If you have taken one of my classes, specifically on days where we are lifting heavy, then you have heard me talk about tension. I have said something along the lines of, “build tension in your body” or “create tension in your core.” What I am referring to is your breath and the buildup of volume in your body. I know what your thinking, “what the heck is Erika talking about?!” What I am talking about is filling your belly with your breath and holding onto it throughout an entire lift.Think about it this way, take a can of sparkling water, if it is unopened, you can squeeze it or step on it and it will not collapse, however if you have an empty sparkling water can, you can crush it with your hand easily or apply weight from above and crush it by standing on it with one foot. The point it is, building within a container or body will be stronger against external forces or weight.The next time you lift, consider how you are breathing and if you are “creating tension” in your belly. When you squat, grab a breath at the top of your squat and hold onto throughout the entirety on the squat. Or if you are deadlifting, grab that breath while standing before you grab a hold of the barbell, then grab your next breath when you stand the weight up. In both positions, the squat and deadlift, your body should be on a standing/extended position when you inhale and ideally when you exhale.Give this a try and let me know how it goes for you! Happy lifting!Erika