Working out can be tough and tiring.
One of those small things that can make a big difference is paying attention to your breathing.
Thats right: Breathing, something you do all day every day, can impact your athletic performance.
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If it sounds simple, well, in a way, it is.
Heres everything you gotta know about your breath and how it can impact your workouts.
Think of oxygen as a sort of fuel for your muscles.
The more activity you do, the more oxygen your body needs to sustain these activities, says Benzaquen.
For these reasons, proper breathing should be one of your main focuses during exercise, says Clancy.
Diaphragmatic breathing, on the other hand, is your best bet for efficient, effective breathing.
With diaphragmatic breathing, just the belly should rise and fall.
You should aim to do 10 deep breaths in a row where just your belly moves, says DiSalvo.
And together, all of these movements impact the mechanics of your body.
Thats because when you exhale and squeeze the air out, you increase core engagement, he explains.
The core is the base of tension with which the rest of your body gets strength, adds DiSalvo.
But core engagement isnt the only benefit of a strategically timed exhale.
This will also ensure that your fatiguing muscles receive the oxygen they need to keep working.
Note that consistent doesnt mean slow.
Thats because longer, deeper breaths can help you better access your range of motion, says Somerset.
Thats key when youre trying to move deeper into a stretch or pose.
In an ideal world, you want to breathe through your nose, says Benzaquen.
The nasal passage also helps you humidify the air through mucous, which can prevent irritation, he adds.
Breathing through the mouth, on the other hand, doesnt provide the same filtering and humidification processes.
If these techniques don’t come naturally, don’t sweat it, says DiSalvo.
“With breathing, you havesomany chances every single day to practice proper technique.
With time, itll start to feel more and more natural.
