Home | Fitness Apparel Store | Canadian eCommerce | Canadian Online Shopping

The Beginner's Guide to Pilates

Centering and Breathing

The foundation behind Pilates is that the positioning of your pelvis, ribcage, shoulder blades, and head affects the curvature of the spine. When the spine is in its natural position, it is referred to as neutral pelvis. In this position, your hip bones and your pubic bone should form a parallel level with the floor.

Your abdominal muscles reinforce the joints of your spine. Train yourself on breathing so that it is done normally and not too quickly. When conducting the following breathing exercise, focus on the control of your abdomen:

1. Lie on your back with your legs bent and feet face-down on the floor so that your spine is in the natural position. This position will here forth be referred to as the preparatory position.
2. Rest your hands on your abdomen. Inhale through the back and sides of your lower ribcage so that your abdominal muscles are braced.
3. Breathing should be controlled, but not accentuated. Focus on exhaling, and try to develop a method of breathing that controls the abdominal muscles. Direct your breathing into the side and backs of the lower ribcages (this is called lateral breathing).

< Back to Beginner's Guide to Pilates

In need of affordable, but comfortable activewear?