Breathing is really important – it’s the first thing we do when we are born and the last thing we do before we die. And although it can sound simple as breathe in, breathe out, a proper breathing is what we need to know when exercising. This can vary depending on the type of exercise we are performing, and here you will find some tips on how to do it right.

Running

Knowing how to breathe correctly when running is the key to running well and not getting tired real quick. And the right way can be to take two steps while breathing in and two steps while breathing out. When the breathing is synchronized to running cadence, it keeps the organs from putting unnecessary pressure on the diaphragm. There will also be a lower heart rate since you are able to get more oxygen in and push all the carbon dioxide out of your body.

Lifting

When you are doing exercises where you exert yourself, you should remember to always exhale on exertion. This means that when you are pushing a bench press off your chest, you exhale on the push and inhale when you bring it to your chest. Or when doing a pull-up, you exhale when pulling up and inhale on the way down. A proper breathing during exertion is essential to prevent any internal injury, like high blood pressure, hernia and blood vessel strain.

Swimming

A proper breathing while swimming will also result with better performance. When your face is in the water you need to know how and when to breath. So, the right way can be to begin exhaling whether through your mouth or nose as soon as you finish breathing in. You may need to force the rhythm a little bit and forcefully exhale once you complete the breath. And when swimming underwater, you must learn to hold your breath. And the longer, you are able to contain the air in the lungs, the better the performance it will be.

Our breathing is the connection between our body and mind and they both need oxygen in order to function well. Knowing how to breathe while exercising is the key to performing well and not getting tired. Also, a proper breathing will help us control our emotions, and keep a clear mind.

High-intensity sports

High-intensity sports have demanding cardio and barrage of kicks, hits and tackles and all of these can definitely take your breath away. And the breathing muscles are the key part of the core stabilizing and postural control systems. So, when anticipating an impact, it’s important to take a deep breath and then brace the core. The breaths should come from the diaphragm and not the chest.

Pilates

Breathing is also really important when doing Pilates. It increases the safety of the exercises as well as facilitates correct muscle activation. There is actually a breathing technique pattern designed to specifically aid the movements and muscle activations. This includes inhaling through the nose, expanding the ribs laterally and exhaling through the mouth, closing the cage down and in.

Knowing how to breathe while exercising is the key to performing well and not getting tired. And the above tips can be your guide of how to breathe properly when performing versatile exercises. Also, a proper breathing will help us control our emotions, and keep a clear mind. This is because our breathing is the connection between our body and mind and they both need oxygen in order to function well. It can also help us to ease stress and make us feel less anxious. So, taking the time to sit somewhere comfortable and take a deep breath in and out will definitely boost your mood.