Breathing & Movement

drBzy
drBzy Posts: 9
edited November 11 in Fitness and Exercise
Howdy, y'all! I've tried searching for this (and have done numerous google searches) but without any luck.

Basically, I have a question/problem regarding breathing. Whenever I'm exercising, say yoga or Pilates or circuit training, my breathing seems to be opposite of what the trainer says.

Here's an example since I don't have the right vocabulary to really describe what happens: I'm doing a circuit training and we get to supermans (where you're laying on the floor belly down and lift up your arms and legs at the same pace). The instructor says that I should be inhaling when my arms and legs go up and exhaling when my arms and legs reach down to the floor. However, when I check my breath, I'm naturally doing the opposite: inhaling on the way up, exhaling on the way down. The problem is that I can't seem switch my breathing pattern to match up with what I am supposed to be doing. Every time I do, I mess up my form and get extremely short of breath.

It's really irritating for a number of reasons, but I'm wondering if anybody has had or is having a similar experience or any advice on how to align my breathing with my movement?

Replies

  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    It just takes concentration and practice.

    A good yoga class should have got your breathing established before you continued further into a routine.

    If you are still doing yoga get your instructor to help. Your Pilates instructor should be able to help too as it is an essential part of that also.

    Find a clip on YouTube for basic breathing exercises.

    Cheers, h.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    Yeah, actually, my breathing also tends to be the opposite to what's usually instructed. I think the ideal M.O. is supposed to be "exhale on exertion". But whatever. If it matters at all, and I'm not at all sure it does, that seems counterintuitive to me, because wouldn't your body want oxygen going into it during exertion? I don't know.

    I say just breathe how you want to breathe. As long as you a) are actually breathing enough (and not say holding your breath) and b) not hyperventilating.
  • cbhubbybubble
    cbhubbybubble Posts: 465 Member
    I'm much the same when I do yoga...seem to always be finding myself opposite and need to be mindful of my breathing....I guess that's partly the point...to be aware of your breath

    When lifting, I do better with exhale on exertion. It comes a little more naturally when coming out of a squat or a big lift of some sort to exhale
  • drBzy
    drBzy Posts: 9
    Thanks y'all for your insight! Glad to know I'm not the only one who does this.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    You need the oxygen to fuel the exertion that is why you breath in before and out during.
    As a personal observation, I find it easier to engage my abs etc when exhaling which helps with stabilisation.
    JMHO

    CHEERS, h.
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