Squats- how to breathe?

I've always done my squats with an inhale as I'm squatting and an exhale as I'm extending my knees. Aren't you always supposed to exhale during while the muscle is doing the bulk of it's work in the exercise anyhow?

Anyway, I've heard recently that you should only breathe while in a full upright position and hold your breath during the entire squat until you are once again upright. Exhale, inhale, squat, repeat.

Which is the proper breathing technique for squats? I especially want to know as I don't have a spotter today, so I'll be going light, but if and when I get to heavy enough weights on squat I want to avoid passing out and injuring myself.

Inhale, hold it on the way down, exhale on the way up. You want to maintain inter-abdominal pressure to protect your spine.

[QUOTE=W8isGR8]Inhale, hold it on the way down, exhale on the way up. You want to maintain inter-abdominal pressure to protect your spine.[/QUOTE]

Will do. Thx :D

holding your breath on the way up = hernia

unrack, breath in, lower yourself, exhale as you drive up. repeat.

[QUOTE=Dankid]holding your breath on the way up = hernia[/QUOTE]
I disagree, i've used the holding breath method for a long time with no problems, i feel holding my breath during the rep then breathing in between reps makes my body feel a lot more stable and i can do more weight.

[QUOTE=Mr Lee]I disagree, i've used the holding breath method for a long time with no problems, i feel holding my breath during the rep then breathing in between reps makes my body feel a lot more stable and i can do more weight.[/QUOTE]

and you can play russian roullette for a long time w/o shooting yourself....doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

exhale on the hard part (going up)

[QUOTE=F69]exhale on the hard part (going up)[/QUOTE]

not true on everything; i sure as hell hope you arn't exhaling when you pull the bar for deadlifts/rack pulls, lmao.

not true on everything; i sure as hell hope you arn't exhaling when you pull the bar for deadlifts/rack pulls, lmao.

was talking about squats

[QUOTE=Mr Lee]I disagree, i've used the holding breath method for a long time with no problems, i feel holding my breath during the rep then breathing in between reps makes my body feel a lot more stable and i can do more weight.[/QUOTE]
I agree with you. But if it's not a heavy load I exhale on the way up.

Holding your breath allows you to lift heavier. When it comes to heavy weights, I will generally always hold my breath for the whole rep to provide more stability and protect the "hull": gut and all.

holding your breath=Valslva effect=you passing out=bar dropping on you=your fked

unless you can incoporate partial valslva.

[QUOTE=$AJ]not true on everything; i sure as hell hope you arn't exhaling when you pull the bar for deadlifts/rack pulls, lmao.[/QUOTE]


Umm, if you exhale as you pull, lifting the weight is a lot easier. Pretty sure it's a common technique in DL's. Obviously there's no way you'll agree with me, but try doing a deadlift the way you'd do it, then try the same weight while exhaling as you pull. A LOT easier, isn't it?

[QUOTE=Vinny_Au]holding your breath=Valslva effect=you passing out=bar dropping on you=your fked

unless you can incoporate partial valslva.[/QUOTE]
I just follow what pavel recommends, his advice always seems to work for me so i have no doubts that his holding breath technique will work well.

[QUOTE=BernieD]Umm, if you exhale as you pull, lifting the weight is a lot easier. Pretty sure it's a common technique in DL's. Obviously there's no way you'll agree with me, but try doing a deadlift the way you'd do it, then try the same weight while exhaling as you pull. A LOT easier, isn't it?[/QUOTE]

yea, i think i'll pass on exhaling while pulling up 600+ ;)

I keep hearing holding your breath on dealdifts is also dangerous.(hernia)

[QUOTE=$AJ]and you can play russian roullette for a long time w/o shooting yourself....doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.[/QUOTE]
Another awesome AJ quote. But seriously, you can blow out little puffs of air deadlifting, it's not like you empty your lungs on the way up.

People, people, people....

Breathing squats have been around for years. If you do them properly, you WON'T have anything bad happen to you.

Inhale. Squat. Exhale on your way up. Cram your lungs again with oxygen, hold your breath. Squat. Exhale on the way up.

If you're doing the 20 rep squat routine doing this, wow what a workout!