No More Val Salva

Do you ever find that when you are lifting you have a tendency to hold your breath? Do you even ever notice your breathing when exercising? The Val salva maneuver is when a person holds their breath during exertion on exercise. Not only does this make the exercise harder to execute, but it also puts a lot of stress onto your heart but having to work harder.

When to breath:

When you are executing an exercise you want to exhale always on exertion.

What is exertion?

Exertion is the hardest point in the exercise where you need an extra "umph" to help you complete that rep.

Example: Biceps Curl

Inhale: downward phase, as you extend the arm and lower the weight

Exhale: upward phase, as you flex the arm and draw the weight up to shoulder height

Try using this breathing technique, and then try it where you hold your breath where you should be exhaling. You will find that by exhaling on exertion allows for the exercise to feel easier, and for you to progress to heavier weight.