Meet Your Upper Body Superpower

In Pilates, breathing isn’t just a natural function; it’s the key to unleashing your upper body strength and enhancing your overall well-being.

Most people start Pilates to improve posture and core strength; it is understandable – these two are deeply interconnected. Good posture requires uniform strength throughout the body, starting from the core, which allows you to move with power from your centre. But the link that binds these two together is breathing—your superpower.

Why is breathing so important?

Breathing connects your body to its core, engaging the upper body muscles that support the movement of your head, neck, arms, and chest. By aligning your breath with your movements, you maintain fluidity and balance throughout your entire body, countering the movement of your lower body. You’ll even be able to carry the weight of your head (which can often feel “lost in space”) and position it properly along your spine. This connection creates dynamic upper body strength. Yet, despite being so simple, correct breathing can be one of the most challenging skills to master.

Breathing is a natural, instinctive act that we often take for granted. Ironically, it’s also the one thing that could solve many of the challenges we face, including:  

• Neck pain  
• Shoulder weakness  
• Imbalance  
• Instability  
• Tension and anxiety  

If I had a magic wand, I’d make everyone focus on their breathing.

But before you roll your eyes and think, “Here we go again, I already know this!“—take a moment. Just because you understand the concept of breathing doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing it correctly. Are you?

Let me remind you what it should truly feel like when you’re practising it right. 

When you breathe, a sense of aliveness naturally happens; your stomach should be able to lift inwards and upwards. Start to sense that.

Are you breathing into your kidneys? Into your spine? Are you breathing under your armpits? Is your rib cage expanding? Does your chest open up? Does it calm you? Because the truth is, an upper body that hasn’t truly breathed will never be strong.

The good news is, if you focus on it and give yourself time, you will master it. With daily practice, breathing and upper body strength will become second nature. To fully embody upper body strength, you need to embrace your breath.

I’ll see you next week for a tour of our studio with tips and techniques. I’m so excited to share more with you!
Until then, have a wonderful weekend, and remember to **breathe**.

 Jeanique

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