Just…breathe (Or, How I Get My Zen On)
Inhale deeply…
Exhale deeply…
Inhale…
Exhale…
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When you lift weights, breathing properly is just as important as using correct form and lifting the right amount of weight. Inhale deeply during the easiest part of the exercise and exhale deeply when you hit the hardest part of the movement to give yourself more power and strength. If you hold your breath during the lift you’ll feel a loss of strength, and more importantly, it can increase your blood pressure, and you may feel dizzy.
When I work out I constantly remind myself to breathe.
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Inhale deeply…
Exhale deeply…
Inhale…
Exhale…
**********
But during the day? I get too caught up in the stress of work. I have 35 things that need to be handled immediately—multiple deadlines are looming, clients are calling, co-workers are standing at my door, my e-mail is dinging endlessly, my cell phone is buzzing and my bosses are yelling to me from across the office. “Hey, Mo! Ya got a second?”
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Inhale deeply…
Exhale deeply…
Inhale…
Exhale…
**********
Breathing is an unconscious activity, but it’s at those difficult moments in the day when I need to be conscious of it. Remember to breathe in and out, to occasionally take a deep breath. Just as exhaling deeply gives me the strength to get through the heavy lifting in the gym, it gets me through those moments when co-workers snark and balk and refuse and complain.
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Inhale deeply…
Exhale deeply…
Inhale…
Exhale…
**********
My shoulders drop away from my ears. My pulse slows and my head stops buzzing. My blood pressure drops. My head clears. My strength returns.
And I no longer feel like I want to smack the shit out of someone.
Om
Kimberly
Have you ever tried yoga? I find that it really helps me be more conscious about my breathing all the time (not just when I’m doing yoga) and it is a great stress reducer too. Not to mention, it is an awesome workout – you get fit and relaxed all in one.
Mo
I’ve tried yoga once, but at the time I didn’t have the patience for it. I always thought I was more of a weights and cardio girl, but I think I’m ready to give it another shot. I like workouts that use your own body weight and strength. And I’m down with any workout that you can do on the floor.
XUP
Further to Kimberly’s comment, have you ever thought about just retraining as a yoga instructor? Then you can be all zen all day long.
Mo
I think I’m way too high strung to ever be zen all day long. I can’t even turn off my head long enough to sleep through the night. However, now that I’ve started working out again, it’s getting better. So maybe there’s hope?
Eve
I’m a big fan of meditation. When I do the Unitarian church thing, and have to relax for an hour, we get a few minutes during the service for meditation. When I leave I feel like I’ve had a massage.
When that leaves my brain, there’s always wine…we can deep breathe together with it soon I hope!