WANTED: Squat Advice

Swehl

I love doing squats, and I think they're super beneficial. Unfortunately, I'm horrible at breathing while doing them. I get dizzy and nauseous. I would really like to increase the weight I'm using to lift heavier, but I'm nervous that I'll pass out or vomit (TMI sorry! lol). Does anyone else struggle to breath properly while doing them? What helps you?

whierd

What I do is I take a deep breath at the top of the movement, hold it while squeezing my core going down, push up, then release about midway going back up.

Swehl

What I do is I take a deep breath at the top of the movement, hold it while squeezing my core going down, push up, then release about midway going back up.

Okay I see. Thank you! So you do hold your breath a little bit, and that doesn't make you feel dizzy?

meshashesha2012

^ that's similar to what i do. i was taught to inhale at top. hold breath until you get to bottom, then exhale as you come up to standing.

it only take 5-10 secs to get to the bottom of a squat position holding breath for that amount of time shouldnt make you dizzy

whierd

What I do is I take a deep breath at the top of the movement, hold it while squeezing my core going down, push up, then release about midway going back up.

Okay I see. Thank you! So you do hold your breath a little bit, and that doesn't make you feel dizzy?

Well really the motion isn't taking that long, we're only talking a few seconds at most. Plus the pressure in your abdominal area helps to keep your core solid, which is important to keep your form proper and prevent injury, and also helps you push a little harder.

whierd

^ that's similar to what i do. i was taught to inhale at top. hold breath until you get to bottom, then exhale as you come up to standing

I hold it a bit past the bottom. I use that added pressure to help push myself upwards.

Swehl

Okay great. I will definitely try to focus on that. Thank you!!