Lateral Breathing
Image: verywell.com
A dedicated Pilates instructor, Nanci Kushner spent two years working with students at Jumping Frogs Pilates in Tenafly, New Jersey. After leaving Jumping Frogs, Nanci Kushner opened NPK Pilates in Cresskill, New Jersey. At NPK, she offered highly personalized instruction for her students.
A major aspect of Pilates is breathing. In Pilates, breath is coordinated with movement, so it is important to understand how to breathe properly. The creator of the practice, Joseph Pilates, thought that individuals breathed too shallowly and thus encouraged deep, full breaths with awareness and focus. Shallow breaths can restrict airflow and increase both stress and feelings of fatigue. The deep breathing of Pilates, on the other hand, oxygenates the blood fully to increase feelings of rejuvenation.
Pilates breathing is called lateral breathing because it causes the ribs to expand into the sides of the body and the back. Individuals breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. After the ribcage expands to accommodate oxygen, the abdominal muscles should contract during exhalation to push air out of the lungs. Lateral breathing involves inhaling while expanding and lengthening the body and exhaling while bringing muscles back to the body’s center. This type of breathing requires mindfulness and practice.
Nanci Kushner 
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