“Take a deep breath.”
Whether you’re running, weightlifting, or trying to calm your mind, the power of breath is an important element of how we train.
When I was first learning how to weightlift, I was only focused on how I could lift the most amount of weight in the shortest period of time. I was convinced that more weight meant more strength. This resulted in bad form, and probably should’ve resulted in some injuries… I got lucky.
I realized I needed to take off weight, and focus on the fundamental BASICS of each lift if I really wanted to get stronger. At first I thought this only consisted of form, but shortly realized there was an important element I was forgetting: breath work!
In order to perform to the best of your ability, it is important to practice regulating your breathing. In weight lifting terms, you inhale during relaxation and exhale during exertion (the hard part). When you’re in control of this breathing, your body and muscles receive a steady flow of oxygen allowing them to operate most effectively.
When I became aware of how and when to breathe in certain situations, I noticed huge differences. In the gym I was able to lift more. In my runs, I could run longer. In terms of my mental health, I was able to calm my mind quicker.
The truth is, we often forget about the importance of breathing until there is a lack of breathing…
Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
God not only gives us the breath of life, He is the breath of life.
How often do you go through your day unaware of God’s presence? Unaware that His Spirit is dwelling in you? We convince ourselves that when “bad things” are happening that God is far, but that statement couldn’t be further from the truth.
Just like how we have to train ourselves to breathe in our workouts or in tough situations, we have to train ourselves to lean into God’s presence.
Life can be heavy; responsibilities, relationships, and the stress of purely existing can weigh on your shoulders. The beautiful thing about being Christian is that the weight on our shoulders can be surrendered. We don’t have to carry our burdens alone, but instead we are able to find strength through our relationship with the Lord!