“Breathing is the first act of life, and the last. Our very life depends upon it.”
“Lazy breathing converts the lungs, figuratively speaking, into a cemetery…”
Movement instructors teach breathing in some fashion throughout their mat classes and movement sessions. Explore mind body connections and learn physiological practical applications of breathing to add richness and focus to your practice and teaching. Learn how to coach the organization of the 5 diaphragms that coordinate thoracic/abdominal/pelvic internal pressures. Explore how to optimize the Zone of Apposition, the T8-L1 trunk area connecting upper and lower body. Learn the assessment of breathing areas and concepts and exercises for re-training. Explore the differences in sound emission and how to develop full capacity breath. Learn correctives for breathing dysfunctions of hyperventilation, reverse breath, downward breath, suppressed tension, no pause, bracing, breath holding, fast talking, slouch sitting, tense standing, talking while holding breath. Teachers will gain new insights, exercises and inspiration to layer onto their Pilates regimens.
Objectives
After this course, participants will have:
- Better knowledge of the physiology of breathing and its mind-body effect in daily life and our Pilates practice
- Learn the importance of the Zone of Apposition and exercises to optimize its use
- Learn to coordinate the 5 diaphragms to promote whole- body practice in Pilates.
- Learn the qualities of breath to guide breathing assessments of rib expansion, rib motions, details of breath cycles, sounds, accessory muscle use, pain with breathing.
- Learn assessments to guide breathing training
- Learn correctives for dysfunctional breathing including:
hyperventilation, reverse breath, downward breath, suppressed tension, no pause, bracing, breath holding, fast talking, slouch sitting, tense standing, talking while holding breath.
Learn how to incorporate these correctives and principles into new Pilates-based exercises along with traditional Pilates repertoire such as the 100’s, mermaid, chest expansion, stomach massage, among others.
