26/08/2026
Nobody told you this when you started lifting and it’s probably costing you more than you realise.
How you breathe during exercise matters.
Not in a “here’s another thing to overthink” way. In a “this is why your core feels unstable, your reps feel harder than they should, and you’re leaving the studio more wired than when you walked in” way.
Here’s the simple version:
💨 Inhale on the easy part. The inhale comes during the eccentric phase, that’s the muscle-lengthening part of the movement. Think: lowering into a squat, lowering the weight down, lengthening back to start.
💨 Exhale on the hard part. The gold standard during strength training is to exhale during exertion. Think: pushing up from the squat, pressing the weight overhead, pulling the bar toward you.
And HOW you breathe matters too. In through your nose, out through your mouth and when you inhale, make sure you’re engaging your diaphragm, taking a breath deep enough that you feel it in your belly, not just your chest.
Why does this actually matter?
Your muscles need oxygen to transport waste products like lactate and CO₂ away and breathing properly also helps prevent your blood pressure spiking during strength work.
Maintaining rhythmic breathing is one of the most important things you can do for your nervous system, which matters enormously if you’re in perimenopause and already navigating a nervous system that doesn’t take much to tip into overdrive.
And between sets? Don’t skip the diaphragmatic breathing. Take big, slow breaths between sets, letting your belly really expand and release so you go into your next lift calm and able to regulate properly.
One thing to practise today: Next time you’re lifting, just notice, are you holding your breath? Most women are. Start with lighter weights so you can focus on mastering the breathing technique first then it becomes natural.
Your breath is the thing you actually have control over in every single session. Use it. 🙌
Come train with us at Revibe, where the small stuff like this is what makes the big stuff possible.