When we exercise, muscle contract and relax.
In an example of push-ups, when should we inhale and exhale? During the down position or up position?

Btw, how does the inhaling and exhaling can affect our exercise during muscle contract and relax?
Amateur here, help.

Not a hundred percent sure, but during push ups what I used to do is inhale when going down and then exhale when going up. Now I take a deep breath before going down, hold it, perform the push up and exhale after I've come up.

Same thing with squats, presses, the like.

mind to explain the reason behind it? That would be better.

when u inhale and hold the air in the belly it tightens the mid-section, protecting and maintaining a more neutral spine position.

btw u could have googled this.

Down, inhale, up , exhale. Reason = reduce and regulate blood pressure. NO Exhale while you apply strength for all type of exercise = increase blood pressure = increase chance of headache = reduce mood to workout. Simple high sch biology.

This post has been edited by Phc: Oct 9 2013, 03:15 PM

ah, thanks alot. Cleared my curiosity.

I will remember "NO Exhale while you apply strength".

Bro wrong man. You exhale when you apply strengh.

Just think of jumping. When you jump, you exhale. Samething.

When you do push up, exhale when you are pushing up and inhale when you are going back down.

When you wanna punch someone in boxing, exhale when you punch.

When you see people kick in muay thai or kung fu, they go "JYARRR!!!" when they kick.

That is what I was taught, no reasoning given. But I'm pretty sure thats how u breath in sports.

This post has been edited by grunge: Oct 13 2013, 07:50 PM

dude, you misunderstood what I wrote. NO exhale with using strength only will lead to high blood pressure.

This statement sounds clearer, got the image. So lets say I badminton want to smash, I shout out loud like that..

ok, thank you.

this has always been my doubt.
cant seem to find the right way too.

inhale on the negative
exhale on the positive

When you hold your breath you keep tension in your core / mid section. Your stomach holds air and this allows for more muscle tightness and recruitment.