Chest breathing

The Valsalva maneuver describes the conscious holding of breath during exertion, for example during a bench press with heavy weights. By closing the vocal cords, high pressure builds up in the chest and abdominal cavity, stabilizing the spine and improving power transmission. This can be beneficial for complex exercises such as squats or deadlifts. Using the Valsalva maneuver may offer short-term advantages, but it also carries risks, such as a significant increase in blood pressure.

Therefore, it is recommended to use the Valsalva maneuver selectively and briefly. For most training sessions, controlled breathing—exhaling during the lifting phase and inhaling during the lowering phase—is the safer method.