Push-Up Breathing Question

[nash031]

Typically when I do pushups, I don't exhale on the "push" because the pace at which you do pushups is generally going to be a lot faster than the pace for, say, a bench press or a squat. I just focus on breathing normally, making sure I don't hold my breath at all, and just allow my body to determine how fast I inhale and exhale. I have the most success with enduring longer sets of just about any exercise from running to cycling to lifting or bodyweight exercises and HIIT when I don't try to force myself to breathe in some pre-determined pattern. The exception would be swimming for obvious reasons!

[Exrook]

Know When To Hold It: How To Breathe While Lifting

Might stir the pot a bit.

[nash031]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exrook Know When To Hold It: How To Breathe While Lifting Might stir the pot a bit.

Quote:

When the loads get huge, the tough guys momentarily hold their breath

Not sure we've got any ER folks planning to squat 800 lbs like the roided up Ronnie Coleman does, but natural may include holding one's breath briefly on a single or low-rep max effort lift. I doubt many folks here are doing that type of thing, and for longer, multiple rep sets, breathing - whether rhythmically or naturally - is most definitely advisable.

Holding your breath through, say, a ten-rep set is only going to leave you gasping for air by the sixth rep and is detrimental not only to your performance but also your health!

[Big_Hitter]

when I'm trying to grunt out a last rep I'll hold my breath (I think)

that's when my trainer normally yells at me to breathe

[RunningBum]

Looking at youtube videos is a great idea (I'd say at least 2 to make sure they are consistent to protect against the yahoo showing you how to do it wrong), but also record yourself doing it and compare. It is easy to think you are doing it correctly, and then see that you aren't. A good personal trainer could help here, but I agree with the comment that you may not know if they are actually good.

[Big_Hitter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunningBum A good personal trainer could help here, but I agree with the comment that you may not know if they are actually good.

a good personal trainer is one that drinks with you

[Sunset]

Oh, I was mislead by the title.

I was going to say when I see a large pushup, my breathing goes a little faster and my eyes seem to bulge out a bit.

But now that I know the topic, my answer would be breathe out on the up and in on the down, if I was concerned about it and didn't breathe normally.

[growing_older]

If you are just starting, you need to be sure that you do not hold your breath while exercising. Also, start slow and go slow. Too many trainers (and videos) will push you to find your maximum exertion point. That may be an effective way to build muscle for someone already in shape, but it's a good way to injure yourself, or worse have a heart attack, if you are new to exercising.

A good trainer (exercise physiologist if possible) can guide you about how to find safe levels of exertion and GRADUALLY increase as you get stronger. It's very very common for new exercisers to feel good after a few weeks and throw caution to the winds with a big jump in effort or endurance. This is a recipe to injury and may lead you to abandon your plans to exercise altogether. Be cautious. Go slow. Be safe.

Many trainers are not as knowledgeable as they think they are. Be especially careful of those that exhort you to greater effort and to push you harder. It's all too common, and can be very dangerous.