Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Academy

The breath is an essential part of any Pilates practise and is considered to be one of the many principles of Pilates. While Joseph Pilates did indeed implore everyone to “breathe correctly” he didn’t actually fully explain what that meant.  I have often heard the story that Joseph Pilates would say “you must OUT the air to IN the air” encouraging a full exhale to then fully inhale, which I think is why we often hear the forced expiration in Pilates classes. Unfortunately, I believe this can lead to over-breathing - blowing off too much carbon dioxide. Whilst our muscles need oxygen to work, more oxygen is not necessarily better. We do in fact need some carbon dioxide to be able to offload oxygen to the mitochondria (the energy giving cells) in the muscles.  This is called the Bohr effect.  For more information on the Bohr effect: Don’t get me wrong; a forced expiration can be a really useful tool to bring the focus of attention to a particular muscle group, usually the abdominals, in

From May 10th - May 15th 2022 it is Mental Health awareness week.  Over the last century Pilates has become well established for its broad range of physical benefits, including strength and muscle tone, flexibility and weight loss. However, the mindful movement practices employed in Pilates can also be considered as an alternative meditation technique to the stereotypical view of sitting still.  All the benefits of meditation can be gained, without any feeling of wasting time and many actually experience better results from a mindful movement that simultaneously cleanses the mind whilst exercising the body.  As such Pilates has a great range of specific benefits for mental health: Breathing Breathing techniques are fundamental to practicing Pilates.  The particular breathing pattern practiced in a Pilates exercise can improve its effectiveness in oxygen supply to the muscles, and subsequently aid the removal of the respiratory waste products carbon dioxide and water.  During the exerci