The tendency to hold one's breath - why?

[R.ticle One]

Hey guys,

I don't know about you, but the first times I tried Isometrics (or my idea of them at the time), I held my breath during the contractions. It seemed like an automatic response. The same went for lifting weights.

Now, the correct breathing protocol feels natural, but at the time I may not have thought of it. What do you all think? Is there a reason that this happens (and does it happen to others)?

Cheers,

Raph

[Nathan]

Hey Raph,

I think this reason is that you aren't trying to concentrate on your breathing but the task at hand. When I first started out I had the same problem and still hold my breath from time to time. But after really making myself breath and making sure I do. The problem has kinda gone away. Anyway all the best.

---Nathan

[R.ticle One]

A good thought, Nathan. I find that now, I am able to concentrate on both at the muscular tast and the breathing simultaneously.

Ha, I was just reminded of this one time, years ago, I must of been, oh, I'm gonna guess anywhere from 12 to 14 years old...I was visiting some of my Grandmother's neighbors with her. The man had a weight machine in his basement, and he encouraged me to try it out. (No idea how much weight he set it at, I was a pretty skinny kid!) Anyway, he was "spotting" me, in front of me, and I was, concentrating on moving those padded bars with my arms, holding my breath.

"Breathe!", he said, "breathe, breathe!"

So, having nowhere for my held breath to go except out, I exhaled...and spit a fat loogie on his face. Oh ye Gods, I couldn't believe it, I could have died of embarrassment right then and there. Fortunately, he was a good humored man!

Raph

[mike]

I think it has something to do with the lack of specific muscle control when one first begins training. It is for the same reasons that an untrained person will be unable to breath when trying to flex the muscles of the stomach. The brain sends out this massive 'push!' signal and many uneccessary muscles fire. Also the feeling of internal pressure is the most obvious biofeedback you get and unconciously you will associate that with effort. As you hold your breath the feeling of 'straining' becomes very definite and at some level that seems about right. As you become more experienced you realize that your face turning red and your lungs burning are unintentional side effects. Also I find my core feels much more stable with a big breath of air so I think perhaps a fear of creating any instability stops many people from breathing the first time they try a movement.

[gruntbrain]

Breath holding will enable to exert more; test it for your self but for obvious reasons do dit cautiously or not all all if your have BP issues. , In other words, even healthy folks are wise to avoid breath holding while performing ultra heavy exertions..

[tom]

Holding one's breath is a natural, physiological, usually harmless, usually beneficial reaction of a body lifting/moving a heavy weight. It tightens the core, makes you a brick instead of a sponge.

As for holding one's breath during exercise, daily, over and over, there are fears of harm. To be safe, do the hissing thing. Save the breath-holding, maximum effort for when you lift the riding mower off the screaming, injured child.

Tom