{"id":7119,"date":"2018-11-22T08:18:17","date_gmt":"2018-11-22T08:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trifocusfitnessacademy.co.za\/?p=7119"},"modified":"2022-08-17T14:13:43","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T12:13:43","slug":"what-are-the-benefits-of-pilates-breathing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trifocusfitnessacademy.co.za\/pilates-blog\/what-are-the-benefits-of-pilates-breathing\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Benefits of Pilates Breathing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pilates and Yoga \u2013 which are both classified as mind-body exercises \u2013 both employ different ways of breathing. In Pilates, thoracic or lateral breathing is used. What this means is that we breathe in through the nose. During the Pilates breathing process, we expand our lower rib cage while keeping our abdominals contracted. (Just as an aside, \u2018contracting your abdominals\u2019 doesn\u2019t just mean keeping your belly button in. When your instructor tells you to contract your abdominals you must contract your belly button and, at the same time, contract your pelvic floor.)<\/p>\n

On the other hand, in Yoga we used abdominals or diaphragmatic breathing. During this process you\u2019ll breathe in and will draw the air into your abdominal region. Your rib cage won\u2019t move that much. This type of breathing is called Ujjayi<\/em> breathing. Read more about its benefits here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pilates breathing has a number of benefits for you both during your practice as well as in other aspects of your day-to-day life. Read on to find out more.<\/p>\n

Why breathing in deeply is good for you<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Oxygen sustains most functions in our body. Literally, it gives us life as if we are suffocated, and are deprived of oxygen, we die. Joseph Pilates, in his book Return to Life Through Contrology<\/em>, explained it best why we need to breathe deeply: “Lazy breathing converts the lungs, literally and figuratively speaking, into a cemetery for the deposition of diseased, dying and dead germs as well as supplying an ideal haven for the multiplication of other harmful germs.”<\/p>\n

Remember to breathe in class<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a strange thing that many Pilates instructors have seen and remark on. During class when students are performing movements, they often forget to breathe! By doing this, they don\u2019t get the full benefit of the exercises that they are doing.<\/p>\n

Joseph Pilates designed his exercises to work in tandem with breath. During the part of the exercise that requires the most effort \u2013 for example, in the pelvic tilt when you start to articulate your spine upwards – you\u2019ll breathe out. This is so that you can take advantage of the natural contraction of your abdominals which happens when you breathe out to help you during the exercise. Those who hold their breath during the exercise don\u2019t take advantage of this and, as such, may well put strain on parts of their body which they are not supposed to.<\/p>\n

\"Trifocus<\/p>\n

Pilates breathing increases lung capacity<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In endurance sports, such as running marathons, you need a sustained amount of energy for a long period of time to keep you going.<\/p>\n

Oxygen is at the basis of energy production. If this essential element isn\u2019t present no energy will be produced and, as a result, you\u2019ll quickly start to feel tired.<\/p>\n

Think about it. When people take short quick breaths \u2013 in other words they hyperventilate \u2013 they can only exert energy for a short period of time as is the case with sprinters. After their sprint, they have to recover for a prolonged period before they can perform again.<\/p>\n

During a marathon, the runner will take long, deep breaths. This means that they can keep on going for longer so that they can finish their respective race.<\/p>\n

What Pilates exercise can help you develop your lung capacity?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many experts agree that one of the best way to develop your lung capacity is by doing the exercise call the hundred:<\/p>\n