Breathing is one of the Pilates principles and a foundation for movement. In Pilates, we have a specific breathing technique pattern designed to aid the movements and muscle activation for each exercise.
Pilates exercises are encouraged with a natural breathing pattern to breathe in wide and full to the sides of the ribcage. This is called “lateral” or “intercostal” breathing and promotes the full use of your ribcage and respiratory muscles.
Like any muscle, they need to be exercised to cope with increased physical demands. As you exhale you should empty your lungs fully and allow relaxation of the muscles and ribcage.
Lateral breathing focuses on expanding the rib cage laterally “while maintaining a consistent inward pull of the deep abdominal muscles during inhalation and exhalation”.
When performing Pilates breathing:
INHALE through the nose, directing the breath into the sides of the ribs (expanding the ribs laterally)
EXHALE through the mouth, closing the rib cage down and in.
Perform a normal inhalation (not an exaggerated, deep breath in) and a slow, forceful exhalation.
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