Importance of Breathing
“The only thing you have to do today to see tomorrow is BREATHE.”
We focus a lot on breathing in our clinic, and this is one of the main reasons!
Your brain really only cares about you staying alive, so on its list of important things to do…breathing is at the top of the list!
So what does this mean?!
Because of this hierarchy, your brain will place breathing above all else, which has a few implications in rehab and training:
1) You will move in ways which you feel that you can breathe.
Have you ever gone into a big stretch, maybe rotating your trunk to one side, and felt that you had to hold your breath at that end range? Or how about standing up and bending backwards? Most people hold their breath in this position.
These signs demonstrate to us that you do not have full control over these positions. Your brain surely won’t let you access these positions on a day to day basis if it means that breathing stops!
2) Breathing proves safety to your brain.
When you aren’t breathing efficiently (or at all…shout out to our breath holders out there!), your body become a little worried about your safety and employ some other strategies to keep you safe.
Common examples of these strategies are pain, tightness, tension, and stiffness.
Ever notice how tension in the body may just melt away with a few deep breaths? This could be a reason why!
During exercise, we want to make sure that you’re able to coordinate your breathing pattern throughout repetitions. This signals to your brain that what you’re doing is safe, and can result in improved mobility (think full range reps) and strength in your exercises!
Learning to breathe completely in a coordinated manner through movement can be an absolute game changer for how you feel and how well you move!
Want to learn more? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Email us (info@rocptperformance.com) to keep the conversation going or to inquire about working with us 1-on-1!
