Are you getting the most out of your workout?
You’ve got the right shoes, the right playlist, and the right hydration plan. But there’s one piece of gear you’re probably neglecting: your nose.
When you push your body to the limit, your first instinct is often to gasp for air through your mouth. It feels easier. But according to sports science, mouth breathing might actually be slowing you down.
To optimize your performance and recovery, you need to master your airflow. Here are the two game-changing breathing techniques that can take your training to the next level—and how to actually make them work for you.
Technique 1: The Power of Nasal Breathing
Your body was designed to breathe through your nose. Unlike your mouth, your nasal passages filter, warm, and humidify the air before it hits your lungs. More importantly, nasal breathing releases nitric oxide, a molecule that helps widen your blood vessels and improve oxygen circulation.
The Challenge: The problem is, when your heart rate spikes, your nasal airways can naturally narrow or feel congested due to increased blood flow (the "exercise stuffy nose"). This resistance forces you to switch to inefficient mouth breathing, which can lead to dehydration and a faster heart rate.
- Pro Tip: Apply an AtmenWald strip 15 minutes before your workout. It allows you to maintain comfortable nasal breathing, even during high-intensity intervals, so you can harness that extra oxygen efficiency without feeling like you're suffocating.
Technique 2: Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing)
Once you’ve opened up the entryway (your nose), you need to upgrade the engine (your lungs). Many athletes take shallow breaths into their chest (chest breathing), which limits oxygen intake and increases tension.
Diaphragmatic breathing engages your diaphragm, pulling air deep into the bottom of your lungs where oxygen exchange is most efficient.
How to do it:
- Keep your mouth closed (this is easier with your AtmenWald Nasal Strip on).
- As you inhale through your nose, focus on expanding your belly, not your shoulders.
- Exhale slowly and rhythmically.
Combining an open nasal airway with deep belly breathing creates a rhythm that calms your nervous system, lowers your perceived exertion, and helps you run longer or lift heavier.
Breathe Better, Perform Better
Don't let a stuffy nose or poor breathing habits become your limiting factor. By mechanically opening your nose and focusing on deep, rhythmic breaths, you’re not just working out—you’re optimizing your body’s fuel intake.
Ready to feel the difference? And turn your nose into a performance machine.