When I was told that practicing Pilates breathing would firm
my “after-baby” tummy, I was a woman on a mission. I would lie in bed at night and inhale
everything I needed for the next day and exhale everything that was not working
in my life. I would take my inhale as
deep as I could into the mattress and exhale dropping my belly button as deep
as I could into the small of my back. It
only took about 5 breaths before I was fast asleep. Maybe keeping up with an infant and a 2 year
old helped too!
Pilates breathing became my active meditation. Of course I used my breathing during my
personal training sessions twice a week, but I also used it when I took Water
Aerobics, played with the kids, drove the car and even when I was washing
dishes. My “A-Ha!” moment came about two
months into Pilates when I was walking out of the grocery store. I was doing my Pilates breathing, pulling my
navel to my spine, when all of a sudden I felt my “mom jeans” shift around on
my waist. I kept walking but I was
grinning ear to ear and I wanted to shout, “My jeans are loose! My jeans are loose!”
That was the day I became a believer in the power of Pilates
breathing to sculpt and firm abdominals. Since then, clients have told me all sorts of funny stories about how
they have included Pilates breathing in their lives; however, I need to tell
you that you should never practice Pilates breathing while you’re having an MRI. It will jiggle the machine and you’ll have to
reschedule your scan!
Keep breathing!
Valya
