Been having some pretty fierce forehead headaches lately – caused by a combination of stress, playing some difficult piano pieces, and weightlifting.
How are you guys making a conscious effort to relax your jaw while you’re lifting weights (regardless of whether it’s free weights or a machine)? And, how are you breathing in a more relaxed & natural way?
I’ve actually been experimenting with lifting without my headphones on, which seems to be helping a little bit.
I don’t make a decision to do so. In fact I probably grind my teeth pretty hard during a hard set of squats.
Consider trying a mouthguard?
x2. I actually got one because I was grinding my teeth. I don’t often remember to use it, but when I do it’s easy to see I was gritting my teeth in squats/ deads
I try to focus/direct stress on the muscles. If you’re in your head you’ll clench your teeth, if you’re in your muscles it’ll make you forget about teeth. Kind of going to a zen state.
Also the direction you push will make a difference. When I squat trying to go up, I’m more likley to focus energy at the top, like visualizing a rocket, so head space is where the energy is.
Pushing down through the ground instead redirects that and my teeth are taken out of the equation.
But yeah, a mouthguard would be easiest. I knew a guy who would just bite the brim of his baseball cap during sets, then put it back on.
Edit: You mentioned piano, do you take beta blockers? Those made me grind my teeth and bite my lips nonstop.
I don’t take beta blockers, but I do hold my jaw in a tight & tense position a lot of the time. Working hard to relax it (by not working so hard).
Love your suggestion about going into a zen state. I did that yesterday with the piano, and it worked wonders.
Glad it helped!