Focusing on something different every week will make your Mat Pilates practice exciting. For today’s practice, let’s recap why expanding your chest for upper body mobility matters.

When the thoracic spine and chest muscles remain stiff, they affect breathing capacity and hamper movements like twisting the spine, often leading to neck tension. To counter this, we must prioritize maintaining mobility in the chest and ribcage, which can benefit our entire body.

As you practice today’s Mat Flow (video), pay attention to opening the last four ribs of your ribcage. This will happen if you expand the chest and do not just sniff your breath; correct breathing is essential.

Here’s a tip: Imagine your chest expanding like a parachute inside your body, allowing for fuller, more expansive breathing. This deliberate focus will enhance your breathing and improve overall upper-body mobility.

But don’t worry if you still need to do that, as you can begin today. With just a small pair of dumbbells and three minutes of focused practice, you’ll be amazed at the difference in your Pilates Mat flow. With consistent practice, you’ll also notice improvements in your ability to suspend your upper body during exercises like The Footwork, The Hundred, and all the upper body curl exercises within the Classical Pilates Repertoire on the mat and on the equipment.