-Q&A-

Question: How should I breathe correctly when performing abdominal exercises?

Response from Ricky:

Breathing correctly is important during training, especially abdominal training. Now, you'll be surprised at how simple the answer to your question really is. The rule of thumb, no matter which exercise you're performing, to is inhale on the negative and exhale on the positive. Exhaling on the positive is valuable, as it helps for a much greater contraction of the muscle, especially while performing abdominal exercises. Also, most importantly, never hold your breath while performing any exercise.

When you're performing bicycle crunches, and you begin by touching your right elbow with your left knee, you should be exhaling. As you return to the starting position, inhale. Then as you perform another repetition by touching your left elbow with your right knee, exhale. Continue your set in this manner. You may need to slow down the pace of your repetitions in order to make sure your breathing properly. Good luck!

Train Hard,

Ricky Gonzalez