September Pilates Principle: Breath

Our September theme is one of the key Pilates principles: breath.

In yoga, we refer to breath as pranayama. Pranayama means Prana- the vital energy that is infinitely everywhere, and ayama- un-restrain. The practice of pranayama is mainly to remove toxins that block the flow of Prana in the body. 

For practical reasons, you can visualize that Prana is the energy that flows through the body and breath is what sustains it. Breath can facilitate core support and intensify movement. When you encounter an exercise that is difficult, ask yourself, “Am I breathing?”  Often the answer is 'no' and just adding the breath can provide ease to the exercise. 

As Joseph Pilates said, “Breathing is the first act of life and the last. Our very life depends on it.”