There’s actually a certain way to approach Pilates breathing.

Ahead, two Pilates instructors break down everything it’s crucial that you know.

I just figured my natural breathing was enoughafter all, I was breathing, right?

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I was confusedI was breathing.

I was alive, wasnt I?

Up until that point, Id hit a plateau.

Two young women practicing ballet with a teacher in the dance hall.

Pilates instructor and founder ofCarrie’s Pilates

Id show up to class to tick it off my schedule, but I wasnt seeing much improvement.

As it turned out, no, this wasnt a fluke: Breathing correctly during Pilatesactuallymakes all the difference.

(More on how to breathe during Pilates in a sec!)

Woman doing hip exercises

But things change again for movements like thehundred exercise.

This is a challenging exercise as you focus the breath laterally in your ribcage while maintaining the abdominal engagement.

Not only can this hinder your progress, but it increases your risk of injury.

Cropped image of woman doing lunge yoga pose

Is there a difference between Pilates and yoga breathing?

While both yoga and Pilates are low-impact workouts that integrate breath with movement, their breathing techniques are distinct.

As Ebers notes, yoga breathing is often slower and creates a calming sound.

Woman in leggings and bra doing Lunge with Arm Extended Up pose hip opener stretch during yoga session in morning at home.

Pilates instructor and founder ofCarrie’s Pilates

Kim ST, Lee JH.

The effects of Pilates breathing trainings on trunk muscle activation in healthy female subjects: a prospective study.

J Phys Ther Sci.

Woman doing arm exercise without weights while sitting on mat at home.

2017 Feb;29(2):194-197. doi: 10.1589/jpts.29.194.

Epub 2017 Feb 24.

PMID: 28265138; PMCID: PMC5332969.

A woman in sports clothes does yoga or gymnastics at home. Daylight. She smiles

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