Proper Breathing Techniques for Walking

Proper or improper breathing can impact your performance when walking. You can use correct breathing techniques to lower your stress and heighten endurance. Slow, deep breaths help you quiet your mind and prepare to walk, as well as raising the oxygen level in your blood and helping to prevent cramps.

  1. Breathe Deeply

    • Most people fail to simply breathe deeply enough. Count the four phases of a proper breath aloud while doing it: inhale, full pause, exhale, empty pause. This technique helps increase oxygen to your blood, which aids with alertness and energy.

    Use Your Diaphragm

    • When you breathe using your diaphragm muscle, you can see and feel your stomach expand and deflate. Practice breathing with your diaphragm by placing one hand on your abdomen and the other on your chest. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. If you're doing it properly, the hand on your abdomen should move, and the hand on your chest should stay still.

    Breathe Through Your Mouth

    • When you become tired or push yourself, you may find it necessary to breathe in and out through your mouth. If this happens, match your breathing to your steps and attempt to keep it even. Breathing deeply and slowly will help prevent muscle cramps and increase endurance. When you can, begin to breathe in through your nose again.