Breath can be utilized in so many ways to achieve different outcomes. It’s the first and last thing we do coming into life and leaving it. Through it we can create calm, centred well-being or use it to be invigorated and laser focused. In Pilates the breath is meant to oxygenate your body on the inhale and contract your abdominals on the exhale for stability support. In through the nose (inhale), out through the mouth (exhale). Pilate’s breathing aims to slow down our inhale and deepen the presence of breath in your body (exhale). It shouldn’t be confused with 3-dimensional breathing that we use in our daily lives.

When we coordinate our breath and bring it into a movement practice like Pilates, we are bringing our conscious awareness into the present moment with a purpose or objective, learning a skill for exercise.