Here's a tough take! Not breathing properly might seriously affect the effectiveness of your workouts.

So, wondering how a proper breathing technique can affect performance and recovery? Well, the impact is far bigger than one can imagine. Let's take a look.

Benefits of Proper Breathing

"The simple act of becoming aware of our breath—be it during yoga, other disciplines, or everyday life—helps us tune into the moment and the momentary state of our body and mind,” says Peloton instructor Nico Sarani.

Have you ever played GTA San Andreas? Remember the cheat codes? Well, you can say that proper breathing is a cheat code for a better workout. Correct breathing can significantly re-engineer the oxygen flow in the body, which can help stabilize the core.

Over time, good breathing does a few simple but massive things:

• You use less air to deliver the same oxygen.
• Muscles build up less CO2, so you fatigue more slowly.
• Blood flow improves, feeding muscles better.
• Your heart works smarter, not harder.
• Workouts hit harder, results come faster.

How to Breathe During Workouts?

“Your muscles need oxygen in a strength class to transport waste products like lactate and CO2 away,” said Pelton’s instructor, Marcel Maurer.

If we talk about strength training, you will have to exhale during the concentric phase, or in other words, when you push, press, or lift against resistance. And, inhale during the eccentric phase, or when you lower the weight back down to control.

“I would also recommend breathing more into your stomach, not just halfway to your chest, to bring more oxygen into your body. That's important for cardio and strength,” Marcel further adds.

How Proper Breathing Helps in a Workout?

Correct breathing can drastically affect workouts by delivering more oxygen to the muscles, which in turn will lead to improved stamina and power.

Key points:

• Deep breaths = better oxygen flow = more reps, more power, less fatigue
• Shallow breaths = less oxygen = stressed heart, faster burnout
• Better breathing = better output, better recovery

So, when are you starting your proper breathing journey?

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Joyita Das