How important is it to inhale/exhale in certain lifts?

[Andre4000]

I've noticed that for at least three of the lifts I do (squat, standing military press, captain chair leg raises) the instructions given call for exhaling when going up in the lift. Is this really that important to have to remember to inhale/exhale correctly, does it serve that much of a purpose?

[chazzy1864]

proper breathing is rather important.

It can aid in the lift. Also it can keep you from passing out.

[Alex2010]

delivered the lulz, repped.


and yea, alot of ppl think they are exerting more strength by holding in their breath. idiots.

[Uncle Ben]

and yea, alot of ppl think they are exerting more strength by holding in their breath. idiots.

It's a Valsava Maneuver. It's used stabilize the core.

[Alex2010]

It's a Valsava Maneuver. It's used stabilize the core.

for the beginning of the rep yes, to keep your back from rounding. i dont see why you would use it for the entire set. thats just stupid. and like the above ^ will leave a DB mark on your face.

[noflyingcars]

Uhm, to stabilize my core I just refrain from breathing during the rep (in squat and deadlift).
I don't see the point in compressing the air inside yourself, exerting force inside of your body.

It's not that if you're like a compressed balloon you're lifting much more, and I think there might be some risks for your health.

[Uncle Ben]

for the beginning of the rep yes, to keep your back from rounding. i dont see why you would use it for the entire set. thats just stupid. and like the above ^ will leave a DB mark on your face.

you don't think the core is under stress when handling maximal weights even at lockout? rack up your max dead and exhale fully at lockout. report back.

[Alex2010]

you don't think the core is under stress when handling maximal weights even at lockout? rack up your max dead and exhale fully at lockout. report back.

bro maybe thats you but i can breathe just fine at lockout, max or not. the point of locking out to be able to exhale, breathe, compose yourself. the core is still being stressed at lockout but nowhere near to the stress it takes while lifting it up, not enough to not be able to breathe. you can keep your core stabalized while you exhale. maybe that works for some people on a max, not me. dangerous and stupid IMO. but if anyone wants to smash their face on some DBs by all means go ahead.

[noflyingcars]

you don't think the core is under stress when handling maximal weights even at lockout? rack up your max dead and exhale fully at lockout. report back.

Well in the (ordinary) deadlift you're supposed to breathe when the weight is deloaded down on the ground (or at least that's how I do it).
Infact my Romanian deadlift is nowhere near my normal deadlift.

I don't understand how could you hold your breath for 5 reps.

[SkyZero]

proper breathing is rather important.

It can aid in the lift. Also it can keep you from passing out.

That video was the first thing that came to mind when I read the thread title, ha! Repped!

Very important to breathe in my opinion, especially on the push/pull up on those lifts. I find that if I hold in my breath for too long I feel slightly lightheaded after the set and I have to take a bit to compose myself.

The fear of looking like that youtube guy is a helpful reminder to breathe IMO. :P

[bonvec01]

bro maybe thats you but i can breathe just fine at lockout, max or not. the point of locking out to be able to exhale, breathe, compose yourself. the core is still being stressed at lockout but nowhere near to the stress it takes while lifting it up, not enough to not be able to breathe. you can keep your core stabalized while you exhale. maybe that works for some people on a max, not me. dangerous and stupid IMO. but if anyone wants to smash their face on some DBs by all means go ahead.

Good luck every putting up big numbers if you don't hold your air throughout the whole lift.

[Uncle Ben]

Well in the (ordinary) deadlift you're supposed to breathe when the weight is deloaded down on the ground (or at least that's how I do it).
Infact my Romanian deadlift is nowhere near my normal deadlift.

I don't understand how could you hold your breath for 5 reps.

it's stupid to hold ones breath for 5 reps. it's not stupid to hold ones breath until the completion of a full rep though.

my deadlift is as follows- set up, breath, pull, deload. reset, breath, pull, deload. etc.. i dont do touch and go deads on my final balls-to-the-wall set.

on sldls, i breath at the top. these are touch and go reps. i sldl far less than i pull though, around 70% or so.

[chazzy1864]

I forcefully exhale during the concentric portion of most of my lifts. It is a pretty strianed exhale, but I don't like to hold my breath throughout the entire part of the lift.

[mmmdonuts]

i hold my breath for most of the lift; this keeps your core tight. exhale forcefully to move past sticking point.

[FutureFoe]

I hold my breath from the time I iniate the lift to the time I have completed each rep. I've noticed, over time, that's the most effective way for me to lift heavy. There is a noticeable difference in stability when I exhale during the lift. Just my $.02.

[HawkLifter55]

I hold my breath from the time I iniate the lift to the time I have completed each rep. I've noticed, over time, that's the most effective way for me to lift heavy. There is a noticeable difference in stability when I exhale during the lift. Just my $.02.

Say hello to my little friend.....hemmroids....

[FutureFoe]

Say hello to my little friend.....hemmroids....

Haha...I've been doing this for 10 plus years with no issues.

[HawkLifter55]

Haha...I've been doing this for 10 plus years with no issues.

You're lucky

[RAG3]

Inhale slowly on the way down, fill the lungs with air, push in on your diaphragm (spelling?) and exhale slowly. No more light-headed-ness, if done properly I really think it can help your lifts tremendously, andddd it reduces your chance of getting Hemroids from straining too much.

[Fixxxer]

I hold my breath for most of the rep until I pass/am passing the sticking point, then I breathe out, but it's a very tightly controlled exhale if that makes sense. I breath between reps though I'll sometimes take a few shallow breaths at the top of my deads before lowering the weight.

[Jack_Lupino]

sniff the salt and hold breath until face is beet red...

at least that's what i seen the pros do.

[KowboysUp]

I've never run this experiment, but I wouldn't be surprised if the difference in my maxes where I breath correctly and don't is as much as 20lbs on bench and more on bigger lifts.

It really does make a HUGE difference to me, and anyone who I've shown it to. I could probably look up all the physiology of why, but I'm just going to keep exhaling when I go up and thinking it's some sort of magic how much easier it makes things.

[allan882]

It's definitely important. I don't have a an actual study on hand, but I'm pretty sure it affects the overall effectiveness of the workout or exercise.

[THUNDERGOD]

proper breathing is rather important.

It can aid in the lift. Also it can keep you from passing out.

The truth in the video!! I noticed that guy literally did not take a breath through the entire lift. Prime example of the importance of breathing!!

[Fixxxer]

The truth in the video!! I noticed that guy literally did not take a breath through the entire lift. Prime example of the importance of breathing!!

Think about what you're saying. Was he supposed to inhale as he's lifting the weight? Try that next time you deadlift and let me know how it goes for you. If you take a deep breath before beginning the rep, and hold it until lockout, it's not going to cause you to pass out. Whatever happened to that guy, it's not because he didn't breath during his rep. Maybe he was holding his breath while he was getting set, prior to the lift, and never took a breath before the rep. In any case, inhaling on the concentric portion of a lift is about the dumbest thing you could possibly do when it comes to breathing.

[grumble1]

Holding your breath and clenching your midsection stabilizes your spine by increasing intra-abdominal pressure. I do not want to lift with a spine that is not optimally supported. Rep, breathe a breath or two, rep, breathe a breath or two, etc. A full exhale also tends to relax your muscles, which makes it useful for stretching but not for lifting things.

A hiss escaping through your teeth is fine, as it's basically holding your breath.

[chazzy1864]

If you hold your breath throughout the entire lift on a maximal lift, it can cause you to pass out. Most of us finish our reps quick enough that when we finally take our breath, we see spots and are maybe a bit light headed. if you struggle with the weight though, and take longer, there is a very real chance you can pass out.

Holding your breath (or having the "hiss" as described earlier [that is what i do]) does make the lift stronger, but does increase your chances of passing out. There has been a few times where after I finished maxing on my deadlift, I had to immediately sit down because I was very light headed.

[grumble1]

If you hold your breath throughout the entire lift on a maximal lift, it can cause you to pass out. Most of us finish our reps quick enough that when we finally take our breath, we see spots and are maybe a bit light headed. if you struggle with the weight though, and take longer, there is a very real chance you can pass out.

Holding your breath (or having the "hiss" as described earlier [that is what i do]) does make the lift stronger, but does increase your chances of passing out. There has been a few times where after I finished maxing on my deadlift, I had to immediately sit down because I was very light headed.

I agree with this, but I find that regardless of my breathing patterns I get a little light headed after a big compound lift. when over half my muscle tissue is screaming for blood at once and blood vessels are dilating, no wonder my brain is starved.

[noflyingcars]

do you guys happen to smoke?

Because I've never experienced any problem, I can breathe enough for each rep (and I become red, I do push myself).

Perhaps it's just because I'm weak and I lift really low weights, and I'll experience it when I'll get stronger.

[nsiegel5]

Holding your breath and clenching your midsection stabilizes your spine by increasing intra-abdominal pressure. I do not want to lift with a spine that is not optimally supported. Rep, breathe a breath or two, rep, breathe a breath or two, etc. A full exhale also tends to relax your muscles, which makes it useful for stretching but not for lifting things.

A hiss escaping through your teeth is fine, as it's basically holding your breath.

Yea this is thw way to do it. Its been mentioned numerous times above, valsalva maneuver, you have to hold your breath for the lift not the whole set you should breath between reps