2 Great Reasons to Count During Exercise Class

I want to take a moment and explain the purposeensures you are breathing properly.
and importance of counting and why we at bootTo explain this further: Each exercise has a specific
camp make you do it. First and foremost, we do notstarting position, by moving through the proper range
make you count because we are trying to be aof motion, and counting at the appropriate time
military 'boot camp' style program.during the repetition, you will automatically exhale and
There are several important reasons we count duringinhale at the proper time therefore get the most out
class:of each repetition. (Remember, the rule is to exhale
1. The most important reason for counting is that itduring the effort).
confirms for the instructor that you are breathing.2. Counting will also help you get the most out of
Breathing is an important part of exercise because ityour workout by forcing you to focus. There are a
helps regulate oxygen flow to the muscles as well aslot of things that you should be focused on during
to the brain. Without oxygen you could very wellexercise. Things like: having good form for each rep,
pass out or, at a minimum, get the "cold sweats"concentrating on the muscle that you are supposed
followed by the "I am going to get sick" feeling. Into be working, breathing properly, etc. By counting,
order to avoid this, your instructors want you toyou obviously have to pay attention to the number
breathe. Counting is the easiest way for us to ensureyour counting and this will help you, focus on what
that you are breathing properly. Many clients try toyou are there for. I can already hear some of you
tell us that they can't breathe and count at the samesaying, "Well, if we are talking, then you know we
time. While they might feel this way, in actuality,are breathing." Well, yes, you're right, but how
counting out loud will regulate your breathing andfocused can you really be if you are talking?