How breathing better can help with health and wellbeing, especially stress and anxiety.

Did you know that one of the best ways in which you can improve your wellbeing and health is by doing one of the easiest things that you can do? Focused breathing is an incredibly useful tool that can assist in reducing anxiety levels, improving mental clarity and promoting a good mental balance during times when you are stressed.

The importance of taking a breath

If you have ever found yourself muttering the words “and breathe” when things have become a bit fraught, then there is a good chance that you have been trying to help yourself through a stressful moment. And even if it hasn’t fully worked it will probably have given you a moment to focus on something else and this in turn will help you to reduce your stress a little. There are several different things that you can do to help with your stress and anxiety but when it comes to your health and wellbeing as well, Pilates has all the tools that will help you.

How can Pilates help?

Focused breathing is a key concept of Pilates and can help you to increase the ability that your lungs have to empty fully. This emptiness in your diaphragm gives it room to move so that you can breathe effectively and efficiently whilst allowing your lungs to operate as they should. In other words, it helps to train your lungs to be more effective at their job.

When you breath in your diaphragm moves down into your abdominal space, we call this belly breathing. When you inhale and exhale into your belly you relax and contract your pelvic floor and diaphragm in time, as your diaphragm moves back into your rib cage you can engage your core and pelvic floor therefore stabilising your body for movement, then on the inhale you can relax your pelvic floor and core and rest.

This type of focused breathing does need practice to achieve properly. However, when you focus on your breathing you are actively channelling your energy and concentration, and this can be incredibly therapeutic. The sense of wellbeing that you feel because of this can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

The benefits of learning better breathing techniques as part of a Pilates session are many. Being part of a Pilates class will offer you the chance to socialise with others and this can be a great boost to wellbeing. You will also get all the benefits that Pilates can offer, it can help to reduce tension in your shoulders, back and legs, it will help strengthen your core and can even boost the natural ability of your body to burn fat.

If you have been considering joining a Pilates class or even trying Pilates at home but need a little encouragement, then why not check out my classes? Whether you’d prefer to work out live or at a time to suit you, I’d love to help you harness the benefits that Pilates can bring. You might be surprised at how good it feels to breathe away your stress and exercise at the same time!