Quick Breathing Tip to Improve Your Bench Press

/ Testify Strength & Conditioning/

Here’s a quick and easy tip for the bench press: it is possible and possibly desirable to perform more than one rep on a single breath.

In other words, you can hold your Valsalva maneuver for multiple reps in a row, and in fact, it may actually be advantageous to perform two or perhaps three reps on one breath. 

How Could This Possible be True?
Every time you take a new breath, you have to perform your Valsalva and get tight again. In the bench press, you’re essentially lying on your lungs (technically, you’re lying on your torso, which contains your lungs, but I digress), so every time you breathe, you create potential movement between your torso and the bench. This movement can compromise your bench press setup position, so you now have to work to reestablish that position (e.g., pulling your shoulders back into retraction) before you start the next rep.

With this in mind, if you’re not running out of oxygen, you may find it useful to perform a few reps on one breath.

But What About . . . ?
It’s certainly worth pointing out two caveats with this tip. First, this breathing technique works very well with the bench press, but I would not generally recommend it for any of the standing lifts (e.g., squat, deadlift, press, etc.).

Second, don’t take this as a personal challenge to see how many reps you can bench press on one breath. There are no bonus points for “reps-per-breath,” and the last thing you want to do is pass out from a lack of oxygen when you’re holding a heavy barbell above your face.

Keeping these two caveats in mind, feel free to try this out - intelligently - the next time you bench press.

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

-Phil

PS: Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

  • Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

  • Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

Deadlift Swinging Away? Fix Your Balance | Deadlift Technique

/ Testify Strength & Conditioning/

Does your deadlift swing away from you? In this first video in our Saturday Shorts series on correcting your deadlift, Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers covers how to achieve the correct balance in the setup for the pull.

(A Blast from the Past video originally published on 10/29/22)

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

  • Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

  • Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

Fix Your Press - Part 6: Get Your Eyeballs FIXED!

/ Testify Strength & Conditioning/

(A Blast from the Past article originally posted on 03/10/23)

This is the sixth article in our series on helping you improve your press. Today’s topic - the focal point. In this article, you’ll also find a couple of videos related to today’s topic.

Eyeballs are extremely useful body parts, so make sure you use yours effectively when pressing.

When it comes to your focal point when pressing, here’s the major takeaway - have one. The focal point will be at eye level directly in front of you, so simply pick something on the wall in front of you at the appropriate height and stare at it.

Stare at it before you unrack the bar for your first rep, stare at it during every single rep, and you’re even going to stare at it between reps - there is no need to introduce a new variable into your lifting by looking somewhere else between each rep. When you’re done with your set, keep staring at that same focal point, walk forward until the barbell hits the uprights, and then rack the bar.

Now that you’re done pressing, you can look anywhere you want.

Your focal point plays a big role in balance, and while balance is important in every lift, it’s especially important in the press because - among other things - the bar starts and finishes so far away from your balance point (i.e., the middle of your foot). Consequently, you want to have a focal point, and you want to stare at it with unwavering conviction until you’re done with your press.

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

-Phil

PS: Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

  • Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

  • Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

  • Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

  • Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

  • Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

10 Ways You’re RUINING Your Press (and how to fix them!)

/ Testify Strength & Conditioning/

Are you struggling with the press (AKA overhead press or shoulder press)? Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers covers 10 common press mistakes as well as how to fix them so you can get a bigger, stronger press.

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

  • Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

  • Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

  • Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

The Testify News - March 10, 2025

/ Testify Strength & Conditioning/

THIS WEEK'S SUBMISSION

From our video Top 10 Bench Press Mistakes (Get a Bigger Bench NOW) (click the title to watch):

askates02
The hick trick for performing a valsalva maneuver was something I’d never heard before and was a game changer for me. Thanks

Phil
I’m glad to hear that, and you’re very welcome!

TESTIFY ONLINE COACHING

Interested in getting stronger working one-on-one remotely with us? Click here to book your free strategy session.

Get Stronger. Live Better. Start Today.

ARTICLES & VIDEOS

What Personal Trainers Don’t Tell You About Lifting Weights (7 Facts!)
There's a lot your "personal trainer" isn't telling you about lifting weights. Phil gets right to it with 7 very important facts. Click here to watch.

 

These Aren't the Cues You're Looking For
“Stop cueing your muscles…If you stop reading right now (this article, mind you - not reading in general), you’ll already have improved as a human…” Click here to read.

 

Blast from the Past: Home Gym Buyer's Guide: Best and Worst Weight Plates!
Want the best plates for your home or garage gym? Should you get calibrated plates, or are they the worst decision you'll ever make? This and more - we dive in. Click here to watch.

 

Blast from the Past: Fix Your Press - Part 5: Correct Your AWFUL Grip
Phil discusses the problem of an incorrect grip when pressing as well as how to fix it. Click here to read.

TESTIFY 3/4 SLEEVE SHIRTS ARE UP!

Baseball season is coming up, so represent your favorite team - well, gym - in style!

PLUS - you get four different options to choose from!

Click here to head to the Testify Store.

WHAT'S COMING UP

Below is one of our upcoming events, and you can find out what else is on the calendar by heading to our events page at www.testifysc.com/events.

Testify Strengthlifting Challenge

  • April 12, 2025

  • The annual Testify Strengthlifting Challenge is back, and we invite you to be a part of it! This is a strengthlifting meet, which means the contested lifts will be the squat, press, and deadlift.

  • Click here to register or for more information.

Testify Mystery Event . . . and the details are out!

  • March 21, 2025

  • Friday night fish fry at Saint Vincent de Paul (click here for map)

  • Meet at 6:30 p.m. for fun, fish, beer, and to get your name put in the hat for drawings!

  • Click here for more details and to sign up so we’ve got a headcount.

THIS WEEK’S CONDITIONING

Option 1
Sled Pyramid – 4, 5, or 6 tiers
Go up and down a 4, 5, or 6 tier “sled pyramid.” The distance for each round is 80 m indoors (a down-back on the 40m course) or 200 ft outdoors (2 down-backs on the 50 ft course). Rest as needed.

For example, Bob does the following (4 tiers):
Round 1: Empty sled
Round 2: 25#
Round 3: 50#
Round 4: 75#
Round 5: 50#
Round 6: 25#
Round 7: Empty sled

Compare to 2025.01.06.

Option 2
Bike/row:
3 rounds of:
8 x 20 sec on/40 sec off
Rest 3 min between rounds

Score = lowest distance

Compare to 2024.12.16.

Option 3
Outdoors:
5-10 rounds:
10 sledgehammer strikes (5R, 5L)
50 yd farmer carry (25 yd down-back)
Rest 1 minute

Indoors:
5-10 rounds:
10 sledgehammer strikes (5R, 5L)
100 ft farmer carry (50 ft down-back)
Rest 1 minute

Compare to 2024.11.18.

Option 4
10 x 50 ft yoke carry
Each carry is 25 feet down and 25 feet back and is for time. Rest 1 minute between carries.

Compare to 2024.11.18.

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better!

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

  • Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

  • Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

  • Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

  • Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

  • Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

These Aren't the Cues You're Looking For

/ Testify Strength & Conditioning/

Stop cueing your muscles.

That’s essentially it. If you stop reading right now (this article, mind you - not reading in general), you’ll already have improved as a human.

Hungry for more? We’ll keep it short and tasty.

Cue Movements - Not Muscles
When training, you want to move in a specific manner. With this in mind, when necessary, you give yourself a cue that reinforces that movement.

Megan correctly executes the “knees out” cue.

Do your knees tend to cave in when squatting? Cue “knees out.”

Perhaps you pull the barbell around your knees on the deadlift? Cue “push the floor,” “straighten the knees,” or “knees back.”

Struggle with the bar path on the press? Try cueing “aim for your nose” or “throw it back.”

Movements generally rely on the contributions of multiple muscle groups, so trying to cue the muscles involved is usually counterproductive and often rather complicated.

This is true of most physical endeavors. Can you imagine a basketball coach - trying to help a player with his shot - cueing “squeeze-the-quads, activate-the-glutes, fire-the-gastocs, flex-the-delts, contact-the-triceps, use-the-wrist-flexors!” One gets the idea.

But What About . . . ?
Of course, there are exceptions, and these can occur when you are trying to prevent movement (not cause movement). This is what happens when you think of contracting a specific muscle group.

Try it. Tell yourself to contract your biceps. You’ll instantly find yourself with a perfectly immobile elbow joint - frozen in place as if you’re prepping for a bodybuilding show.

So, if you’re getting ready to squat, you might cue, “tight abs” to help get your trunk rigid and immovable before starting your descent.

Trying to prevent knee flexion in your press? Trying cueing “flex your quads.”

You don’t cue “squeeze your glutes” in the squat or deadlift, but you might use this cue to prevent a reaching back or “winding up” motion of the hips at the start of the press.

In general, keep it simple - cue the movement you’re looking for, and the relevant muscles will get involved automatically (you’ve got your cerebellum to thank for that).

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

-Phil

PS: Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

  • Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

  • Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

  • Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

  • Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

  • Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?