01/27/2025
The Principle of Breathing
Joe states, “True heart control follows correct breathing which simultaneously reduces heart strain, purifies the blood, and develops the lungs. To breathe correctly you must completely exhale and inhale, always trying very hard to “squeeze” every atom of impure air from your lungs in much the same manor that you would ring every drop of water from a wet cloth.”
Breathing in this way oxygenates the muscles, and reduces tension in the upper neck and shoulders.
Pilates breathing is posterior lateral breathing. Practitioners direct the breath to the sides and the back of the rib cage while simultaneously deepening the abdomen, maintaining this engagement without tension as the next inhale begins.
Breath should be properly coordinated with every movement. Joe emphasises how better breath equates to more energy, which results in a better quality of life.
Breathing is the first act of life and the last. When we really pay attention to our breathing we realize that breath represents our awareness and spirit.
When you practice breathing lie flat with your hands on your stomach and notice that when your stomach is no longer rising you have mastered your breath to move more deeply into your lungs.
Then move your hands to the sides of the ribcage and feel them filling out to the sides and back against the floor, with the abdomen still flat.
Practice this breathing whenever you notice tension in your body. Breathe in through your nose, down your throat, and let it warm your heart.
Feel the muscles around your spine relax when you exhale. Notice how the exhalation allows your bones to release and connect into the surface below.
You will notice you have entered the meditative state of relaxation, where you tap into your purpose, full attention to the presence of self and connectedness.
In order to achieve this state of breathing, you have just practiced the Principal of Concentration!
