Why is breathing right so important during workouts?

Question

I was told that breathing and holding your stomach in is so very important while doing any excersizing. You have to breathe in at a certain time and breathe out at a certain time. Can someone tell me why? What does it do differently if you breathe incorrectly?

Answer 1

Whenever you exert force, either pushing or pulling, you need to breathe out. Because when you exert force, your muscles contract. Without breathing out, there is too much pressure in your blood system, and some smaller blood vessels will pop because of it.

As for tucking in your core muscles, it's because situps and crunches don't really do much. If you keep your abs flexed and tucked in when you work out, the natural range of motion from exercise will build those up. You only can't see your abs because there is a layer of fat covering them.

If you specifically do ab workouts, tucking in is even more important, because if you don't, your muscles will develop bulged out instead of tucked in, giving you a (although muscular) jutting out stomach.

Answer 2

I'm not sure about the exact timing of the breathing, but I do know that breathing and holding your stomach in during exercising not only strengthens your abdominal area and the diaphragm, but reduces cramping in muscles. Cramps are caused by buildup of lactic acid in muscles, and this is due to anaerobic respiration(respiration without oxygen) in the muscles after they are deprived of the oxygen they need to function. This is a last resource to produce energy during workouts and that is where we get the cramping from... so breathing correctly beforehand can help prevent all this. I hope I've been of some help.

Answer 3

Good question. If you don't breath correctly you will rapidly build up lactic acid in your muscles. This causes fatigue, and an inability to continue an effective or competitive workout. If you've ever done "spin" at a gym watch the newbies. Even well-conditioned people get fatigued quickly until they learn to breathe properly. The best boxers nail their opponents with body shots just as they're trying to exhale, causing them to increase carbon dioxide buildup, decrease oxygen, and increase lactic acid in their muscles. Unless the less experienced boxer can get out of the experienced boxer's cross-hairs he'll be doomed. Within 1-3 rounds he'll be knocked on his can and won't even be able to stand up. He'll be fully wasted. Your workout is the same. It's better to work out more slowly if necessary. If you can't breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth you're working out too hard. Slow it down and get a better workout. ;-)

Answer 4

First off, passing out would be a good choice for not breathing right. Your body needs a certain amount of oxygen to function correctly --without it you're like a paper bag in the wind- once the paper bag doesn't have wind it goes flat.

Answer 5

It's important to get oxygen to the right areas that are being worked. If you breathe incorrectly, you may cramp up or hyperventilate.

Answer 6

It is important to breathe in your nose and out your mouth when working out. This helps to maintain your endurance and keep you from having shortness of breath. breathing properly helps prevent cramping and makes sure that your muscles get the right amount of oxygen to punction without cramping up.

Answer 7

Breathing correctly while you work out is very important; because it ensures proper levels of oxygen getting into your system.

However, it doesn't mean that you breathe in and hold your stomach! That's crap!

All you need to do is to breathe in and out deeply, in a rhythm, while you work out.

Cheers.

Answer 8

you breathe a certain way so that you dont strain yourself...it does make a difference, youll see when you do it right, and if you do it wrong. breathe in at the length of time you need to do any strenuous parts of the workout, then out during the time you ease off. (Example: breathe in as you push up and out as you lower yourself back down in push-ups, or pace your breathing as you job to in for two steps, out for two steps-or three if your stride is smaller) it WILL make things easier after youve gotten used to it!

Answer 9

You get tired faster and then you can't exercise as long. It has nothing to do with healthy safety unless you just hold your breath too long and pass out.

Answer 10

Because you can pass out if you don't breathe right.