Breathwork for busy mornings
Five minutes of breath that sets up the whole day.
Most of us start the day already rushing. A few minutes of Pilates breathing changes the tone of the morning before the phone does.
Lateral breathing
Wrap your hands around your lower ribs. Breathe in through the nose and feel the ribs widen into your hands, then exhale through the mouth as they knit back together. Repeat ten times.
Breath and the core
On the exhale, gently draw the lower belly in and up. This is the same connection we cue on the Reformer, and it wakes the deep core before you even stand up.
The rolling spine
Sit tall, exhale and roll down through the spine one vertebra at a time, then inhale to roll back up. Three slow rounds loosen the back after sleep.
Make it a habit
Pair the routine with something you already do, like waiting for the kettle. Five minutes, every morning, is worth more than an hour once a month.
“Breathing is the first act of life and the last. Our very life depends on it.” (Joseph Pilates)
Bring it to class
Arrive a few minutes early and practise your lateral breathing on the Reformer. You will feel the difference in the first exercise.