Fitness Breathing - Breathe Better To Improve Workouts & Performance

With a rise in popularity with yoga and meditative exercise, breath has become one of the main focal points. Breathing properly can make all the difference in your performance and fitness. With many practices you will be guided through breath slowly from the mouth/nose to the pelvis and back up, although the order can vary depending on the activity. It seems in order to take a break; most of us today have to pen it into our schedule.

Nose breathing will help with an increase in oxygen uptake as it is efficient. For some this can be impossible but for those with clear nose passages, you should practice utilizing breath with nose whenever you can, especially during cardio. You will learn to do this automatically once you are aware a few times. Work on the control and timing in order to get to a point where you feel relaxation (or ease for those doing this while moving).

Slow breath in and out is best for most exercises to keep heart rate calm but some like to practice other forms of breath patterns for exercise. Breath holding is also used, called Vasalva Manoeuvre although I do not advocate breath holding during any phases of exercise or lifting as it is far more dangerous than helpful but of course when dealing with water sports and higher elevations; there are patterns of breath hold training which have applications here under the right supervisions of course.

There is a new wave of breath work being used in sports such as MMA where the athletes use a snorkel while nose is clipped, teaching the body to work more efficiently while they train so that come fight day they will not be winded. Many train in high elevations for this same purpose but the snorkel seems to be an even more extreme way to train for similar effects.

Pilates and Tai Chi practice breath with controlled movement causing sync versus the flow you get with yoga and meditation. Similar to weight lifting, yet without the resistance, these activity choices are a wonderful option for those limited. There is no weight or weight bearing and can be done without any particular equipment.

I myself had to learn to incorporate some breath and meditative work within my fitness regimen. It is something necessary to us all within the culture and pace we live today. People wear many more hats and much different ones since the days when these breath practices were invented yet they are as important if not more so for our 'new age' populations.

Work at slowed and controlled breath for as little as 5 minutes per day while you do a few stretches. Hamstring and chest stretches are something everyone can use daily because the numbers of us with issues related to these areas is a high percentage. To maximize your time, work in breath with these stretches and activate the de-stressors to help you get through the hectic pace of our everyday. Mild versions of activity and breath are especially needed for those with any lung related issues.

By Linda Cusmano