Improve Your Breathing, Improve Your Workouts

Deadlift
Photo by Alora Griffiths on Unsplash

There are many different aspects that contribute to a successful workout. Did you stay motivated? Was your form correct? Did you stay hydrated? Indeed, the list goes on and on, but there’s one thing about workouts if you don’t get this right, you might actually be going in the wrong direction. We are, of course, talking about breathing. Correct breathing is one of the most important parts of not just exercising, but life in general. Here’s how to know if you’re doing it right.

In Through Your Nose, Out Through Your Mouth

This is pretty much the cornerstone of a good breathing technique. Before we move on to the next step, we first need to make sure that this part is covered. It is? Awesome.

Your Stomach Should Be Involved

It is said that when babies are born, they know how to breathe properly. They don’t just breathe with their noses and mouths—they do it with their entire body. It’s only when we grow up that we somehow unlearn this basic, primal fact.

Therefore, as you breathe through your nose, put a hand on your stomach and make sure you can feel it expanding. Afterward, when you breathe out through your mouth, focus on allowing your stomach to then relax and “deflate” back in.

The Right Way

This is the right way to breathe, not just when working out but throughout life in general. Even singers are taught this in music school as a proper way to control their syllables. Master this basic breathing technique, and feel more connected with your workouts than ever before!