Breath - The Cornerstone of Your Pilates Practice
“Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth.” If you’ve been to a Maine Pilates studio, you’ve probably heard these words at the beginning of class. There’s a reason that we start our classes by focusing on the breath. Joseph Pilates, the founder of Pilates, believed that correct breath was the essential basis of movement. All the other Pilates principles – concentration, control, precision, flow, and centering – begin in the breath. And while Joe Pilates believed there was a “correct” way to breathe, and we may cue movements with a certain breath pattern, you should remember that the most important thing isn’t when you inhale and exhale, but rather that you just keep breathing.
The reason we cue inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth is that it encourages you to use the full capacity of your lungs, allowing for deep lungfuls of air that can fuel you through a challenging series of exercises. Pilates breath engages the diaphragm, mobilizes the ribs, and prepares the body for core engagement.
While yoga practices may also emphasize the importance of breath, typically, the focus in yoga is on breathing into your belly. In Pilates, core engagement is essential to safe movement in Pilates, whether you’re on the Reformer or the mat. For this reason, we teach you to breathe laterally, letting your ribcage expand to all four sides, while also emphasizing co-contraction, or the engagement of your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles together when you exhale. Lateral breathing allows you to fill your lungs with fresh air, fully exhale, and maintain the core engagement that protects your spine and lower back.
A variety of breathing patterns can be used in your Pilates practice, and breath cueing can vary from studio to studio or even from instructor to instructor. At Maine Pilates, we cue your exhale with the part of the exercise that requires maximum exertion, engaging all the layers of your abdominal muscles to support you through the challenge.
Learning how to tap into your Pilates breath is about more than just oxygen and core engagement, though! Your breath serves as your anchor throughout class, setting the pace, calming your mind, and helping you stay grounded in the present moment. Breath allows you to stay connected to your body and movement.
As you grow in your Pilates practice, you will learn to maintain your calm, even breath through the most challenging exercises. This ability to quiet our minds in the midst of intense exertion is one of the most valuable gifts that Pilates gives us.
You may find yourself returning to your Pilates breath even when you’re not in the studio or practicing at home. This foundational element of Pilates goes with you everywhere. Taking a moment to reconnect with your breath throughout the day can both ground and energize you. In Pilates class or in life, it’s always a good idea to return to your breath when you need a reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter if I “mess up” my inhale and exhale?
While we cue the exhale to go with the most challenging part of an exercise, so long as you are still breathing, you’re fine! If you find yourself getting caught up with the inhale/exhale patterns and you’re unable to keep your core engaged or are holding your breath, just ignore the pattern being cued and return to your natural breath pattern.
Should I really exhale through my mouth?
Yes! Exhaling through your mouth allows you to fully empty your lungs before your next inhale and encourages deep engagement of your abdominals. It also helps you relax through your face and neck. Your instructors LOVE when they can hear your deep exhales.
How can I improve my Pilates breathing?
Practice! Remember, Pilates is about progress, not perfection. If you want to improve your breathing, slow things down and focus on how your breath feels in your body. You can bring your hands to your ribcage to feel the lateral breathing as your ribs press into your hands. Notice if your exhales or your inhales are longer. Can you play around with your breath, using it to change your pace? Practicing your Pilates breathing is something you can do anywhere. Remember, the most important thing is to just keep breathing!
