Many people are moving through life with low oxygen saturation. This means you will be lacking in energy - and when we say “lacking energy” we mean free readily available energy - which is created through correct breath function and good posture.
Oxygen is our main source of life and breathing not only fills the body and organs with oxygen, it helps strengthen muscles; and if you are feeling foggy, correct breathing can help clear the mind.
The difference between breathing at a less than ideal function and correct breathing function can be staggering.
Having been in this business for over 20 years, we have seen asthmatics cure their asthma (no more inhalers), people go from unmotivated with very low energy to high energy and high motivation and most importantly, we’ve seen people get much happier.
Exhalation is the main way to expel toxins, so if we are not breathing correctly, it contributes to a wide range of health problems.
Correct breathing can detox our mind too, and free us from anxiety
The busy lifestyles that we have created leaves us in a chronic state of fight or flight response. The lungs are rich with parasympathetic nerve receptors which help calm the mind and body; so nose breathing and taking deeper fuller breaths stimulate the lungs, and more oxygen is distributed around the body in greater amounts. If you breathe into the upper lungs (associated with chest and mouth breathing), this triggers our sympathetic nerve receptors – resulting in a ‘fight or flight’ reaction.
Breathing is an important regulatory mechanism for the autonomic nervous system that runs our bodies… so better breathing patterns create a happier, healthier body with better immune function, more mobile spines, and everything good you want…. Not to mention, great breathing technique can help increase your metabolism, reduce excess fat and clear your skin!
"The breath connects the mind and body, so correct breathing while exercising with perfect posture delivers better, faster, more lasting results."
Using breathing techniques while moving trains the autonomic nervous system and empowers us to move beyond the all too common state of 'fight or flight', hyperactivity and adrenal fatigue when the sympathetic nervous system is engaged, to the parasympathetic 'rest and digest' nervous system which lets us feel calm, conserve energy and sleep better.
Stretching and bending our bodies means we move the rib cage - inhaling with flexion and exhaling with extension. This breathing and the natural rib cage movement help balance the autonomic system, moving us from anxiety to anticipation, re-balancing our tendency to switch into flight or fight in the face of daily stresses.
Breathe your way into mindful exercise
Breathing correctly and moving correctly require thought, taking us into a state of mindful exercise where we can simply be present in our bodies. Ideally your body is in a state of controlled exertion while your mind is calm and focused on the present moment.
Suna's blend of traditional Pilates with modern techniques and focus on correct posture and correct breathing is the ideal mindful exercise. It requires a strong mind-body connection and the intensity of this clears your busy mind, leaving you mentally refreshed and physically recharged. We’ll make sure you 'Work the body and rest the mind!'
The powerful benefits of breathing with Suna Pilates
Breath is a central principle of Pilates – and there are some very compelling reasons why! Many people live in a state of low oxygen saturation, which means they will have low levels of the readily available energy created by correct breath function and good posture.
At Suna Pilates we have a strong focus on the importance breathing correctly, with active inhalation and exhalation as this creates numerous benefits for your overall health, metabolism and energy levels.
Enjoy better Pilates form
Breathing well supports correct Pilates form during the exercises, and specific changes in breathing technique or rhythm are employed to increase the effectiveness of each Suna Pilates movement. Because we focus on posture and breathing with every movement we do, you learn fast, and we retrain your mind, body, and mind-body connections into lasting habits of better posture and breathing function.
In Pilates we place emphasis on ‘strengthening the core’, and Suna Pilates exercises include using specific breathing patterns to activate our core muscles effectively. One of the key reasons we focus on breath is that the exhale in each exercise ensures that the abdominal muscles are engaged – which delivers quick results and strengthening of your core.
A strengthened core and supple intercostal muscles allow the lungs to expand more and support an improved the respiratory system, which is crucial to our overall mind-body wellbeing.
Boost oxygenation
On that topic – breathing well increases the supply of oxygen around our bodies and brains. Fuller breaths provide extra oxygen to improve blood circulation, providing more oxygen and nutrients to our cells and relieving congestion.
Feel more energetic
It’s easy to see how breathing well fuels your metabolism with more oxygen and nutrients and improves your energy levels! Great pilates breathing makes you feel less physically and mentally tired, and sets your body at an optimum operating level.
Because of our focus on breathing, you can expect to leave a Suna Pilates class feeling physically extended, but energised and revitalised!
Breathing well also engages your diaphragm, massaging your internal organs and improving their cleansing and nutrient boosting functions for additional energy and detoxifying your system. You will literally be breathing out toxins too.
Recognise what your breath is telling you
When you find it hard to breathe correctly while doing an exercise this is an alert that the part of your body you are working needs attention and repair.
Suna Pilates can train you to live a better life by breathing correctly
Suna Pilates workouts focus on posture and breathing with every movement we do - and because our Trainers don’t work out with you, they watch you, correct you, instruct when and how to inhale and exhale, so you learn fast.
We retrain your mind and body and mind body connections for better posture and breathing function. You can trust us that while we are training your body to be stronger, toned and function correctly, we are making you feel amazing with every breath you take.
Let’s create a stronger healthier body for you to live your life to its fullest.