.
“We often breathe through the mouth and chest, but not through the nose and diaphragm. As a result, we ‘breathe too much’ and the body is in stress mode all day long. So all available stimuli are not helping. It takes energy.” and it gives less time to heal, so most of us always feel fussy, tired or weak.”
“People who breathe excessively often suffer from high blood pressure or heart rate because their nervous systems are overwhelmed by chronic stress. These people benefit from breathing less, slower and deeper. In this way, they prevent long-term complaints such as stress, reduced resistance, burnout and illness in the long run. A simple tip: When you’re feeling stressed, exhale twice as long as you inhale through your nose. This is the first step towards greater peace of mind. Pedersen proves it.”
Source: NOS
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
