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One of the most overlooked aspects of exercise is the power of breathing and posture. These two elements can greatly benefit your workout regimen. Knowing how valuable your breathing and posture are will enable you to have greater control over your workout. It is also important to understand how to utilize both of them to their greatest potential.
Effective Breathing
Our breath is what fuels our bodies. It allows blood to become oxygenated and flow to the rest of our organs, nourishing them and pushing us to continue on with our activity. It does not matter if you are running on treadmills or working in the yoga studio, breathing is extremely important. Most of us are familiar with that feeling that comes from working hard. Your lungs start to burn and fall behind, it seems like you can never get enough air. However, by getting your breathing under control, the fatigue that naturally sets in can be avoided. Most people do not inhale and exhale effectively. While breathing is certainly natural, doing it efficiently is not. It is important to fill your lungs up to capacity, taking a long and controlled breath through your nose. You should feel the air expanding in your chest, going deep into your diaphragm. Exhale this air through your mouth in a controlled fashion. Again, being sure to completely empty your lungs. Doing so can give you the same boost a water break would.
Posture and Exercise
The reasons for having a decent posture are directly linked to proper breathing. Without keeping your torso straight, you cannot take a deep breath. Your diaphragm and lungs become weakened when your back is bent or slumped forward. In addition to not allowing you to breathe right, the incorrect posture can take away from your workout in a number of other ways. When you are slumped over the body is actually using more muscles, unfortunately, these muscles tend to strain your spine. It also makes it difficult to balance. Yoga, Tai Chi, martial arts, and even weight lifting all have a strong emphasis on balance. Many of the required positions become impossible without having the proper posture. Finally, the incorrect posture also affects you mentally. A slumped over body reinforces a sense of defeat, which can make a difficult workout feel even worse. Keeping a good posture generally means your back is straight and that you are standing tall. Ask your instructors or a personal training for tips on keeping a good posture that is specific to your workout or activity.
Practice Makes Perfect
It can help to practice your breathing and posture throughout the day. It is common to forget about these things once you leave the gym or training studio. Practice controlled breathing while you are at work, in the car, watching television, or going for a walk. Anytime you can fit it in is fine. Try to inhale for a count of five seconds, and then exhale for a count of five. Also be aware of your posture. You might be surprised to see how often your posture suffers!
The importance of breathing and posture in exercise cannot be expressed enough. They can influence your entire workout, physically as well as mentally. Practice throughout the day to enjoy the benefits of effective breathing and proper posture.
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