Proper way to breathe while lifting?

Bigger Stronger Leaner
1

This morning someone in my group exercise class (I teach strength training classes) asked me, “How do I breathe while lifting these dumbbells?”

Now I know it’s usually exhale on the concentric (lift) part of the movement, and inhale on the eccentric (lowering) part. But how often?

Obviously we don’t want to take a new breath during each & every rep. And some people advocate holding your breath, especially during heavy weights.

Then there’s the whole “inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth” pattern, which is different from yoga breathing where you’re breathing in & out through the nose only.

How do you breathe when lifting weights? There’s quite a difference between doing six super-heavy deadlifts with monster weight, and doing 20 bicep curls with 10-pound dumbbells (which is what many folks in a group exercise class would be doing).

Thanks for any & all advice.

2

For heavy lifts, I hold my breath for as many reps as possible, because I want to keep the strongest brace I can. You can hear me breathe out on rep 10 here.

Although I AM partial to breathing squats, in which case, it’s a minimum of 3 of the deepest breaths I can possible take in between each rep

In general, I’m going to keep my breath held DURING the rep. If I exhale, it will be after the concentric is complete, but most likely it will be after a complete rep and before the start of another. I’ll inhale before the rep starts.

3

Staying tight is always key. Holding breath and exhaling on finish for only one rep. But keep holding as long as you can . Breathing relaxes everything