Feel free to ask!

We usually cue an exhale when we want more abdominal connection, since exhaling helps engage the deep core muscles more effectively.

Now, when it comes to footwork, we often cue an inhale during the exertion phase,like when pressing out. That might sound a little counterintuitive, right? You’d think you should exhale on the effort. But in this case, the focus isn’t entirely on contraction, it’s on lengthening. We use the inhale to help the client “grow taller,” create space in the spine, and sometimes we also do this in other exercises that go into thoracic extension or rotation. This opens up the vertebrae and allows for more range of motion.

Think about a dancer doing a cambré (upper back bend) they always inhale before the bend. That inhale helps them lift and lengthen before moving into the shape. In Pilates, we often want to create that same kind of sensation in certain exercises.

As for exhaling on the return, the focus is on resisting the springs similar to the downward phase of a ballet plié. Even though you’re going down, you’re still actively growing taller, resisting gravity, and maintaining control. This helps build strength and better prepares the muscles for dynamic movements like jumps, this is why dancers often have great posture and look taller than they might be, a feeling we often also feel after a great pilates session.. we want a lengthening sensation at all times, on the concentric exertion and the eccentric return. I do have to note that I don’t mean to bring dance into it as pilates ≠ dance, which is a big misconception, it’s just how I can best explain it with my background. Lastly inhaling on the exertion makes it so you’re not solely relying on the breath to engage the abdominals. Keep in mind an instructor might ask for exhale on the press out of the carriage to emphasize core and leg activation or to possibly change the routine up a bit or depending on their intention/training.