These musings or “thoughts from the core” are meant to inspire, educate, and motivate. Life presents challenges in a myriad of ways for everyone. It is my hope that through sharing my own experience, you will walk through yours with graceful action. The one thing that helps me most is teaching YOU.
DO YOU HAVE PAIN?
TriPilates’ mission is to empower YOU to heal yourself.
Since TriPilates opened over 8 years ago, our lives have changed beyond my wildest dreams. The one, steady reliable thing is to stay focused on breathing. Inhale new air, exhale old air. Sounds simple? Not really! When our lives are stressful, breathing shallows, our bodies slump and it becomes even more difficult to breathe. I know. I’ve been there.
I am truly fascinated with the healing power of breath.
ARE YOU BREATHING?
“Above all else, learn to breathe correctly.” – Joe Pilates
We inhale to refresh, regenerate, and renew the energy in our body, mind, and spirit. We exhale to rid ourselves of accumulated stress, tension, and imbalances. I am breathing in steady stillness through the changes and storms of life. There are days that seem insurmountable, the tasks too great, and yet….
‘Tis the season of Spring, the sense of joyous new life about to burst into rays of colors and warmth and new growth. My hope is that with this newness around me, the same steady purpose will be present at the studio. There is nothing like paying attention to your breath to center, calm, and focus yourself.
“True heart control follows correct breathing which simultaneously reduces heart strain, purifies the blood, and develops the lungs. To breathe correctly you must completely exhale and inhale, always trying very hard to “squeeze” every atom of impure air from your lungs in much the same manner that you would wring every drop of water from a wet cloth. When you stand erect again, the lungs will automatically completely refill themselves with fresh air. This in turns supplies the bloodstream with vitally necessary life0giving oxygen. Also the complete exhalation and inhalation of air stimulates all muscles into greater activity. Soon the entire body is abundantly charged with fresh oxygen, a fact which makes itself instantly known as the revitalized blood reaches the tips of your fingers and toes similarly as the heat generated by a good head of steam in your boiler and properly distributed by your radiators is felt in every room in your house.
Breathing is the first act of life, and the last. Our very life depends on it. Since we cannot live without breathing, it is tragically deplorable to contemplate the millions and millions who have never learned to master the art of correct breathing. One often wonders how so many millions continue to live as long as they do under this tremendous handicap to longevity. Lazy breathing converts the lungs, figuratively speaking, into a cemetery for the deposition of diseased, dying, and dead germs as well as supplying an ideal haven for the multiplication of other harmful germs. Therdfore, above all, learn how to breathe correctly. “SQUEEZE” EVERY ATOM OF AIR FROM YOUR LUNGS UNTIL THEY ARE ALMOST AS FREE OF AIR AS IS A VACUUM. Stand erect again and observe how your lungs will automatically completely refill themselves with fresh air. The impact of so much oxygen upon your bloodstream may at first quite naturally and normally result in your experiencing a sligh sensation of “lightheadedness,” similar to the effect you might experience were you for the first time to find yourself actively engaged in the rarefied atmosphere high up in the mountains. However, after a few days this feeling will entirely disappear.” p. 23, Joe Pilates Return to Life, 1945
You have probably noticed how each and every Pilates exercise demands focused, specific breathing. Pay attention to Joe’s sentences written in capital letters – they must be important. As in the picture of TWIST, or Spine Stretch Forward, after you exhale completely through the movement of the exercise, your lungs will automatically fill up with air. Think of any exercise on the apparatus. Generally, the springs stretch to facilitate inhalation and expand the ribs (the lungs), and then conversely close to help expel the air. The body moves and and flows with this breath, this breath of life, and returns the body to HEALTH.
While it sounds simple, the practiced art of breathing Pilates without FORCING is a natural, functional movement that enables the body to move well without tension. Like anything else, it takes practice. As we practice, our Pilates movements become steady, precise, centered, controlled. We take this principle to our everyday life, no matter what is going on. We heal not only our bodies, but our mental challenges, our energy in the world. Let us help you breathe.
LEARN MORE PILATES
AND FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN 2015!
My fascination is to feel how focused, centered, and calm in body, mind and spirit we can be, NO MATTER WHAT is going on around us.
HAPPY SPRING!
REMEMBER TO BREATHE
