Proper breathing technique is extremely important to exercise, but it is often overlooked because breathing is an automatic function. However, that does not mean you can't study and change how you breathe, which can, in turn, help your athletic performance. If you are used to mouth breathing during exercise, it may take some time to retrain yourself to breathe through your nose, but if you persevere you may see its benefits.
Why it Works
The book "Championship Triathlon Training" explains that breathing through your nose forces you to take deeper, slower abdominal breaths, which allows you to take in more oxygen with each inhalation. If you are used to mouth breathing, you may feel as if you are short of breath to begin with, but that is because you are not expelling carbon dioxide as quickly, which your body interprets as breathlessness. As your body adjusts, it will become accustomed to the slower breaths and your exercise will improve as you get more oxygen in your bloodstream.
Effects
Perry Fields, a professional track and field athlete and contributor to the Authentic Breathing website, notes there are additional benefits to nose breathing that make it essential to successful cardio exercise. You can improve your overall performance by training yourself to breathe through your nose, which filters impurities and warms the air as it enters your body, protecting your lungs from cold air and pollutants. If you are just starting to nose breathe, practice breathing during easy exercise such as walking or cycling, then gradually work up to more intense workouts.
Long-term Benefits
According to "Dance Anatomy" by Jacqui Greene Haas, nose breathing during exercise has immediate benefits, such as helping filter the air going into your body and helping control the amount of carbon dioxide leaving your body. But there are also long-term benefits to using correct breathing techniques during exercise: It can aid in the execution of precise movements, as in dance or sports requiring muscle control, and it can help reduce muscular tension and promote a well-developed chest and upper body.
Other Benefits
If you suffer from asthma, nose breathing during exercise can help control symptoms, notes the book "The Buteyuko Guide to Better Asthma Management" by Michael Lingard. Nose breathing prevents problems associated with mouth breathing such as overbreathing, and it filters out dust and other irritants, warms cold air, hydrates dry air and traps potentially harmful airborne bacteria. This all helps reduce the factors for an asthma attack. By helping avoid exercise-related asthma, nose breathing will help you build your fitness and exercise with confidence.
