Years ago, I was lying on a mat listening to the Master Trainer quote Joseph Pilates on the foundation of his method: Breathing.
“Above all, learn how to breathe correctly.”
I remember thinking, ‘If this is step one, I might not be able to get this.’
Over the years as I have introduced breathing to my clients, I have often found I am not alone.
Client: “I am not a good breather.”
Me: “You’re a natural breather! And if you can breathe, you can do Pilates.”
For me, exhaling seemed more obvious at first. Maybe that’s because I was holding my breath in concentration so often my lungs were exploding. As I followed the instructions to fill the lungs completely, I became aware of the challenges of “breathing correctly”.
My inhalations were short with only my upper chest and neck feeling full. My exhalations seemed to have a longer duration but they did not feel complete either. The harder I tried to suck back enough air to fill my lungs three dimensionally the more it became clear something was missing. My body was literally waiting to exhale.
“To breathe correctly you must completely exhale and inhale, always trying very hard to “squeeze” every atom of impure air from your lungs…”
A full and complete inhalation requires a full and complete exhalation. Exhaling all the air creates a vacuum in the lungs which allows them to inflate on the inhalation like two giant balloons.
As I exhaled until there was no more air to expel, I was amazed to find the air gently filling to the edges of my lungs almost automatically. My intention was on the complete exhalation and the happy, unforced result was a full inhalation.
This complete breathe is the power that revs up the engine of the body by way of the heart and bloodstream.
“These exercises induce the heart to pump strong and steadily…and drive the pure fresh blood to every muscle fiber of our bodies.”
In this way, Pilates breathing is dynamic and able to support movement. The involuntary process of breathing is focused and its power harnessed to maintain the healthy movement patterns of our bodies on mats and reformers, as well as, in our daily lives.
So here’s to exhaling to completion and taking our bodies out for a spin on all the air that comes in!
Janet Nordlund is a fully certified pilates instructor through Momentum Studio of Albuquerque, and has been teaching clients in the Portland area since January 2006.
* All italicized quotations are taken from Return to Life through Contrology and Your Health, by Joseph Pilates
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Very informative. I have come across lot of sites on pilates and this is one of the best. I think I should start doing pilates. Thanks for sharing.
-Sami
Janet, this was great! I have so many clients who struggle with the breathing initially, and for many it takes a long time to change old breathing patterns. I loved your description of this process though. I think it will be very helpful for many…