When doing core/ab workouts, I often felt like my breathing wasn’t controlled. I felt like I was breathing shallowly and erratically. Sometimes both. I felt like I was tense in places that I shouldn’t be tense. Especially in my shoulders and neck, which probably affected my breathing. I felt like I was rushing to get reps or to fill timed intervals. It was rare that I could actually feel the movement itself. Instead, I could only feel the discomfort of it.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? If so, the good news is that it can get better!