When you're exercising, it's crucial that you engage in proper breathing techniques. It goes beyond keeping you alive. In fact, learning how to breathe reduces stress while also increasing your energy levels. {relatedarticles}Breathing exercises get the oxygen and blood flowing. In doing so, your blood pressure goes down, the metabolism is stimulated, digestion is assisted and the tension surrounding the organs is released. Of course, deep breathing also helps clear the mind and breathing exercises have long been touted as a great tool for relaxation. During exercise, it's important to practice proper breathing. It can help prevent dizziness, improve athletic performance and increase the amount of calories burned. The rule of thumb is to exhale when your muscles contract and inhale when you return to starting position. There are many different breathing techniques depending on what your goal is.