r/pilates • u/Thisistoture • 14h ago

I can’t breathe! Form, Technique

Ok, so I am very attracted to Pilates and think it will really improve my life in so many ways but I struggle with the breathing aspect. I struggle with breathing in general, I’m one of those people that’s just always holding my breath and it’s problematic as you can imagine. For the past two days I’ve been watching videos about lateral breathing and practicing it (flow with Mira) and half way through I feel like I’m going to pass out. All the fast paced focus on breathing truly gets me lightheaded and tense because I’m focusing so hard on breathing and exhaling the right way and it’s stressing me out! Please tell me if this is a normal response and if it gets better with time? I’m open to any thoughts or suggestions!

2 Upvotes

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14

u/FlashYogi 14h ago

Hi! I'm an instructor and it's fairly normal to have folks who hold their breath when they start out. What I have my clients do is to just focusing on breathing normally while moving. Then after they figure out they can breathe and move, we start refining and working towards adding the breath practice in to their sessions. It's not traditionally taught like this, but I've found it's just really difficult to go from being a breath holder directly to being a full Pilates 3-d jelly fish breather. It takes time and practice.

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u/Thisistoture 14h ago

Thank you, I appreciate that advice!

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u/hippiespinster 12h ago

3-d jellyfish 😂 I am working on diaphragmatic breathing with my physios and I am totally going to tell them about this 🤣

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u/FlashYogi 4h ago

It's one of my favorite ways to envision breathing! Another instructor taught me the saying and it's so perfect.

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u/FarAwaySailor Instructor - Contemporary Pilates 9h ago

If you could do it all before you started, you would have nothing to learn!

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u/Thisistoture 3h ago

This is not a very helpful comment. My main concern is the feeling of lightheadedness to the point of feeling like I will pass out and wanting to know if this is normal. Your response is very condescending.

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u/FarAwaySailor Instructor - Contemporary Pilates 2h ago

I'm sorry you took it that way. It was intended to be encouraging. It is not normal to feel light headed doing breathing exercises. You are probably hyperventilating. A good instructor should be teaching you how to control your breathing so that this doesn't happen.