Breathing: Mobility vs Strength
Squat vs Squat-to-Stand
Got an important topic to discuss… breathing! Obviously, this applies to ALL of us ALL of the time. But did you know that the breath can be used to accomplish different objectives depending on the context in which you’re doing it?
For example, during mobility work, breathing continuously and easily will allow your body to relax and achieve deeper positions and greater ranges of motion than you otherwise would, all while signaling to your brain that these positions are safe. Conversely, if you hold your breath or have labored breathing, you are sending the opposite signal to your brain… that this position is NOT safe and therefore your body will remain tense and your range of motion will be compromised.
During strength, on the other hand, we want to brace and protect our bodies (particularly our spines) while we are under load. Breathing with tension, briefly holding our breath to pressurize our midsection, and forcefully exhaling will signal to our bodies to brace the core and stabilize our spines while we are under external load. This is a VERY good thing. Relaxed breathing, specifically while under external load, is dangerous because our core and spines will be less protected.
Wanna see the difference demonstrated? I got you! Check out the attached video…
Mobility Example: Squat-to-Stand
Strength Example: Goblet Squat
And this example is especially relevant because we are starting a new strength cycle tomorrow (Monday) that includes both of those movements.
Even better, that same concept can/should be applied to virtually everything we do. Focus on continuous breathing during our mobility, and then focus on bracing, creating tension, and stabilizing during our strength.
