Breathe Better, Move Better!
Written on October 16, 2013 at 10:08 pm, by Eric Cressey
Earlier this week, I posted a video on different ways to look at upper body pressing. In light of the great feedback I received, I have another one for you. Today, I’m going to talk about breathing, a topic that has taken the fitness industry by storm in recent years.
We can use breathing to help with relaxation (yoga, meditation), but also with bracing the core to lift heavy weights. If you have something that can help with two extremes like this, you know it can be “clutch” when it comes to making or breaking your fitness progress. And, that’s why today’s video will be so beneficial to you:
–> Breathe Better, Move Better <–
This video today focuses on some of the breathing strategies I uses in terms of exercise selection and coaching cues with our athletes at Cressey Performance. These drills are awesome for enhancing core stability and correcting bad posture. Fortunately, you can have the same great results if you just pay close attention to the cues I outline and put them into action. And, be sure to keep an eye out for the release of The High Performance Handbook next week!
|
October 17th, 2013 at 5:15 am
Really enjoyed the video Eric, and I’m glad to see the industry bringing light to the importance of breathing as it relates to performance…not just in meditation and Yoga.
I even did an entire chapter in my book Mind Your Own Fitness, about breathing.
There’s a whole lot of thinking going on inside our head.
In fact, there is so much thinking going on today, that scientists say our head sizes are actually increasing!
But all of those thoughts swimming around in there, all of those neurons firing off left and right may be filling the head, but they are also related to the chest!
That is because the way we think, has a lot to do with the way we breathe.
Research has shown the way we breathe affects the way our body functions.
EKG results have shown the responses of the autonomic nervous system, the things normally outside of our conscious control, such as heart rate, skin temperature and blood pressure is all influenced by specific types of breathing.
Our mental functions, what goes on in our consciousness are linked with what is going on with our breathing.
And that absolutely can make a difference in our athletic performance.
October 17th, 2013 at 5:18 am
Great post, Greg! You hit many nails on the head. Thanks for commenting!
October 18th, 2013 at 12:45 am
Hi Eric,
Absolutely love your new video series. In the back to wall shoulder flexion. I get up to about 160-170 degrees and then i get a non painful click in the front of the shoulder.
Should i still use the back to wall shoulder flexion as an exercise to improve upward scapular rotation? Or is it now contra-indicated?
Any exercises you can recommend would be appreciated.
October 19th, 2013 at 5:10 pm
Steven,
I wouldn’t power through that. It is likely as simple as repositioning the shoulder blade a bit. It might be a gentle shrug up, or just a little posterior tilt. Try tinkering with that and see how it goes.
October 20th, 2013 at 6:19 am
Why is the Lat stretch with breathing bad for some one who sits on a chair alot ?
Thanks for the great post as always!!
October 20th, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Abdil,
We don’t want to put them in a more kyphotic (rounded upper back) posture.
October 24th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Where is the video at?
October 25th, 2013 at 9:30 am
Chris,
http://highperformancehandbook.com/helpful-videos/best-posture/