10/02/2026
I start and end all of my classes by taking a moment to connect with the body and breath. In Pilates, breath isn’t just something that happens in the background, it’s part of the movement.
Joseph Pilates said: “Breathing is the first act of life, and the last. Our very life depends on it” ✨
When we breathe in Pilates, we’re not lifting the shoulders or pushing out the belly. Instead, we breathe wide, expanding the ribs out to the sides and into the back. I like to think of the ribs like curtains or a balloon opening or expanding to the sides.
As you exhale, the ribs softly slide back together and the waist gently wraps in, almost like you’re giving yourself a little hug. The shoulders stay relaxed, the neck stays long, and the movement feels supported from the inside rather than forced from the outside.
Try this at home:
✨Place your hands on your ribcage
✨Inhale through the nose and feel the ribs expand out to the sides and into your back
✨Keep the shoulders soft and the chest relaxed
✨Exhale slowly through the mouth and imagine the ribs gently sliding back together
✨Feel the waist lightly hugging in around you
When the breath, ribs, and centre all connect, thats where Pilates starts to feel powerful, grounded, and calm ✨
📸 .and.tales
