InShape

So it’s no big secret guys, everyone knows meditation helps you focus while decreasing stress. What most people don’t know however is how to do it. One of the easiest ways is to focus on the breath. But what does that really mean.

If you’re like me you want a way to ‘lean out’ and ‘cut up’ and do it ‘naturally’. This tip will help you with muscle gain, endurance and strength gains.

Nitric oxide (NO) not be confused with nitrous oxide (N₂O) laughing gas is an important signaling molecule that acts in many tissues to regulate a diverse range of physiological and cellular processes. Nitric Oxide Nitric oxide has now been demonstrated to play a role in a variety of biological processes including neurotransmission, immune defense, the regulation of cell death and cell motility. It’s the molecule responsible for blood flow (hemodilation), oxygen delivery, glucose uptake, muscle velocity, power output, and muscle growth.

The importance of the breathe in building muscle. While NO is made naturally by the body it comes in limited amounts. If you don’t want to supplement then here’s what to do.

Training your lungs and diaphragm is just like training your biceps or traps.

3 Minute Meditation

Take an inhale for 3-seconds hold the breath for 3-seconds and exhale for 3-seconds. Repeat 5 times

Do the same thing this time (looking at the stop watch) inhale 5-seconds, hold 5-seconds and exhale 5-seconds

Keep stretching up till you can inhale 15 sec, hold 15 sec and exhale 15 sec.

If you can’t do it at first don’t get discourage, I don’t know too many people who walked in the gym benching 3 plates!

Remember the better you can control your breath the more efficient your recovery time, oxygen use and gains in workouts.

There’s a great course called “Awakening the Architect” the flagship course for BLU Yoga which focuses on meditation and breathing techniques that are a complete home run! If you can find this course or something similar to it that helps you gain control of your breath you’ll see major shifts. So, the next time your about to hit the gym…remember to breath!