Breathe - to get better results!

Working out can be tough and tiring, especially as we like to challenge and push ourselves to reach those goals and to improve our performance on the circuit. As coaches we are constantly making small tweaks to improve your performance so that you get the most effective workout, which includes paying attention to your breathing.

It’s strange how breathing, something we do unconsciously can impact our workout performance. You have probably noticed me on the circuit, telling a few of you to breathe when on the machines. Each time you inhale, you take in oxygen, which your body needs to function. The more you move, the more oxygen you need. And the more efficiently that you can deliver said oxygen to your muscles, the harder and more efficiently you can work.

During our workouts, many of us end up taking shorter and more shallow breaths, which don’t deliver as much oxygenated air to your lungs, resulting in an increased heart rate, blood pressure, which can in fact, increase feelings of stress.

Breathing with the movement is a technique that helps increase the efficiency of oxygen into our lungs. For example, when we are on the squat machine, we want to inhale on the downwards phase and then exhale as we push up. For the chest press machine, we should be inhaling when pulling in and exhaling when pushing out.

Next time you are on the circuit, ask yourself; are you taking short and shallow breaths or are you breathing with the movement?

Elaine won Top Improver in March using our benchmark fitness tests