Why, what, how, when you should breathe.
Breathing is one of the most underrated and/or underestimated factor that benefits your health and training performance. It actually very well may be the X factor.
So why should we all learn to breathe?
We can live without food and water, at least for a few days, but we all die within minutes without oxygen. This only fact should be enough to bring breathing to our attention. Every day, we inhale and exhale on average 20.000 times to make sure we absorb sufficient oxygen.
Mastering breathing positively impacts our cells and the autonomic nervous system, the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.
Practicing deep inhaling/exhaling will expand your oxygen storage capacity. This means being able to absorb and retain more air, which in return will improve your endurance.
Studies also show that deep breathing allows the body to relax a lot more.
What is deep breathing?
It simply consists in learning and practicing breathing patterns and drills. Drills can be performed sitting up or laying down. It is a great meditation method. A session can last about 20 min. It can be less if needed.
How do I practice deep breathing?
It is a training that needs to be taken wisely and little by little. The performances will improve along with a consistent practice.
You can sit down, legs crosses, back straight, chest tall, shoulders back.
- Deep, long inhale with your mouth through you belly first (your belly button moves forward when you inhale), then chest and head. Follow with deep long exhale through your mouth.
- Repeat 30 times.
- Then Stop breathing after the last exhale repetition.
- Hold it as long as you can.
- Take a very deep breath and hold it in for 10/15 sec. Deep long exhale.
- Repeat the cycle 3 to 5 times.
Outdoors practice is ideal. There are a variety of ways to practice breathing when working out, different tips for dynamic and static training, sleeping tips and more.
You can book your breathing session at streetworkoutacademy.com
When should you practice breathing?
The morning is a great time to get started. Even for five minutes.
Before sleep is also ideal. You can train the 4/7/8 pattern to fall asleep: inhale for 4 sec, hold it 7 sec, exhale for 8 sec. Repeat a few times.
