The focus and purpose of breathing well with Pilates is important, not only to isolate your abdominal muscles and pelvic floor, but also to create trunk and body awareness. The breathing helps to relax tight, tense muscles, relieve tension and help the mind to focus on the body.
Breathing also increases oxygen uptake, improving the immune system and facilitate learning fine motor control to improve co-ordination and help isolate specific muscles, particularly in the trunk throughout your abdominals.
Breathing also helps bring the body to a relaxed state and takes your mind off the day, helping you to take this time out and focus on your movement further bringing you to a relaxed state of body and mind.
Practice your breathing regularly:
Lying down, feet flat, hips level with your pubic bone, arms and hands by your side looking at the ceiling, shoulders relaxed, chest open. Allow your shoulders to relax away from your ears and try to have a sensation of elongating and lengthening your head away from your shoulders and pelvis. Keep your spine in neutral, your buttocks relaxed and abdominals relaxed and flat as you soften your ribs.
Breathe into the lowest part of your lungs and the back of your back, expanding your ribcage wide like an accordion and as you breathe out, feel the ribcage drawing in, as if pulling your belt in by a notch. Breathe out as much air from your lungs as possible, but don’t strain your breath, keep it relaxed and soft. As you breathe out here, draw the ribs softly down towards your hips, pull up with you pelvic floor and draw your navel gently to your spine. Concentrate on keeping the body relaxed.
Practice this with 10 breaths.
If you are struggling with your breath, and not sure what to feel, ask one of our team to assist you privately for a 10-20 minute private session.
