9 Pilates Principals

BREATHING

Let’s go over the first one Breathing.

Breathing oxygenates the blood and connects the mind to the body. Breathing during Pilates will enhance your relaxation; it improves your focus and helps to activate your muscles. To do Pilates breathing you inhale through your nose as if to smell cookies in the over (let’s say chocolate chip!) expanding your rib cage east and west. Then exhale with pursed lips like blowing out a candle. This will activate the transverse abdominals. They are located in the lower part of the abs that are often very hard to get to let alone getting them to work. The whole point is to coordinate breath with movement. It seems natural but it’s actually hard to coordinate. Take it slow. Start by breathing and add layers of movement. My mind tends to wander so I often have to stop and start again. It’s natural but when it comes together you will feel and look great doing it. Try it and you’ll see!