Do you have poor breathing patterns?
Over the course of a normal day we breathe over 20,000 times. Now that’s a lot of breathing, all of which is done subconsciously. But here’s the thing, improper breathing patterns can reinforce poor posture, diminish mobility and have a negative impact on performance.
So how do we improve our breathing patterns, and tap into the many benefits?
The answer is in diaphragmatic breathing. By breathing with your diaphragm, gas exchange in your lungs will be more efficient; your breathing rate will slow; your nervous system will relax; circulation and digestion are aided; your immune system is boosted; you have a heightened sense of well being and finally, the diaphragm contributes to good posture and core muscle strength.
In order for us to understand how breathing can help us add some Kgs to the bar, produce more power and move more efficiently, we first need to look at a couple of poor breathing patterns that are all too common.