Pilates breathing: how to coordinate it with movement
When should you breathe in and out in Pilates? How to coordinate your breathing with movement, step by step, and what to do if you get it wrong mid-exercise.
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During a Pilates class, you'll often hear cues like “breathe in to prepare” or “breathe out as you move”. Breathing is one of the method's principles and is coordinated with how the exercises are performed.1
At first, paying attention to position, movement and breathing all at once can feel difficult. That coordination is something you learn, and it doesn't need to be perfect in your first class.
When should I breathe in and out?
A common guideline is to breathe in as you prepare and breathe out during the most effortful phase. However, this sequence can vary depending on the exercise and the purpose of the cue.
These cues help set the rhythm of the movement. There is no single sequence that has to be applied to every movement.
How do you start coordinating?
Try first noticing your breathing in a comfortable position. Then pair it with a simple movement:
- Breathe in gently to prepare;
- Breathe out as you perform the movement;
- Return to the starting position without holding your breath.
You don't need to breathe in as much as possible or force the air out. Aim for comfortable breathing, without creating unnecessary tension in your neck or shoulders.
What if I get it wrong?
If you breathe in when the instructor says to breathe out, keep breathing and pick the cue back up on the next repetition. You don't need to hold your breath to get the timing right.
When it's hard to coordinate everything, slow down or reduce the range of the movement. Start by understanding the exercise and gradually add attention to your breathing.
At DUO
During most exercises, we don't cue a specific moment to breathe in or out. Try to keep your breathing comfortable and continuous, without holding your breath as you move.
In exercises dedicated to breathing, we give cues as we perform them, so you can follow each phase.
Breathe, follow the movement and learn at your own pace.
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