3.9 Strength Training and Mewing
Symmetry and Strength from the Neck Down
This is Chapter 3.9 of the JawHacks ebook. See the full Table of Contents here.
Lifting Heavy Things
With strength training, as with running, we are optimizing for nasal breathing and perfect form rather than for intensity.
Here, too, slow but steady wins the race.
Regardless of whether you are reading this book for aesthetic or health improvement, happiness is your ultimate goal. And it is impossible to live your best life without lifting heavy things on a regular basis. That is undeniable human nature.
Weight training is a critical biochem hack, pumping us full of dopamine, testosterone and other happy chemicals. It also makes us stronger and look better, which are confidence builders that feed into every other aspect of our personal, professional and spiritual lives.
I also feel strongly that the mind is wired to know whether or not the body is “growing” or “dying,” and when we lift, we signal to our subconscious that on this day, our body has moved toward increased vitality, not death.
This sense of growth leads to a kind of implicit optimism that is antithetical to depression. [ref]
From a Mewing perspective, we look to weight training to improve nasal breathing, full body posture, and aesthetics.
These goals are best achieved using kettlebells and calisthenics.
I recommend a two day lifting cycle:
Day 1: 3 sets of kettlebell swings and Turkish getups.
Day 2: 3 sets pull-ups and dips.
You can mix in other lifts with these as desired, but it’s not necessary. These four lifts are all you need for the rest of your life to get ripped, be incredibly strong, have perfect posture, and look like a European soccer star.