How to Breathe on Deadlifts

The deadlift is an excellent exercise because it works your entire body, especially the stabilizer muscles in your back. This is in addition to the numerous other benefits it offers, such as increased grip strength and a smaller probability of injury than some other exercises, such as squats and bench presses. While you do need to focus on how you situate the weight and your body, you also need to focus on your breathing, which is an often overlooked, yet still vital component of the deadlift.

Instructions

    • 1

      Bend down in front of the bar and get yourself into the deadlift position, with a straight back and arms.

    • 2

      Take a deep breath in to engage your abdominal muscles from the inside, which will help keep your back straight by giving you a firm, engaged core.

    • 3

      Hold your breath through the first part of the lift. This is the part of the lift where you are using your shoulders and back, but before you engage your legs.

    • 4

      Exhale once you start using your legs to lift. Don't exhale all the way, though. Rather, exhale slowly as you continue to lift.

    • 5

      Release your breath in a single "whoosh" when you reach the sticking point, which is the last part of the ascent, right before you squeeze your gluteus muscles and complete the movement. This will give you the momentum you need to get through the most difficult part of the lift.