A fundamental aspect of the pilates method is breath, though I notice it is often one of the last things anyone feels like focusing on in class. Or, when I cue "deep breathing", I can hear one deep breathe occur, and then its back to the shallow breathing! I understand, really- its challenging to continuously breathe deeply for an entire class, and harder to breathe fully throughout the whole day.
Deep breathing, which is actually just taking full breaths, is so important for total body wellness. Taking full breaths exercises the muscles between our ribs, brings oxygen to our muscles and bones, helps our posture, and improves endurance, just to name a few.
One way to remind yourself to breath fully is to imagine your rib cage inside your body. My Alexander Technique teacher, Joan, pointed something out to me that is so amazing to notice-
Your uppermost rib goes up above your collarbones.
Is that higher up than you imaged?! Try filling with breath all the way up into the upper most rib when you inhale.
Don't forget that your ribs and lungs are three dimensional. Keep taking your full, deep breaths into the uppermost ribs, and try to carry your breath up into the upper back as well. You'll feel like you are growing taller, and maybe you actually are!Read more!
Deep breathing, which is actually just taking full breaths, is so important for total body wellness. Taking full breaths exercises the muscles between our ribs, brings oxygen to our muscles and bones, helps our posture, and improves endurance, just to name a few.
One way to remind yourself to breath fully is to imagine your rib cage inside your body. My Alexander Technique teacher, Joan, pointed something out to me that is so amazing to notice-
Your uppermost rib goes up above your collarbones.
Is that higher up than you imaged?! Try filling with breath all the way up into the upper most rib when you inhale.
Don't forget that your ribs and lungs are three dimensional. Keep taking your full, deep breaths into the uppermost ribs, and try to carry your breath up into the upper back as well. You'll feel like you are growing taller, and maybe you actually are! Read more!